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Philosophy as a Rite of Rebirth: From Ancient Egypt to Neoplatonism &#160;Algis Uzdavinys (Author), 2008&#160;Philosophy as a Rite of Rebirth challenges our understanding of philosophy - indeed it challenges many centuries of assumptions which have reduced othodox philosophy to a shadow of its original.Uzdavinys returns to the very roots of philosophy in Ancient Egypt, and shows why the Greeks revered that land of pyramids and priest-kings as the source of divine wisdom. Bringing his understanding of many great traditions of philosophy - Indian, Islamic, Greek, and others - he presents the case for considering philosophy as a human participation in a theophany, or divine drama. Casting aside the unnatural limitations of modern philosophy, as well as the grave misunderstandings of Egyptologists, radical and exciting possibilities emerge for the serious philosopher. These possibilities will certainly change our view of the universe in general, but most particularly our view of ourselves. The Rebirth of the title is one that implies an expansion of consciousness both upwards towards the divine heights of reality, and outwards to embrace the whole of creation as a living image of the gods. The exercises of philosophy thus move from the rational to the intuitive, onward to pure contemplation and, ultimately, to a god-like energy in the divine drama.(Text by the author)&#160;Table of Contents&#160;PREFACEINTRODUCTIONI - UNDERSTANDING ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY  Philosophy and the Eternal Wonder Learning to Live and Learning to Die Ancient Practices of Wisdom The True Ancient Philosophy and the Way of Pious Living Understanding of Ancient Philosophy by Porphyry and Augustine From the Egyptian Soil to Hellas Translatability of Divine Names in Ancient Civilizations Heracles and Philosophical Ascent From Akhenaten to Thales Thales and the Egyptian Myths Water as Metaphysical Principle and Divine Substance Metaphysical Meaning of Ancient Mythologies Pythagorean Numbers and their Paradigms Standing on the Solar Barque Celestial Nile as the Cause of Geometry The Apollonian Road to Rebirth Philosophy as Divine Mystagogy and Beneficial Madness Philosophy and the Power of Faith: Towards the Final Union&#160;II - ETERNAL MEASURES AND SYMBOLS OF EGYPTIAN SAGES  On the Back of the Heavenly Cow Proteus and the Egyptian Wisdom Allegorical Myths and Philosophy in the Temples Porphyry De abstinentia IV.6-9 Sacred Animals, Philosophers, and Cosmic Numbers Hieratic Powers and Symbols of the Ineffable Father Philosophical Life of the Egyptian Priests Proximity of the Gods and the Bau of Amun Perfumes, Images, and Contemplations Divine Knowledge and Paradigms for Philosophical Mysteries Priests and Spiritual Guides Egyptian Scribes and the Way of Imhotep Amenhotep and Theology of Amun&#160;III - IN THE REALM OF DIVINE SEMIOTICS  The Ramesside Icon and Three Hypostases of Plotinus Back to One‟s Native Star Archetypal Foundation of Hieroglyphic Signs and Colours Divine Ideas and Symbols Symbolic Interpretation of Hieroglyphic Script Return to the Golden Age and Paradigms to be Imitated Hieratic Myths and Symbols All Things and All Hieroglyphs Ancient Theories of Ideas Proclus ‟ Conception of Divine Forms and Unities&#160;IV - BEING IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN AND NEOPLATONIC THOUGHT  From Eidology to Metaphysics of Being and Beyond-Being Hierarchy of Priority and Posteriority Indivisible and Divisible Being The One as Foundation of Being Incomprehensible Divine Unities Images of Divine Light The One and Many according to Egyptians Levels of Being and Non-being The Lord of Totality and His Magic Cosmogonical and Ontological Principles Invisible God and His Theophanies&#160;V - RITUALS OF DEIFICATION AND THEURGIC ASCENT  Depreciation of Hieratic Rites Rituals and Sacred Masks Climbing to the Divine State Cosmos and the Sacred Harmony of Strings On the Wing of Thoth: the Theurgic Way of Ra Divine Triads in Egyptian and Neoplatonic Thought Theurgic Assimilation to the Gods Deification through the Eye of Horus Spiritual Teachers and Sacred Masters Radiant Power of Names and Flight to the Throne Theurgic Union with the Divine Principle Intellect of the Father and His Cosmic Drama Elevating Powers in the Pharaonic State-Body The Perfect Man who Slew the Lords Theurgic Rites and Sacramental Theologies&#160;VI - ANIMATION OF STATUES IN ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS  AND NEOPLATONISM  Sacred Images and Idols Vehicles of Divine Forces The Living Images of Everlasting Gods Animation as Ritual of Union with the Descending Rays of Ra Opening of the Mouth and Awakening to Light The Sacramental Birth of Statues in Mesopotamia and Egypt The Way of the Golden Falcon When the Womb-like Tomb is Opened Divine Beauty and the Inner Golden Statue: From Egyptian Theology to Plotinus&#160;VII - TELESTIC TRANSFORMATION AND PHILOSOPHICAL REBIRTH  Philosophy in the Tomb-Sanctuary The Tomb as a Threshold of Light Sacrificial Alchemy of Tombs and Altars Alchemical Passage through Death Mummification and Dialectic Musicians, Lovers, and Philosophers Divine Knowledge and Theurgic Prayers Intellect as the Spirit of Light The Osirian Initiation and Separation from the Mortal Body Resurrection of the Golden Phoenix Two Ways of theAmduat  The Union of Osiris and Ra The Inner Alchemical Work and Return to Itself Metaphysics of the Heart Understanding of Soul and Body The Homecoming of Odysseus From the Homeric Ghost to the Immortal Soul of Plato Reawakening of Intellect and Rehabilitation of Images&#160;GLOSSARYSELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHYINDEXCATALOGUE