Know Yourself

There are numerous things that make a man. First, we must understand that a man must  be developed which means there must be a sort of curriculum for him to follow and a  unit of measurement to estimate manhood. Let me first begin with what develops us.  Always beginning with the fact that we are spiritual beings having a human experience  we must understand that the core of the man is his spirit. This is therefore paramount  in his development. What develops the spirit are virtues, by those virtues a male  establishes his standard and principles— these culminate to make his foundation. Once  he is in agreement with himself to build such a foundation his ability to stand on it no  matter what is what we call struggle. Struggle is the test of a man's virtues, principles  and thereby his character. The test a man endures proves to himself his manhood and  from those lessons he understands himself and how to be. A man must be tested and  understand that his response is a lesson to himself, his response must align with his  foundation. If it does not, he will know what kind of male he is. 

The development of the mind is closely linked to the establishment of virtues and  principles. However, because the mind deals with both the abstract and the concrete.  The mind must be schooled in the practical application of things as well as  understanding structure. Thus, a mans education is the foundation for his mental  manhood. A non-educated man is undeveloped but may still transcend in areas of virtue  and principle. Because a man is not formerly educated does not mean he is not a man,  it means he is lacking and if his virtues and principles are true, or if he is true to them.  He will seek out that which will educate him so that he may complete his circle of  knowledge. This is how some come to be sages. This text will explain virtues, principles,  and the application of those as key steps to attaining manhood. 

THE TEN VIRTUES 

1. Control Thought & 2. Control Action. Such is the beginning of mastery. Remember,  we tell our children that a king is the master of himself and his environment. A man  who cannot control his thoughts and cannot control his actions is not the master of  himself. He is an animal acting on impulse. The control of thought and action are the  basis for the enactment of free will. This is why we fast but a fool, or child-like mind  believes fasting is only about not eating and therefore suffers. It is about control over  animal passions. In meditation the key to relaxation is relaxing the tongue. When the  tongue is relaxed the entire body relaxes. The tongue is an oar it is small but it steers an  entire ship. Understand that the tongue is to man what the tail is to the dog. 

3. Steadfastness of Purpose: This devotion is not swayed easily this requires, focus,  diligence and sureness of self. When we have steadfastness of purpose we tell people,  "You can be anything in this world, except my downfall."

4. Identity with the spiritual life and higher ideals: A man cannot think he is simply a  man. He must understand where the core of him comes from in order to understand  his purpose and the duty he has to those who came before him and those who will  come after. 

5. Evidence of having a mission in life: A man with no mission cannot be a king.  Because a king is a general, there is always a mission and if there is none a man is going  nowhere. No matter what he accumulates it is still standing in place without progress. 

6. Deep Insight: A man who is not able to tap into himself cannot gather from the well  of what the creator has given him. The sight into self gives a man an accurate assessment  of others and the world around him. 

7. Freedom from resentment when under the experience of persecution and wrong.  Resentment clouds the vision and creates excuses which causes lack of accountability  remember we are the masters of ourselves and our environment. We make our decisions  and therefore we create our circumstances and our world's. When we are able to view  from Ausar, that is the divine perspective of God. We understand that the Self chooses  the best education for Self, it matters not if it is struggle for the physical person or even  if it is trauma or despair our education is necessary to "educe" or bring forth who we  must become. Being resentful does nothing for us. When we are wronged or persecuted  we are tasked with the duty of understanding however, this does not mean to turn the  other cheek. Freedom from resentment means that combat is a necessary function and  not an outgrowth of hatred. This allows us to strategize and engage with a clear head. 

8 & 9. Confidence in the Master as Teacher & Confidence in the ability to learn. 

Philosophers have long conceded, however, that very man has two educations: "that  which is given to him, and the other that which he gives himself. Of the two kinds the  latter is by far the more desirable. Indeed all that is most worthy in a man he must work  out and conquer for himself. It is that which constitutes our real nourishment. What  we are merely taught seldom nourishes the mind like that which we teach ourselves. - 

Dr. Carter G. Woodson 

We do learn from others but we mostly teach or assimilate information for ourselves.  This insinuates an inner wisdom needed to learn but it also implies that there must be  a confidence in one's self in order assimilate the lessons given from the master within.  "When the pupil is ready, then the master will appear." 

10. The ability to distinguish the real from the unreal. A man who does not have vision  to see what is and what isn't is not fit to lead himself, let alone a household, community  or nation. A man may hold a belief but when he comes into knowledge that proves that 

belief wrong or flawed he must be able to see and adjust accordingly, that adjustment  may be painful because it requires the relinquishing of false beliefs. 

