inculcatesasteadyperseveranceinoneuniformandtemperatecourseoflife(8),andanab-
stinencefromparticularkindsoffoods(9),aswellasfromallindulgenceofthecarnalappet-
ite(10),anditrestrainstheintemperateandvoluptuouspartwithinduebounds,andatthe
sametimehabituateshervotariestoundergothoseaustereandrigidceremonieswhichtheir
religionobligesthemtoobserve.Theendandaimofallthesetoilsandlaborsistheattain-
mentoftheknowledgeoftheFirstandChiefBeing(11),whoaloneistheobjectoftheunder-
standingofthemind;andthisknowledgethegoddessinvitesustoseekafter,asbeingnear
anddwellingcontinually(12)withher.Andthisalsoiswhattheverynameofhertemple
promisethtous,thatistosay,theknowledgeandunderstandingoftheeternalandself-exist-
entBeing-nowitiscalled“Iseion,”whichsuggeststhatifweapproachthetempleofthe
goddess rightly, we shall obtain the knowledge of that eternal and self existent Being.Figure 5: The Forms of GoddessAset(Isis)
MYSTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DISCOURSE OF PLUTARCH: 50
1-Itistobeunderstoodthatspiritualaspirationimpliesseekingtheunion(SmaiTawi,mystical
union-Yoga)withorbecomingonewiththethingbeingsought,becausethisistheonlywaytotruly
“know”partakeofsomething.Youcanhaveopinionsaboutwhatitisliketobeawhale,butyou
wouldneverexactlyknowuntilyoubecomeonewithit,enfoldingallthatexists,istheonebeing
worthyofvenerationandidentification.“Knowing”Neter(God)isthegoalofallspiritualpractices.
This is the supreme goal, which must be kept in mind by a spiritual aspirant.
2-InordertodiscoverthehiddennatureofGod,emphasisisplacedonstudyandinquiryintothe
natureofthings.WhoamI?Whatistheuniversecomposedof?WhoisGod?HowamIrelatedto
God?Thesearethequestionswhichwhenpursued,leadtothediscoveryoftheSelf(God).Those
whodonotengageinthisformofinquirywillgeneratearealityforthemselvesaccordingtotheirbe-
liefs.Somepeoplebelievetheyhavetheanswers,thattheuniverseisatomsandelectronsorenergy.
Othersbelievethatthebodyisthesoulandthatthereisnothingelse.Stillothersbelievethatthemind
isthesoulorthatthereisnosoulandnoGod.Thefirstqualificationforseriousaspirationisthatyou
haveaseriousconvictionthatyouaregreaterthanjustafiniteindividualmortalbody,thatyouarean
immortalbeingwhoissomehowmixedupwithatemporalform(body).Ifthisconvictionispresent,