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Firstly, what is a community? For the purpose of this brief discussion community means "a group who share a common belief." This belief of course translates into certain communal actions. This is called ritual. Those beliefs and actions based on those beliefs should lead to a shared (communal) experience. In a nutshell the definition of religion is- myth (belief system), ritual (communal actions affirming the belief) and mysticism (metaphysics-enlightenment). However, if the religion does not have this perspective or if its program is disjointed, based on ignorance or is not understood, it will not have that outcome of promoting spiritual enlightenment and spiritual evolution. So this issue is the first in a series that examines and establishes the parameters for what it means to have a community of Shetaut Neter, and what it means to be part of such a community.

The Community of Shetaut Neter should be concerned with two issues. First, those who follow the Neterian path need to come together and acknowledge their common faith. This means worshipping together as well as studying the teachings together. Secondly, they must act on their faith. This means building temples and living in accordance with the teachings. If the actions are not there to support the faith, the faith will wither away. In the Rekh Medu Neter (Ancient Egyptian Wisdom Texts) there is a term, Sedjm. It means to hearken. The Djaasu (Sages) said that an aspirant should Sedjm the teachings. Many hear the teachings but then do not ACT in accordance with them. They continue the past behaviors, past thoughts, past actions. This is not truly part of the Neterian community. A community is a group of people who share a common vision, a common ideal and who work together to support and nurture the goals of the community. The term sedjm means to "listen and obey," not "hear and do whatever you want to do" or "hear and do nothing." A human being always has a choice in action: maatian (virtuous) or setian (demoniac). If you choose to sedjm you are not being controlled, you are choosing to follow a path. Until you surrender your egoism, your personal desires, your ignorance and doubts and offer yourself to the teaching, you will not be truly part of the Neterian community. If you choose this path do so because you recognize the truth in it; you realize that the path you have been on has led you to suffering and pain. Do so because you want a better way of life, that is good and true, a path that leads to higher consciousness and self-discovery, the way to discover God within. The community needs your support but in turn it supports you in a way that the world cannot. So do not allow others to work while you sit back and watch, and then point to their failure. You have no right to do that.

So community is coming together and acting for the common good, shouldering the burdens, sharing the loads. When this occurs, the individual contributes to the universal and the ego becomes humble, and the heart becomes pure. When people come together there is no task too great; there is more than the sum of the parts, and thus there is more power, more capacity to follow the Neterian path and this enhances one's capacity to handle the lower nature, to control the vices and egoistic desires and thereby attain the higher goals of life. The duty of every aspirant is to reflect on how to join and make the community of Neter viable, sustainable and effective for their own sake, and that of posterity.

Coming together occurs on many levels. First there is a coming together of speech. When you hear someone talking about the teachings, the Neterian Path, that is the communion of speech. You may talk about it, discuss it, etc. Next there is a communion of thought. You may discuss ideas, share your impressions about it, is this for me, how would it be if I were to follow this path, etc. If the thoughts progress then you may consider "this is the path I want to follow, how can I join this and help it to grow and flourish, how can we all come together, contribute to a project that will help us all to follow it more effectively and serve humanity?" Next should come the actions. Having discussed, having thought, the first action is decision, decide on what is to be done (goal), then on how to do it (objectives) and then set out to work. All actions towards the teachings promote positive evolution and thus have some value. The aspirant should understand that the most effective actions are sustained, not intermittent. Following the teaching for a day, a moth or a year and then going back to the world, or saying you are part of the community but going to class or worship sessions seldom, these are not effective actions. To be effective, the actions need to be sustained indefinitely, giving enough time for the personality to change and for the actions to bear their fruit in time and space. The objectives being worked towards should be attainable and the work must be honest, committed and faithful. Following the Neterian path is not about you and your individual desires. Yet if you do follow it, you will discover that your personal misgivings, failures and faults will be resolved, cleansed and transcended in a mysterious and wonderful way. But you must be relentless, faithful and regular, consistent with your practice, and if you fail in this you must forgive yourself and try again and again until you succeed. There is no room for egoism, vanity, personalities, selfishness, etc. Those are the qualities of Set, that which is demoniac, ignorant, arrogant in life, and which has led you to where you are. If that is what you want then the Neterian Path is not for you- it cannot help you. Rather it will be a source of misery because you will constantly be faced with guilt at not practicing what you know is true. Following the Neterian path is about following the Neter. Following the Neterian path is about discovering the virtue within you, the shining reflection of Heru (the Divine light) within you. Everything that enhances that ability to follow is positive for followers and the community of Shetaut Neter.

The creation of a place of worship and the coming together to worship, listen to and study the teachings, and meditation on the teachings are the foundation of the Neterian Community. The skeleton of the community are those who disseminate the teaching and lead the worship and meditations. The leaders should be respected but also assisted. All must contribute to the success of the community.

Those who believe in the teachings of Shetaut Neter are referred to as Shemsu {followers}. If a person seeks out others on the Neterian Path, worship, meditate, study the teachings at the appointed times, and then as a group openly and publicly affirm and uphold the teachings of Shetaut Neter, then they can consider themselves as part of the Neterian community. Wherever they may be, in jail, in another country, etc., they are part of the Neterian community. If the disciplines are practiced at the appointed hour there is a coordination of ritual action, a subtle connection of mind, a synchronicity of souls with others around the world and this adds to the power of the practice. Each individual community may have a leader, a coordinator, a person who is advancing and who has studied for a longer period than others. Naturally, the smaller, scattered communities are part of one whole community being led by the high priest who in turn is led by God.

Firstly, what do we believe? Shetaut Neter is the belief in the Supreme Being as it was handed down from ancient times from God to the priests and priestesses of ancient Kamit. Shetaut means "secret" and Neter means "Divine." The Secret Divine is the existence and manifestation of God.