Still, it is a necessary part of growth and life. There are many who have eyes and do not  see. They cannot see themselves, they cannot see racism, and they cannot see the trap.  When we allow these males to lead we are all in disorder, and for us disorder is sin  because what we stand on is Ma'at. 

PRINCIPLES 

My principles are based in Ma'at. There is a reason I stress that Ma'at is NOT a religion  because it is a very complex principle that governs all of creation. It is from the principle  of Ma'at that all other principles are measured. Ma'at is a representation of order,  rightness, uprightness, harmony, unity, justice, truth etc. It encompasses a plethora of  concepts but most importantly, it was by this principle of measure that all men were  measured and how men measured themselves. A King was not fit to be king unless he  stood on Ma'at. Ma'at was established at the beginning of time all things stand on Ma'at.  The Principles that come from Maat are: 1. Truth, 2. Justice, 3. Self-Control and  Discipline, 4. Selfless Service, 5. Correct Speech, 6. Correct Reference and Veneration,  7. Balanced Mind, 8. Attaining Highest Self, 9. Protecting, 10. Providing. 

1. Truth is easily understood, not lying, not frauding, not cheating and most importantly  not stopping your ears from hearing the truth. Many men think they love truth but the  truth is they find safety in numbers. Many belief systems are full of fraudulent  information but there is comfort in that deceit because everyone else is there. In Ma'at  we do not forsake our souls or our purpose to live aligned with others or for praise  from men. We live in truth not belief. 

2. Justice: Is understood as being just which means not committing offenses against  fellow humans. This includes nonviolence, however we are to protect ourselves. Justice  is very important because it is how you can see the potential in a man. When we are  truthful, we understand that a man who is not just to himself cannot be just to others. 

Most men are not going to treats others better than themselves. If a man smokes, drinks,  eats poison, the truth of the matter is that no matter what His lip professes he does not  care for himself as a man. A man is to understand balance and live by Ma'at. If he  rationalizes or reasons all that he does and then judges others he is delusional. He is not  living in truth, the first principle, he is living his own truth, and while the world may be  accustomed to accepting personal truths, the truth is that there is only one truth. Justice  is also understood as understanding. I live by the understanding that "Those who  understand are tasked with the duty of understanding." Which means when you live by  truth and justice a certain wisdom accompanies that. It is a wisdom that allows us to 

understand others, the child does not understand because it is learning what is true and  how to apply justice to itself and the world. The fool does not understand because he  believes the words of others as wise and will only find justice in the mercy of others; A  man applies understanding and it is then discernment. He is just with his words and  actions. 

3. Self-Control and Discipline. The evils that come from man are not the devil they are  a result of him succumbing to his lower self and his ego. A man never does what he  does not want to do, the moment he does it, it is because of his choice, his wanting to  commit that act. We discipline ourselves because there is a fact that holds true for us,  "If you do not discipline yourself, you leave room for others to discipline you." 

4. Selfless Service. Many men think that because they are men they should be treated  like kings. "The servant of the people, unlike the leader, is not on a High horse elevated  above the people and trying to carry them to some designated point to which he would  like to go for his own advantage. The servant of the people is down among them, living  as they live, doing what they do and enjoying what they enjoy. 

He may be a little better informed than some other members of the group; it may be  that he has had some experience that they have not had, but in spite of this advantage  he should have more humility than those whom he serves, for we are told that  "Whosoever is greatest among you, let him be your servant." 

5. Correct Speech: We are to speak Ma'at which means more than telling the truth. We  speak when needed, we don't boast, we don't slander, we don't bear false witness. We  don't exaggerate, we don't put on false airs meaning making excuses and not taking  responsibility our speech always reflects our duty. 

6. Correct Reverence and Veneration: I can never tell a nigga he is God, or made in  gods image, he cannot conceive this thought. First, because he doesn't believe in  himself. Worship and veneration is in all that we do as men, we are a reflection of the  creator on earth. 

7. Balanced mind: We have a male and female mind, we have an animal brain and higher  consciousness. We must be able to tap into our feminine as well as our masculine. And  should never let our animal brain control us. Trauma is one of the things that sends the  animal brain into overdrive, it is imperative we heal so that we are able to balance our  mind and shape our reality. 

8. Attaining Highest Self: Starving to become an Ausar. With this we view life from  another plane and we see every situation from a higher level removed from the emotion  and the cloudy vision.

9. Protecting. Many men say that their job is to protect and provide but their true  intentions are revealed by how they speak. They refer to their women as bitches, chick,  or any other animal that they see fit. They can't even guard their tongues long enough  to protect her honor. A man reveals his character in the dark when his woman is not  around. He protects her at every corner. 

10. Provide. Provide, Respect, Safety, Honor, Loyalty, Education, Support,  Understanding, Building, Defense, Guidance etc.—and know what not to provide.