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The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 290 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 43 (part 51)

i-nek sexem-k am xu Cometh to thee thy sekhem among the khu's.[6] [1. I.e. , Horus. 2 Recueil de Travaux , t. v., p. 19 (l. 174). 3. Recueil de Travaux , t. v., p. 41 (l. 289). 4. See below, p. 117. 5. See below, p. 115. 6. Recueil de Travaux , t. v., p. 160 (l. 13).] {p. lxix} 2. Uda sexem-k am xu Pure is thy sekhem among the khu's.[1] 3. aha uab-k uab ka-k uab ba-k uab Thou art pure, pure is thy ka , pure is thy soul, pure is sexem-k thy sekhem.[1] A name of Ra was[3] sekhem ur , the "Great Sekhem," and Unas is identified with him and called:-- sexem ur sexem em sexemu Great sekhem , sekhem among the sekhemu .[4] The ren or name Finally, the name, ren , of a man was believed to exist in heaven, and. in the pyramid texts we are told that nefer en Pepi pen hena ren-f anx Pepi pen hena ka-f Happy is Pepi this with his name, liveth Pepi this with his ka .[5] Thus, as we have seen, the whole man consisted of a natural body, a spiritual body, a heart, a double, a soul, a shadow, an intangible ethereal casing or spirit, a form, and a name. All these were, however, bound together inseparably, and the welfare of any single one of them concerned the welfare of all. For the well-being of the spiritual parts it was necessary to preserve from decay the natural body; and [1. Recueil de Travaux , t. v., p. 175 (l. 113). 2. Recueil de Travaux , p. 175, 1. 112. 3. Ibid. , t. iv., p. 44,1. 393. 4. Ibid. , p. 60, ll. 514, 515 5. Ibid. , t. v., p. 183, l. 169.] {p. lxx} certain passages in the pyramid texts seem to show that a belief in the resurrection of the natural body existed in the earliest dynasties.[1] The texts are silent as to the time when the immortal part began its beatified existence; but it is probable that the Osiris[2] of a man only attained to the full enjoyment of spiritual happiness after the funeral ceremonies had been duly per formed and the ritual recited. Comparatively few particulars are known of the manner of life of the soul in heaven, and though a number of interesting facts may be gleaned from the texts of all periods, it is very difficult to harmonize them. This result is due partly to the different views held by different schools of thought in ancient Egypt, and partly to the fact that on some points the Egyptians them selves seem to have had no decided opinions. We depend upon the pyramid texts for our knowledge of their earliest conceptions of a future life. The existence in heaven. The life of the Osiris of a man in heaven is at once material and spiritual and it seems as if the Egyptians never succeeded in breaking away from their very ancient habit of confusing the things of the body with the things of the soul.
Themes
Living Godtheology

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

Gods are depicted as active entities in heaven who can be seen and asked to give sceptres to the deceased.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

The text expresses a desire for the soul to 'see the great god,' suggesting a vision or encounter with the divine.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The passage is excerpted from the Book of the Dead and explicitly details the rituals and prayers required for the deceased's components to navigate the afterlife successfully.

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Inner Lightanthropology

The divine spark or luminous quality residing within the human person, potentially recognisable through introspection.

[auto] The khu is defined as a 'shining' or translucent casing of the body, representing a luminous spiritual quality residing within the person.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] The deceased petitions for the way to be opened for their soul and shadow, implying a guided passage through the realms of the dead.

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Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

[auto] The passage includes transliterated Egyptian formulas and spells (e.g., 'em xena ba-a') used to effect spiritual outcomes for the deceased.

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Self Knowledgesoteriology

The recognition of one's own true divine nature as the primary path to liberation; 'know thyself' as soteriology.

[auto] The deceased expresses a desire to 'look upon my soul and my shadow,' indicating introspection or recognition of one's own spiritual components.

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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 khu is described as wending its way to heaven where the gods reside, indicating an upward journey toward the divine realm.

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Tripartite Soulanthropology

Division of the human being into three principles: spirit (pneuma), soul (psyche), and body/matter (hyle or soma).

[auto] The text delineates distinct components of the human being (ba, xaibit, khu) alongside the physical body, reflecting a complex multi-part soul ontology.

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Related passages · 3 parallels
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 11, Section 1e
Hence the Good God is called the Fount, first, of the Very Primaries: then, of those creatures which share completely therein; then, of those which share partially therein. 484 484 Migne’s text here is corrupt, I have emended it. (1) The…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its relationship to the divine, exploring the idea of a spiritual existence that is interconnected with the physical and the divine. They both emphasize the complexity and multiplicity of the spiritual aspects of human existence.
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 7 (part 3)
2.) "The inner man stood in heaven; his essences were the Paradise; his body was indestructible. He knew the language of God and the angels, and the language of nature, as may be seen by Adam giving names to all creatures, to each accordin…”
Both passages discuss the concept of the human soul or spirit and its relationship to the divine or heavenly realm. They describe the soul's ability to exist in a higher plane and interact with divine entities, though they use different cultural and religious frameworks.
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 11 (part 7)
48.) "The soul and the Word are not one or one being. The soul is born from the centre of nature, from the essences, and belongs to the body, for she issues from the essences of the body, and attracts to herself the body; but the Word is f…”
Both passages discuss the nature of the soul and its relationship with other aspects of human existence. The Egyptian Book of the Dead describes the soul (ba), shadow (xaibit), and spirit (khu) as distinct yet interconnected parts of a person, while the Christian mystical text discusses the soul and the Word (divine essence) as interconnected but distinct entities. Both texts explore the idea of the soul's liberation and its connection to a higher, divine realm.