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to the arbitrary kind of word-analysis. They created the word 'Sura' in an unjustified manner by isolating the initial 'a' from 'asura."6 They, then, applied the word sura for their Ganapatis and word asura for the Rājās of their adversaries. The Asuras were self-sacrificing people. The legend of Osiris is centred round the self-sacrifice of Osiris himself and his regeneration. Osiris was regarded as the highest spiritual personage in Egypt and Pharaoh was his subordinate. When the spiritual culture of Egypt began to decline, the later Pharaohs began to call themselves the son of Osiris or living Osiris." Osiris was the highest spiritual saint of Egypt and after his death, another such personage occupied his seat. The cult of Osiris was the most important cult in Egypt because it belonged to all the classes from the highest to the lowest.
Osiris, by practice and precept, taught the people of Egypt certain basic truths. When the individual at his death went before Osiris, he claimed a better future life because he had lived according to
Egyptian Spiritual Tenets
the way taught by him. That basic way contains fundamental truths which I classify as follows:
1. Tenets of Non-Violence.
I have not slain.
I have not given orders to slay.
I have not ill-treated animals.
I have not driven cattle from their pastures.
I have not hunted the birds.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. I did not take away food.
8.
9.
10.
I have not caught fish in the marshes.
I have not made anyone weep.
I have not done violence to the poor.
I have not made anyone sick.
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