04-08-2011, 12:00 AM
From a documentary...
The
Declaration of Innocence Of The Dead Before the Gods of the Tribunal At The
Weighing Of The Heart
When passing through the underworld, one of the last in a series of challenges is the journeyer must pass through a hall of 42 demons and face each one through a doorway. The demon will show the traveler a past action they did, or else ask them if they did a past action (sin) and the only way to pass the demon is to declare they are innocent of the sin. But they must do it sincerely or else the demon won't buy it. Then if the demon doesn't believe them they have to go into the room where the demon is, be eaten by the demon.
The Book of the Dead contains phrases to say to each demon, to declare one's innocence. This may seem simple enough, but of course its measured on the level of belief. So, say in your history you know you stole something, and the demon of robbery will show you the scene of you stealing. You see yourself in your past doing it. Then you have to turn to the demon and say you didn't ever steal, and you have to believe it, you have to believe your innocence. All your life you were told by parents or just moralistic people to admit your wrongs. Now the demon wants you to admit no wrong in order to pass. But more than admit it...believe it.
The Book of Going Forth
By Day (The Egyptian Book Of The Dead) (The Papyrus of Ani) R. .
Faulkner 125 Plate 31 Oh Wide-strider who
come forth from Heliopolis, I have not done wrong. Fire-embracer who
come forth from Kheraha, I have not robbed. Nosey who came forth
from Hermopolis, I have not stolen. Swallower of Shades
who came forth from Kernet, I have not slain people. Terrible of Face who
came forth from Rosetjau, I have not destroyed the food offerings.
Double Lion who came
forth from the sky, I have not reduced measures. He-whose-Eyes-are-in-Flames
who comes forth from Asyut, I have not stolen the god's property.
Burning One who came
forth backwards, I have not told lies. Breaker of Bones who
came forth from Memphis, I was not sullen. He-of-the-Cavern who
came forth from the West, I have not fornicated with the fornicator.
He-whose-Face-is-behind-him
who came forth from his hole, I have not caused (anyone) to weep.
Anointed One who
came forth from the chapel, I have not dissembled. Hot-Legs who came
forth at twilight, I have not transgressed. He-who-is-Blood who
came forth from the place of slaughter, I have not done
grain-profiteering. Eater of Entrails
who came forth from the Council of Thirty, I have not robbed a parcel of
land. Lord of Truth who
came forth from Hall of Two Truths, I have not discussed (secrets).
Strayer who came
forth from Bubastis, I have brought no lawsuits. Planter (?) who came
forth from Heliopolis, I have not disputed at all about property.
Doubly Evil One who
came forth from the Busirite Nome, I have not had intercourse with a
married woman. He-who-Sees-what-he-has-brought
who cam forth from the House of Min, I have not (wrongly)
copulated.
He-who-is-over-the-Great-Ones
who came forth from (?), I have not struck terror. Demolisher who came
forth from (?), I have not transgressed. Proclaimer of Speech
who came forth from Weryt, I have not been hot (tempered). Youth who came forth
from the Double Scepter Nome, I have not been neglectful of truthful
words. Dark One. who came
forth from darkness, I have not cursed. He-who-Brings-his-Offerings
who comes forth from Asyut, I have not been violent. Proclaimer of Voice
who came forth from Wenis, I have not confounded (truth). Possessor of Faces
who came forth from Nedjefet, I have not been impatient. Captain who came
forth from Weten, I have not discussed. Possessor of Two
Horns who come forth from Asyut, I have not been garrulous about
matters. Nefertum who came
forth from Memphis, I have not done wrong I have not done
evil. He-who-does-not-(allow)-Surviviors
who came forth from Busiris, I have not disputed the King. He-who-Acts-as-he-Wishes
who came forth from Antinaiopolis, I have not waded in water.
Thy
who came forth from the Primordial Waters, My voice was not loud.
He-who-Prospers-the-Commom-People
who came forth from Asyut, I have not cursed a god. Uniter of Attributes
who came forth from the Cavern, I have not made extollings (?).
Uniter of Good who
came forth from the Cavern, I have not harmed the bread-ration of the
gods. Upraised of Head who
came forth from the shrine, I have not stolen the Khenef-cakes from the
Blessed. He-who-Brings-his-Portion
who came forth from the Hall of the Two Truths, I have not stolen Hefnu-
cakes of a youth, (nor) have I
fettered the god of my town. He-who-Brightens-the-Land
who came forth from Faiyum (?), I have not slain sacred cattle.
