Ra Un Nefer Amen
Encyclopedia
Ra Un Nefer Amen is the founder of the Ausar Auset Society
, a Pan-African religious organization dedicated to providing Afrocentric based spiritual training to people of African descent.
. His initial exposure to African culture came through his visits to the island of San Miguel
where many enslaved Africans had escaped to after being brought to Panama in the 18th century by Spaniards to work in the gold mines. These Africans, of primarily East
and Central Africa
n descent, have been able to maintain much of their traditional culture through the intervening period. It was the early experiences of this phenomenon that shaped his young self.
Amen attended Panama's Conservatory of Music when he was six years old. He arrived in the United States on May 30, 1960 to continue his formal musical training and graduated from the Brooklyn High School for Boys in Brooklyn, New York in 1961. Upon graduating, Amen continued his formal training at Juilliard Prep (Pre-College Division) and Mannes College of Music
.
ian philosophy and spiritual culture, most notably Metu Neter (Vol. 1 & 2) and the Metu Neter Oracle.
One of Ra Un Nefer Amen's early works, Meditation Techniquies of the Kabalists, Vedantins and Taoists provides specific instruction for student initiates. Instructions are provided for "moral laws" (pg. 16) or body-mind laws required for returning to a correct way of living, i.e., a way of living not deviated (see fall of man) or based upon unnatural conditionings. Adherence to these laws will produce in the practitioner an understanding of the Soul, Will and Consciousness (the three principles that constitute an exact knowledge of the Self). Returning to a proper way of living is a prerequisite bridge to be crossed through methods which include maintaining a proper diet. R.A. Straughn (as he called himself at the time of the book's publication in the late 1970s) pointed out, for example, that the most people eat a diet "severely low in fresh fruits" (page 20). Included is a specific regiment for Hatha Yoga
techniques including postures Asana
s and breathing exercises Pranayama
including, specifically, a technique called Dhumo
Breathing used for the purpose of cleansing the energy channels of the subtle body (see Nadis)
).
The book describes the three states of consciousness from Yoga
science which were perhaps first documented in Patañjali's
Yoga Sutra's
: Dhyāna
, Dhāraṇā
, and Samadhi
. Emphasis is placed upon the ability to control these states of consciousness, and thus avoid "sowing" in to one's consciousness, the "seeds" of thoughts which enter without the operation of one's will (only to cause un-willed thoughts to return again later and thus increase the likelihood of producing action and a further binding to one's conditionings).
The book also includes an introduction to the Chinese I Ching
Oracle
--a method of Divination
for providing answers to questions about one's path. The book warns practitioners not to use the I Ching improperly, and only ask questions which the student has made every effort to answer before submitting them to the I Ching (abuse of the I Ching will lead to answers which cannot be comprehended, appear nonsensical, or offer no value).
Ra Un Nefer Amen currently leads an international following as the "Shekhem Ur Shekhem" ("Chief Priest and King") of the Ausar Auset Society headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.
, Nana Kwame Akuoko Sarpong, to host the first Durbar (royal reception) for an African king ever held outside of Africa. Thus, in October 1985 the Shekhem Ur Shekhem Ra Un Nefer Amen hosted the Durbar for Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II.
In November 1985, Amen attended the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the Ashanti Confederacy, at the invitation of the Asantehene in Kumasi
, Ghana
, West Africa where he was enstooled as an Omanhene
of the Ashanti on November 15, 1985. During this visit Amen was also presented the Epoh Stool officially establishing an alliance between the Kingship of the Ashanti and the Kingship of the Ausar Auset. He was further conferred the position of Paramount King under the title of Odeneho (King of Kings). Additionally, Amen was enstooled by Nana Kwame Akuoko Sarpong as co-ruler of Agogo State in Ghana on November 18, 1985.
In his role as cultural liaison between African-Americans and the National Ghanaian House of Chiefs, the Shekhem Ur Shekhem, along with the Ghanaian community in the United States have sponsored Durbars for several other kings of Africa, including Togbi Adeladza V, King of the Ewe
; Nii Aumgi V, King of the Ga
; Nana Adodankwa III, King of Okuapemman, and others. In 1986, Ra Un Nefer Amen was given a formal reception by President Jerry Rawlings
of Ghana as an official guest to the dedication of the Nkrumah Mausoleum Memorial in Accra
, Ghana. In 1991, Amen was the official guest of the Oni of the Yoruba
kingdom of Ife
, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse in Nigeria
, where he was the sole African-American dignitary to the first Ile Ife Reconstruction Project. He was also received by the Emir of Kano, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Ado Bayero
.
