The Complex
Concept of Maat in Kemetic Philosophy
Notes from a
lecture by Theophile Obenga
The Meaning of Maat:
The word MAAT, in Pharonic languages translates to mean,
Truth, Justice, Righteousness, Balance and Order. It's
opposite being "Isfet", which means, lacking in justice; out
of balance, disorder, etc.
MAATS BEGINNINGS:
The socio-historical setting of MAAT reaches back to
pre-dynastic Kemet from 4000 BCE-3500 BCE, at the time when
the Egyptian state was established out of 2 kingdoms- Upper
and Lower Egypt- in 2 successive unions. This was during the
time of King Mena's conquest of Lower Egypt and its uniting
with Upper Egypt.
Now there are 5 realities and 5 Dimensions of MAAT:
| Dimensions |
|
Realities |
| 1. Religions |
|
The Religions are
Sacred |
| 2. Cosmic |
|
Cosmos |
| 3. Political |
|
State |
| 4. Social |
|
Society |
| 5.
Anthropological |
|
Man |
|
|
|
MAAT in Its' Religious Dimension:
When MAAT concerns God in a religious dimension, you are
dealing with Theology. Because theology is the science of
the study of God.
MAAT as it pertains to the Cosmos:
MAAT is in direct coexistence with the SUN, STARS, MOON
etc., as a cosmic phenomena, which also has a religious
dimension. Meaning that the SUN/STARS, have a religious
aspect.
The political/cosmos dimension of MAAT:
The political, being the state, or the nation of Kemet, also
has a religious dimension. An example of this would be the
Pharaonic institution. This is why the Pharaoh was called
"Sa-Ra (The son-0f-the-Sun)." Which is why the state in
ancient Kmt was divine.
Religious Dimension of MAAT:
Meant that the society had to have a religious imperative in
order to have social order. Meaning, they had a religious
dimension to social order.
In Dealing with MAN:
This was considered Religious Anthropology: which in many
ways is a New Science. Because you not only have
Anthropology, but "Religious Anthropology." Because man had
to learn to deal with MAAT in a religious dimension, as MAN.
(i.e. in Kmt they believed that Man had many souls, Ka, Ba
and so on. And that those souls were what made up his
spirit.
a) MAAT in dealing with the Sacred or God, had a Cosmic
aspect also. Also known as the "Cosmic Dimension of God."
The Cosmic Dimension of MAAT or the Cosmos of MAAT, is
the study of Cosmology. Cosmology: includes
astronomy, physics, math, etc. This was important because in
order to understand nature, the world universe, the cosmos,
-you had to understand first the above sciences. So MAAT was
also the "Study of Global Sciences."
MAAT In The Cosmic-Dimension of The State:
-Even the royalty if Pharaonic times had a cosmic dimension.
Not only a Religious dimension, but the entire universe. So
Pharaoh was not only the ruler of the state, but was
responsible for the entire universe. Because the state
belongs to MAAT. So Royalty was also cosmic.
Society also had its own cosmic dimension as a result of
MAAT, along with the religious dimension. And with this
understanding, it brings to MAN Immortality and the cosmic
light. In KMT, they believed that man did not die, but that
you become a part of the Cosmic-Dimension of the universe
when you past on. That was the meaning of immortality in
ancient Egypt. That you belong to the cosmic-dimension of
the universe.
The Political Dimension Of The Cosmos
Is the SUN-Political dimension of the state dealing with MAN
is know as the study of Political Science. The states
Political dimension of MAAT was called the "JA-TI", which
was the administration. Which was presided over by the king
himself, who was the chief administrator of the state or
country. He was in charge of the management of the state,
i.e., the Nile, the resources and the distribution of the
resources. The society in its political dimension as far as
MAAT is concerned, was not only religious, or political, but
also cosmic. As far as MAN and his political dimension, he
must totally depend on the State. There was no such thing as
revolution in Ancient KMT. For to be against the State, is
to be against the divine. So one must obey the state. No
revolution, no violence, etc., because this leads to
disharmony, disorder, and hence the breakdown of MAAT. There
was no aggressiveness because this destroys the divine
order, the political order, the religious order and the
cosmic order.
