42 Confessions From The Egyptian Book Of The Dead
Each soul will make these confessions and maybe more after death.
Have you ever heard about a book with the following name — The Book of the Dead? What a strange name. Isn`t it? This book from ancient Egypt is nothing but a guide for the soul. It guides the soul in its journey after death. Interestingly, in Tibet, there is a similar book written for the same purpose- Bardo Thodol.
In fact, both books are about life despite their names. They use death to tell the reader why and how they can live their life in the right and the best way.
Death is a reality and no mortal can escape it. It is not a bad thing despite its heavy and harsh message. It is the existence of death that makes life valuable. A life made of a limited number of moments is meaningful with death because dying means losing everything we know irreversibly.
Most cultures in the world have the belief of a life after death. Our souls are immortal. The soul incarnates in the body cage to experience a set of experiences, which could also be called destiny or fate. That is, there is a purpose for the world to exist. The world is an arena for the soul to learn new experiences disguised in good and evil, right and wrong, fair and unfair, beautiful and ugly. The physical plane of existence we are in is subject to the universal principle of polarity. The polarity creates a reaction to every action, and there is no test in life without reaction.
The book consists of a compilation of texts read in the dying person’s presence and texts about burial methods to assist him in his life after death. According to scientists, the book contained some instructions and directions that would be necessary for life after death. All talismans and prayers were not read every time for every funeral, differing in social status and wealth. Some talismans and prayers were used to present gifts to the Gods. In contrast, others included regulatory directions that guided the dead in their journey on the other side or not to die again in the afterlife.
According to many traditions and beliefs on Earth, the soul accounts for their acts after death in judgment. In Hinduism, the ones who do not pass the test will go back to Earth to live another life in another body — that is, the samsara cycle. In Islam, the ones who pass the judgment go to Heaven and fail to go to Hell. According to the ancient Egyptian texts, “a judgment” takes place before Osiris, Thoth, and the 42 judges in the Maat’s “Hall of Truth”. Anubis would take the soul and bring it to the judgment while various deities such as Qebhet, Nephthys, Isis, and Serket accompany them on the way to the hall. The symbol of Maat, who was believed to be responsible for the underground realm, is a feather symbolizing “truth, justice, and righteousness”.
During the judgment, the deceased would recall her/his life before death, and s/he would be reminded of her/his behaviors in life for the judgment to start. This scene is represented in Egyptian paintings by the scales with the heart of the dead on one side and a feather on the other. The heart was placed on the scale in the balance against the white feather of the truth. If the heart is found to be lighter than the feather, the soul goes on toward the great light, or in other words, the paradise. If it was heavier, it was dropped onto the floor where it was eaten by the crocodile-headed Ammait.
Let us take a look at the 42 negative confessions now. Also known as The Declaration of Innocence, it is nothing but a list of 42 sins to be avoided in life. We will refer to The Papyrus of Ani. This text from the Book of the Dead is the most known and reproduced text. So, we better use this one.
