MYSTICAL ELEMENTS IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TRADITION

Abstract

The article examines mystical elements within the Ancient Egyptian tradition. In Ancient Egyptian culture, mysticism was viewed not merely as a collection of religious rituals, but as an esoteric system that clarified the structure of the universe and man's place within the spiritual hierarchy. For the first time, the idea that chosen individuals could achieve enlightenment (attaining secret knowledge) within temples was put forward in Ancient Egypt. The primary goal during enlightenment was the union of the human with divine consciousness. This principle, manifested in Egyptian mystical thought, was later presented as the main objective of the mystic in subsequent mystical movements.The article points out that "magic" in Egypt was accepted as a transformation technology - a force that regulated the cosmic order and prevented chaos. The training undergone by initiated members (bearers of secrets) in the great teaching temples of Ancient Egypt included both the development and use of inherent human abilities and extrasensory perception. Extrasensory perception was understood as communication with the gods, mystical knowledge, and the acquisition of hidden information through dreams. In Ancient Egypt, it was accepted that the mystical tradition was not for everyone, but only for those capable of perceiving it.Mystical knowledge was obtained by awakening the primordial forces that remained latent in human nature. During this awakening, a transformation of physical qualities occurred. In the mysteries, human souls were purified by liberating themselves from the material world and drew closer to God. Since the human soul, possessing a divine nature, originated from the divine realm and was embodied in the physical form, the main goal of the mysteries was to restore the connection between the soul and its divine source. According to the Egyptian mystical tradition, knowledge could be obtained not only through rational means but also through mystical experience and the decoding of symbols. The article concludes that the fundamental principle of mysticism - consisting of the process of human transformation and the ability to unite with the divine force after enlightenment - had its initial elements formed precisely in Egypt. The mystical knowledge originating in Ancient Egypt was later transformed into Greek philosophy, laying the foundation for Western mystical thought.