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The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 48 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 6 (part 4)

This chapter was found inscribed upon one of the linen wrappings of the mummy of Thothmes III., and a copy of the text is given by Naville (Todtenbuch, Bd. L, Bl. 179); for a later version see Lepsius, Todtenbuch, Bl. 75, where many interesting variants occur. 3. ###. Chapter LXXXIII., 3. 4. ###. Chapter LXIV., 1. 49. (Naville, Todtenbuch , Bd. I., Bl. 76.) 5. ###. Chapter CLIV. (Lepsius, Todtenbuch , 75.)] {p. lx} himself without diminution, and without defect, like unto Ra for ever and ever."[1] The word sahu though at times written with the determinative of a mummy lying on a bier like khat , "body," indicates a body which has obtained a degree of knowledge[2] and power and glory whereby it becomes henceforth lasting and incorruptible. The body which has become a sahu has the power of associating with the soul and of holding converse with it. In this form it can ascend into heaven and dwell with the gods, and with the sahu of the gods, and with the souls of the righteous. In the pyramid texts we have these passages:-- 1. Thes-thu Teta pu un-thu aaa peh-tha hems-k Rise up thou Teti, this. Stand up thou mighty one being strong. Sit thou xent neteru ari-k ennu ari en Ausar em Het-aa amt Annu with the gods, do thou that which did Osiris in the great house in Annu. sesep-nek sah-k an t'er ret-k em pet an Thou hast received thy sah , not shall be fettered thy foot in heaven, not xesef-k em ta shalt thou be turned back upon earth.[3] 2. anet' hra-k Teta em hru-k pen aha tha xeft Ra Hail to thee, Teta, on this thy day [when] thou art standing before Ra [as] [1. Brugsch, Liber Metempsychosis , p. 22. 2. Compare Coptic ###, "magister." 3. Recueil de Travaux , t. v., p. 36 (1. 271). From line 143 of the same text it would seem that a man had more than one sahu , for the words "all thy sahu ," occur. This may, however, be only a plural of majesty.] {p. lxi} per-f em aabt t'eba-tha em sah-k pen am baiu he cometh from the cast, [when] thou art endued with this thy sah among the souls.[1] 3. ahau pa neheh t'er-f pa t'etta em sah-f [His] duration of life is eternity, his limit of life is everlastingness in his sah .[2] 4.
Themes
Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The passage is from the Book of the Dead and explicitly describes the state required for the deceased to ascend into heaven.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

[auto] The text states that the body becomes lasting and incorruptible specifically by obtaining a degree of knowledge.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

[auto] Ra is depicted as an active deity whose command enables the body to germinate and exist without diminution.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

[auto] The transformed body is described as dwelling with Ra and holding converse with the soul, indicating a union with the divine.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

[auto] The ascent into heaven to dwell with Ra represents a return to the divine origin and eternal state.

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Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

[auto] The text explicitly states that the transformed body (sahu) can ascend into heaven to dwell with Ra.

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