advocatedrecreationasameanstograduallyadjustthemindandbodytogreaterandgreaterlevelsof
spiritualdiscipline.Inshort,aspiritualdisciplinedoesnotconsistin“givingup”recreationorpleas-
ure;itconsistsinunderstandingthatthepleasurecomesfromwithin,theSelf,andnotfromtheobject
or activity.
SEMA (YOGA)OF DEVOTIONTO THE DIVINE
YogaofDevotionistheprocessofdirectingthementalenergies(passionandlove)totheDivine.It
isaprocesswherebyoneusesoneofthestrongestemotions,love,tooverpowermentalafflictions
andnegativethoughtsleadingtounionwiththedivineobjectofcontemplation,one’sHigherSelf.In
muchthesamemannerthatonerisesabovehisorherproblemsandailmentswhenheorshefalls“in
love”withanotherperson,sotoowhenonedirectsfeelingsoflovetotheHigherSelf,oneisableto
transcendproblemsandadversitiesinlife.Inaddition,sincehumanloveisonlyaglimpseofcosmic
love,imaginehowmuchmorepowerfuldevotiontoGodcanbeintranscendingthehumancondition.
DevotiontoGod,alsoknownas“DivineLove”isaneffectivewaytoproducementalhealthbecause
iteasilyturnsthemindtowardsthetranscendentalratherthantowardsthepettyconcernsoftheego.
TopracticeYogaofDevotion,throughoutyourday,feelthatyouareservingtheDivinewhenyou
areservingothers,sinceallpeopleareessentiallytheSelf.Inthiswayyourminddoesnotbecome
distractedbytheirpersonalities.Whensnowflakesfall,youdonotbecomesodistractedwiththeirin-
dividualshapesthatyoufailtoidentifythemassnow.Likewise,asintuitionalvisionofyourall-en-
compassingnaturedawnsinyourheart,youwillbeabletolookbeyondallthedifferentsizes,shapes,
sexesandcolorsofpeopleandrecognizeyourHigherSelfasthebasisfortheirexistence.Allbe-
comes loved for the sake of the Self.
43.ThouartTemu,whodidstcreatebeingsendowedwithreason;thoumakestthe
coloroftheskinofoneracetobedifferentfromthatofanother,but,howevermany
may be the varieties of mankind, it is thou that makest them all to live.
—Ancient Egyptian Hymn of Amun
“Souls,Heru,son,areoftheself-samenature,sincetheycamefromthesameplace
wheretheCreatormodeledthem;normalenorfemalearethey.Sexisathingof
bodies not of Souls.”
—Ancient Egyptian Proverbian Proverb” from
The teachings of Asetto Heru
“ObeholdwiththineeyeGod’splans.DevotethyselftoadoreGod’sname.Itis
GodwhogivethSoulstomillionsofforms,andGodmagnifyethwhosoevermagni-
fieth God.”
—Ancient Egyptian Proverbian Proverb” from
DjehutiHermes
WhenthemindiscontinuouslydirectedtowardthemajestyandgloryofGod,theNeter(Higher
Self),themindbecomesimbuedwiththatsamegloryandmajesty.Thusdevotionopensthewayto