With MAAT the Gods even had a Social Dimension
Ethics, morals, values, are mandated by the Gods. This is
the social dimension of God as far as MAAT is concerned.
That the values are guaranteed by Gods in the social
dimension. In other words, you can't acquire values or
morals just-like-that. It had to come from God who was also
involved in the society. Which in turn affected the behavior
of man.
The Social Dimension of the Cosmic Process is the Action.
All actions have a Cosmic Dimension.
In the social dimension of politics, the Pharaoh in dealing
with MAAT, must protect the country. So when he went to war,
it wasn't to conquer other lands, but to repel others away
from the state who knew nothing about MAAT. It was not to
colonize. It was to protect the country against chaos. So
they had to accomplish the will of MAAT by protecting the
country.
The Society as the Social Dimension of MAAT (also known
as Sociology).
MAN in his social dimension, as far as MAAT is concerned,
has to have a sense of community in the form of solidarity.
Integration harmony, all had to be done by the order of
MAAT. Your responsible for your community.
Unity:
Anthropological Dimension of the MAAT of God; as it
pertains to Man In KMT, they believed that you can't
know God. The Anthropological dimension of God as seen by
the ancient Kemetic was through Anthropomorphism- Their view
of God was anthropomorphic. In other words, you give to the
Gods your own form. All Gods were anthropomorphic. Meaning
that you create God in your own image. This is the
anthropological dimension of MAAT as far as the sacred is
concerned.
The Anthropological Dimension of The Cosmos as it
pertains to MAAT:
The ancients of KMT said that death, life, old age, etc.,
are cosmic phenomena. It is a part of the cosmic process.
This is why they didn't fear death. They believed that when
you died, you became a part of the cosmic process of
integration.
+ The Anthropological Dimension of MAAT as it relates to
the State:
The state provides all aspects of life to MAN. Even in
death. For ex. The state was in charge of entombment.
Anthropological Dimension of Society as far as MAAT is
concerned:
is social memory, consciousness. Meaning you must know your
parents, mother's family, father's family-your ancestors.
This was very important for MAAT. You must have cultural
memory. To have this is to link you to MAAT. There can be no
MAAT without it. You must have knowledge of your values,
your art, your language, your culture etc. This is why the
Anthropological dimension of MAN is really a new science.
Because of MAAT. So there are many sciences involved with
the implementation of MAAT. Sociology of MAAT, The Theology
of MAAT, Cosmology of MAAT, etc.
MAATIAN Dimension of Beauty:
Beauty was also worshipped under MAAT, which they called
"Neferu". The arts, architecture, crafts, etc. had to be
beautiful in ancient KMT because of MAAT.
There was also the MAATIAN Dimension in Medicine and
Healing:
Where they used herbs in pharmacology. But the herbs had to
have a Cosmic Dimension before they could be used to heal.
In other words; they selection of certain herbs is based on
the position of the sun, or the moon at a certain time of
day. Or when the "Star Sirius" is at a certain point in the
sky. Or the picking of herbs at a certain time of day or
night. This is MAATS Cosmic Dimension of pharmacology.
There is also the Social Dimension to Healing. Certain
prayers or hymns or giving libation to the ancestors in the
form of good speech in asking for help in healing, was used
to cure the sick.
The Symbol of MAAT is the Feather
Because MAAT is very light, but can be very heavy because of
the things we just mentioned above. MAAT is balance, both
light and heavy. Social MAAT: to practice social MAAT is to
have active solidarity, reciprocity. Taking care of one
another. Also community solidarity.
MAAT in The Goal of Education in Ancient KMT:
The first process of MAAT in education was that man must
learn how to listen first. They called it "OMO". And when
you do speak, your voice must be "just". Which they called,
speak with (MA-ERU)
MAAT in the Role of The Pharaoh
His definition was the (chief-0f-action) In charge of all
provisions allocated to the divine power (of God). To
protect and secure the county. This was the Pharaohs job.
Conclusion
So you can see, MAAT can be used to explain everything. The
worship of God, the political, sociological,
anthropological, the cosmic and the religious aspects of
man. It is through MAAT that we can transform ourselves, to
rebuild a new African World Order. Let us walk with MAAT in
our lives for the creation of a new vision, a new hope, a
new world and a new spiritual dimension for all African
people.
By: Richard Fields