1. Hail, Usekh-nemmt, who comest forth from Anu, I have not committed sin.
2. Hail, Hept-khet, who comest forth from Kher-aha, I have not committed robbery with violence.
3. Hail, Fenti, who comest forth from Khemenu, I have not stolen.
4. Hail, Am-khaibit, who comest forth from Qernet, I have not slain men and women.
5. Hail, Neha-her, who comest forth from Rasta, I have not stolen grain.
6. Hail, Ruruti, who comest forth from Heaven, I have not purloined offerings.
7. Hail, Arfi-em-khet, who comest forth from Suat, I have not stolen the property of God.
8. Hail, Neba, who comest and goest, I have not uttered lies.
9. Hail, Set-qesu, who comest forth from Hensu, I have not carried away food.
10. Hail, Utu-nesert, who comest forth from Het-ka-Ptah, I have not uttered curses.
11. Hail, Qerrti, who comest forth from Amentet, I have not committed adultery.
12. Hail, Hraf-haf, who comest forth from thy cavern, I have made none to weep.
13. Hail, Basti, who comest forth from Bast, I have not eaten the heart.
14. Hail, Ta-retiu, who comest forth from the night, I have not attacked any man.
15. Hail, Unem-snef, who comest forth from the execution chamber, I am not a man of deceit.
16. Hail, Unem-besek, who comest forth from Mabit, I have not stolen cultivated land.
17. Hail, Neb-Maat, who comest forth from Maati, I have not been an eavesdropper.
18. Hail, Tenemiu, who comest forth from Bast, I have not slandered anyone.
19. Hail, Sertiu, who comest forth from Anu, I have not been angry without just cause.
20. Hail, Tutu, who comest forth from Ati, I have not debauched the wife of any man.
21. Hail, Uamenti, who comest forth from the Khebt chamber, I have not debauched the wives of other men.
22. Hail, Maa-antuf, who comest forth from Per-Menu, I have not polluted myself.
23. Hail, Her-uru, who comest forth from Nehatu, I have terrorized none.
24. Hail, Khemiu, who comest forth from Kaui, I have not transgressed the law.
25. Hail, Shet-kheru, who comest forth from Urit, I have not been angry.
26. Hail, Nekhenu, who comest forth from Heqat, I have not shut my ears to the words of truth.
27. Hail, Kenemti, who comest forth from Kenmet, I have not blasphemed.
28. Hail, An-hetep-f, who comest forth from Sau, I am not a man of violence.
29. Hail, Sera-kheru, who comest forth from Unaset, I have not been a stirrer up of strife.
30. Hail, Neb-heru, who comest forth from Netchfet, I have not acted with undue haste.
31. Hail, Sekhriu, who comest forth from Uten, I have not pried into other’s matters.
32. Hail, Neb-abui, who comest forth from Sauti, I have not multiplied my words in speaking.
33. Hail, Nefer-Tem, who comest forth from Het-ka-Ptah, I have wronged none, I have done no evil.
34. Hail, Tem-Sepu, who comest forth from Tetu, I have not worked witchcraft against the king.
35. Hail, Ari-em-ab-f, who comest forth from Tebu, I have never stopped the flow of water of a neighbor.
36. Hail, Ahi, who comest forth from Nu, I have never raised my voice.
37. Hail, Uatch-rekhit, who comest forth from Sau, I have not cursed God.
38. Hail, Neheb-ka, who comest forth from thy cavern, I have not acted with arrogance.
39. Hail, Neheb-nefert, who comest forth from thy cavern, I have not stolen the bread of the gods.
40. Hail, Tcheser-tep, who comest forth from the shrine, I have not carried away the khenfu cakes from the spirits of the dead.
41. Hail, An-af, who comest forth from Maati, I have not snatched away the bread of the child, nor treated with contempt the god of my city.
42. Hail, Hetch-abhu, who comest forth from Ta-she, I have not slain the cattle belonging to the god.
What a long list. Does it not look like a longer version of The 10 Commandments that God gave to Moses?
There is a much longer list in Theravada Buddhism — 227 monastic rules for priests and 311 for nuns, making a total of 538 rules.
Whatever your religion or faith is, the reality of death is clear. It is the destiny every human will face. People with any form of theistic religions believe that the soul will be tested after death for his acts in the world.
Shall we be asked 10 questions or 42? or 99? Who knows? The only thing that matters is to pass the test as a result of a good, honest, righteous, fair life lived by virtue. That means being able to make all or most of the confessions below.
Therefore, the important thing is to self-account yourself while living in this world before waiting for death to come. In this respect, the list above or anything similar is a good checklist to hold a mirror to yourself.
Let me recommend a quick method for you to hold a mirror to yourself.
Print the list above and be honest about which confessions you can make comfortably. If you have a high score, that is a good thing. If you failed in most confessions, that means you have a list of things to improve. Once you are aware of your opportunities and failures, you have a responsibility to improve.
Act now.
If I were you, I would run the same test with The Ten Commandments and the long list of Theravada Buddhism. The yamas and niyamas in the 8 limbs of Yoga is another good list to use. The 72 Names of God in Kabbalah and the 99 Names of God in Islam are other great lists to utilize.
The one who seeks after Truth learns from everyone, every situation, and every teaching. In contrast, the one who wants to stay ignorant will walk away even if the universe opens up like a book unveiling its secrets. It is up to you which path you choose.
Remember what Socrates said — an unexamined life is not worth living.
What do you think?
Cheers,
Kenan
(Holistic Self-Transformation Coach)
I coach and develop people to unleash their full potential with 18 years of my leadership experience and using my unique Holistic Healing model that unifies psychology, coaching, philosophy, Far-Eastern teachings, personal transformation, and esotericism.
Visit my website for self-transformation courses created for you with 20 years of hands-on experience in esotericism, spirituality, mysticism, leadership, coaching, and personal development.