Chapter 73

In the name of the Life!

A sealed letter which leaveth the world --
A letter written in good-faith (kushta)
And sealed with the seal of the Mighty (Life) --
Righteous men wrote it, believing men tied it on,
And suspended it about the soul's neck
And despatched it to the Gate of Life.
The soul, in her wisdom,
Pressed her nail on the letter,
Her nail she pressed on the letter;
She imbued it with her mystic radiance,
Wrapped it and veiled it in her light.
How came it that Daium saw
That the soul bore a letter?
How was it that Daium saw it
As her seven sons gathered about her
And said " Who hath written the letter
Whose secret no man knoweth?
Who wrote the letter that is sealed in
By these protective strands? "
The letter is written in good faith,
And sealed with the seal of the Mighty (Life).
Righteous (men) wrote it, believing men tied it on
And hung it about the neck of the soul
And despatched it to the Gate of Life.
The soul flieth and goeth until she hath reached
The watch-house of the Seven.
The Chief-of-Dues, when he saw her,
(And) the Governor, when they saw her,
Murmur discontent and say
" Who hath written the letter
Whose secret no man knoweth?
Who wrote letter that is sealed
By these protective marks? "
" The letter is written in good faith
And sealed with the seal of the Mighty (Life).
Righteous (men) wrote it;
Believing men tied it up
And hung it about the neck of the soul
And despatched it to the Gate of Life".
The soul flieth and travelleth on
Until she reacheth spirits of Purgatory.
The spirits of Purgatory abased their heads
And the soul passed the purgatory-spirits by.
The soul flieth and goeth
Until she came to the waters of death.
As she reached the waters of death
There came forth towards her
A great Beam of radiance (and) of life, (who)
Grasped her by the palm of her right hand
And brought her over the waters of death.
The soul flieth and goeth
Until she reacheth the House of Life.
When she reached the House of Life
She uttered a cry to the House of Life,
And when He heard her call, the Life
Sent a messenger towards her,
(Who) grasped her by the palm of her hand,
Conducted her, (came) to support her
In the likeness of the Life to the place
Of radiance, light and beams of effulgence;
To unite her to (the company of) 'uthras
And to set her up amongst beams of light.
Upon her head they placed a wreath of ether
And took her out of the world in splendour.
Life supported life: Life found Its own:
It hath found Its own, and my soul hath found
That for which she hoped.

And Life is victorious.

[Up to here recite over the flask of oil as it is put into clay up to the mouth of the bottle. And the clay must be pure and from the jordan.]