Ausar Auset Society
The Ausar Auset Society is a Pan-African religious organization founded in 1973 by Ra Un Nefer Amen for the purpose of providing members a societal framework through which the Kemetic spiritual way of life can be lived and to promote Rosicrucian values...
, a Pan-African religious organization dedicated to providing Afrocentric based spiritual training to people of African descent.
Early life
Ra Un Nefer Amen was born in the Central American country of PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. His initial exposure to African culture came through his visits to the island of San Miguel
San Miguel
San Miguel, Spanish for Saint Michael, describes numerous locations.-Argentina:*San Miguel Partido*San Miguel, Buenos Aires*San Miguel Arcángel , a Volga German colony in Adolfo Alsina Partido, Buenos Aires Province...
where many enslaved Africans had escaped to after being brought to Panama in the 18th century by Spaniards to work in the gold mines. These Africans, of primarily East
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
and Central Africa
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
n descent, have been able to maintain much of their traditional culture through the intervening period. It was the early experiences of this phenomenon that shaped his young self.
Amen attended Panama's Conservatory of Music when he was six years old. He arrived in the United States on May 30, 1960 to continue his formal musical training and graduated from the Brooklyn High School for Boys in Brooklyn, New York in 1961. Upon graduating, Amen continued his formal training at Juilliard Prep (Pre-College Division) and Mannes College of Music
Mannes College of Music
Mannes College The New School for Music is The New School university's music conservatory. While the university's main campus is located in Greenwich Village, New York City, Mannes maintains its main academic building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan....
.
Spiritual work
Trained originally as a concert pianist, composer, and music theoretician, Amen passed on opportunities in the music industry to devote time to the spiritual education and uplift of African people. To accomplish this goal, he has written and published several books on the subject of ancient EgyptAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
ian philosophy and spiritual culture, most notably Metu Neter (Vol. 1 & 2) and the Metu Neter Oracle.
One of Ra Un Nefer Amen's early works, Meditation Techniquies of the Kabalists, Vedantins and Taoists provides specific instruction for student initiates. Instructions are provided for "moral laws" (pg. 16) or body-mind laws required for returning to a correct way of living, i.e., a way of living not deviated (see fall of man) or based upon unnatural conditionings. Adherence to these laws will produce in the practitioner an understanding of the Soul, Will and Consciousness (the three principles that constitute an exact knowledge of the Self). Returning to a proper way of living is a prerequisite bridge to be crossed through methods which include maintaining a proper diet. R.A. Straughn (as he called himself at the time of the book's publication in the late 1970s) pointed out, for example, that the most people eat a diet "severely low in fresh fruits" (page 20). Included is a specific regiment for Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
techniques including postures Asana
Asana
Asana is a body position, typically associated with the practice of Yoga, originally identified as a mastery of sitting still, with the spine as a conduit of biodynamic union...
s and breathing exercises Pranayama
Pranayama
Pranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "extension of the prana or breath" or more accurately, "extension of the life force". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to extend, draw out, restrain, or...
including, specifically, a technique called Dhumo
Tummo
Tummo is one of the methods of the Kagyu Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism used to recognize the ultimate nature of reality...
Breathing used for the purpose of cleansing the energy channels of the subtle body (see Nadis)
Nadi (yoga)
' are the channels through which, in traditional Indian medicine and spiritual science, the energies of the subtle body are said to flow. They connect at special points of intensity called chakras...
).
The book describes the three states of consciousness from Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
science which were perhaps first documented in Patañjali's
Patañjali
Patañjali is the compiler of the Yoga Sūtras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice. According to tradition, the same Patañjali was also the author of the Mahābhāṣya, a commentary on Kātyāyana's vārttikas on Pāṇini's Aṣṭādhyāyī as well as an unspecified work of medicine .In...
Yoga Sutra's
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali are 194 Indian sūtras that constitute the foundational text of Rāja Yoga. Yoga is one of the six orthodox āstika schools of Hindu philosophy, and Rāja Yoga is the highest practice....
: Dhyāna
Dhyana in Hinduism
According to the Hindu Yoga Sutra, written by Patanjali, dhyana is one of the eight limbs of Yoga, ....