The
Declaration of Innocence Of The Dead Before the Gods of the Tribunal At The
Weighing Of The Heart
When passing through the underworld, one of the last in a series of challenges is the journeyer must pass through a hall of 42 demons and face each one through a doorway. The demon will show the traveler a past action they did, or else ask them if they did a past action (sin) and the only way to pass the demon is to declare they are innocent of the sin. But they must do it sincerely or else the demon won't buy it. Then if the demon doesn't believe them they have to go into the room where the demon is, be eaten by the demon.
The Book of the Dead contains phrases to say to each demon, to declare one's innocence. This may seem simple enough, but of course its measured on the level of belief. So, say in your history you know you stole something, and the demon of robbery will show you the scene of you stealing. You see yourself in your past doing it. Then you have to turn to the demon and say you didn't ever steal, and you have to believe it, you have to believe your innocence. All your life you were told by parents or just moralistic people to admit your wrongs. Now the demon wants you to admit no wrong in order to pass. But more than admit it...believe it.
The Book of Going Forth
By Day (The Egyptian Book Of The Dead) (The Papyrus of Ani) R. .
Faulkner 125 Plate 31 Oh Wide-strider who
come forth from Heliopolis, I have not done wrong. Fire-embracer who
come forth from Kheraha, I have not robbed. Nosey who came forth
from Hermopolis, I have not stolen. Swallower of Shades
who came forth from Kernet, I have not slain people. Terrible of Face who
came forth from Rosetjau, I have not destroyed the food offerings.
Double Lion who came
forth from the sky, I have not reduced measures. He-whose-Eyes-are-in-Flames
who comes forth from Asyut, I have not stolen the god's property.
Burning One who came
forth backwards, I have not told lies. Breaker of Bones who
came forth from Memphis, I was not sullen. He-of-the-Cavern who
came forth from the West, I have not fornicated with the fornicator.
He-whose-Face-is-behind-him
who came forth from his hole, I have not caused (anyone) to weep.
Anointed One who
came forth from the chapel, I have not dissembled. Hot-Legs who came
forth at twilight, I have not transgressed. He-who-is-Blood who
came forth from the place of slaughter, I have not done
grain-profiteering. Eater of Entrails
who came forth from the Council of Thirty, I have not robbed a parcel of
land. Lord of Truth who
came forth from Hall of Two Truths, I have not discussed (secrets).
Strayer who came
forth from Bubastis, I have brought no lawsuits. Planter (?) who came
forth from Heliopolis, I have not disputed at all about property.
Doubly Evil One who
came forth from the Busirite Nome, I have not had intercourse with a
married woman. He-who-Sees-what-he-has-brought
who cam forth from the House of Min, I have not (wrongly)
copulated.
He-who-is-over-the-Great-Ones
who came forth from (?), I have not struck terror. Demolisher who came
forth from (?), I have not transgressed. Proclaimer of Speech
who came forth from Weryt, I have not been hot (tempered). Youth who came forth
from the Double Scepter Nome, I have not been neglectful of truthful
words. Dark One. who came
forth from darkness, I have not cursed. He-who-Brings-his-Offerings
who comes forth from Asyut, I have not been violent. Proclaimer of Voice
who came forth from Wenis, I have not confounded (truth). Possessor of Faces
who came forth from Nedjefet, I have not been impatient. Captain who came
forth from Weten, I have not discussed. Possessor of Two
Horns who come forth from Asyut, I have not been garrulous about
matters. Nefertum who came
forth from Memphis, I have not done wrong I have not done
evil. He-who-does-not-(allow)-Surviviors
who came forth from Busiris, I have not disputed the King. He-who-Acts-as-he-Wishes
who came forth from Antinaiopolis, I have not waded in water.
Thy
who came forth from the Primordial Waters, My voice was not loud.
He-who-Prospers-the-Commom-People
who came forth from Asyut, I have not cursed a god. Uniter of Attributes
who came forth from the Cavern, I have not made extollings (?).
Uniter of Good who
came forth from the Cavern, I have not harmed the bread-ration of the
gods. Upraised of Head who
came forth from the shrine, I have not stolen the Khenef-cakes from the
Blessed. He-who-Brings-his-Portion
who came forth from the Hall of the Two Truths, I have not stolen Hefnu-
cakes of a youth, (nor) have I
fettered the god of my town. He-who-Brightens-the-Land
who came forth from Faiyum (?), I have not slain sacred cattle.