, Dhāraṇā
Dharana
Dhāraṇā is translated as "collection or concentration of the mind ", or "the act of holding, bearing, wearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back , a good memory", or "firmness, steadfastness, ... , certainty"...
, and Samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
. Emphasis is placed upon the ability to control these states of consciousness, and thus avoid "sowing" in to one's consciousness, the "seeds" of thoughts which enter without the operation of one's will (only to cause un-willed thoughts to return again later and thus increase the likelihood of producing action and a further binding to one's conditionings).
The book also includes an introduction to the Chinese I Ching
I Ching
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
Oracle
Oracle
In Classical Antiquity, an oracle was a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic predictions or precognition of the future, inspired by the gods. As such it is a form of divination....
--a method of Divination
Divination
Divination is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic standardized process or ritual...
for providing answers to questions about one's path. The book warns practitioners not to use the I Ching improperly, and only ask questions which the student has made every effort to answer before submitting them to the I Ching (abuse of the I Ching will lead to answers which cannot be comprehended, appear nonsensical, or offer no value).
Ra Un Nefer Amen currently leads an international following as the "Shekhem Ur Shekhem" ("Chief Priest and King") of the Ausar Auset Society headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.
Cultural liaison
In 1984 he was selected by the Ashanti King of AgogoAgogo, Ghana
Agogo is a city in Asante Akim North District of Ashanti Region of Ghana. Agogo is approximately 80 kilometers east of Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital.The 2000 Ghana census recorded a population of 28,271 in Agogo...
, Nana Kwame Akuoko Sarpong, to host the first Durbar (royal reception) for an African king ever held outside of Africa. Thus, in October 1985 the Shekhem Ur Shekhem Ra Un Nefer Amen hosted the Durbar for Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II.
In November 1985, Amen attended the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the Ashanti Confederacy, at the invitation of the Asantehene in Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, West Africa where he was enstooled as an Omanhene
Omanhene
In several Akan nations of Ghana, the Omanhene is the title of the supreme traditional ruler in a region or a larger town. The omanhene is the central figure and institution of the nation. He has no function in the Ghanaian state, but has an enormous effect on the people that constitute it.The...
of the Ashanti on November 15, 1985. During this visit Amen was also presented the Epoh Stool officially establishing an alliance between the Kingship of the Ashanti and the Kingship of the Ausar Auset. He was further conferred the position of Paramount King under the title of Odeneho (King of Kings). Additionally, Amen was enstooled by Nana Kwame Akuoko Sarpong as co-ruler of Agogo State in Ghana on November 18, 1985.
In his role as cultural liaison between African-Americans and the National Ghanaian House of Chiefs, the Shekhem Ur Shekhem, along with the Ghanaian community in the United States have sponsored Durbars for several other kings of Africa, including Togbi Adeladza V, King of the Ewe
Ewe people
The Ewe are a people located in the southeast corner of Ghana, east of the Volta River, in an area now described as the Volta Region, in southern Togo and western Benin...
; Nii Aumgi V, King of the Ga
Ga people
The Ga-Adangbe are an ethnic group in the West African nation of Ghana. It is part of the Dangme ethnic group. The Ga people are grouped as part of theGa–Dangme ethnolinguistic group. They speak Kwa languages...
; Nana Adodankwa III, King of Okuapemman, and others. In 1986, Ra Un Nefer Amen was given a formal reception by President Jerry Rawlings
Jerry Rawlings
Jerry John Rawlings is a former leader of the Republic of Ghana and now the African Union envoy to Somalia. Rawlings ruled Ghana as a military dictator in 1979 and from 1981 to 1992 and then as the first elected president of the Fourth Republic from 1993 to 2001...
of Ghana as an official guest to the dedication of the Nkrumah Mausoleum Memorial in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, Ghana. In 1991, Amen was the official guest of the Oni of the Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
kingdom of Ife
Ife
Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...
, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, where he was the sole African-American dignitary to the first Ile Ife Reconstruction Project. He was also received by the Emir of Kano, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Ado Bayero
Alhaji Ado Bayero
Sir Alhaji Dr. Ado Bayero is the current Emir of Kano in Nigeria, having held the position since 1963. He is a son of the late Abdullahi Bayero dan Muhammad Abbas, himself an Emir of Kano. Bayero is a former ambassador to Senegal...
.