The Illustrated Egyptian Book of the Dead (Hardcover)

In reality, therefore, the book of the dead is the Egyptian book of life - life now, life hereafter and life everlasting. Dr Seleem explains that a human being needs a map in order to travel both in this lifetime and beyond: 'How can you travel in life after death without knowing the way? The roads, ways, gates, hours, laws and guardians of life after death are explained in detail in the Book of the Dead and even though a copy is buried with the deceased, it is better to learn this divine knowledge by heart and live it in this lifetime.'

Dr Seleem has produced a magnificent book, beautifully illustrated with many stunning illustrations from a 19th century edition of the papyrus. As a background to his translation, he has incorporated an impressive and revelatory account of the Egyptian religion, philosophy and mythology which he studied for over 25 years, which for itself, is a sufficient reason to buy the book. He has worked with the original texts and incorporated the symbolic meaning which they contain, often missed by earlier authors. It will serve scholars, people fascinated by this most ancient of traditions and anyone seeking to understand the mystery of life and death and the journey of the soul.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead, or more, accurately The Book of Coming Forth from Darkness by the Light of Day, is the only living record of the two-fold mystery - the mystery of life and death. In this translation of the Book of the Dead, Dr Ramses Seleem explains the spiritual concepts underlying the condition of the reincarnated soul both in this life and the Dwat (netherworld). He also translates the original texts, incorporating the symbolic meaning which they contain.

Dr Seleem explains that we are all travellers in eternity and therefore we need a map in order to travel both in this lifetime and beyond. How can one travel in life after death without knowing the way? It is also important not to confuse the map with the territory; ie a map of England is not England itself. The roads, ways, gates, hours and guardians of life and death are explained in detail in the Book of the Dead, and even through a copy of the book is buried with the deceased, it is better to learn this divine knowledge by heart and live it in this lifetime, so the word may become flesh (truth). Only then does the book of the dead in this life become the book of life in death. As Tehuty, known as Hermes Tristmegistus by the Greeks, said, "The wickedness of the soul is ignorance and the virtue of the soul is knowledge."

Human beings must become enlightened to find their way in the dark. Becoming enlightened means becoming enlightened travellers who can achieve this end with an understanding of the local language and fellowship with other travellers. The ancient Egyptians believed that we are all travellers in eternity. We all require instruction to arrive safely.

This translation includes the entire Papyrus of Hunefer, which in itself is called a simplified version of the book of the dead and extracts from the Papyrus of Ani, the Papyrus of Enhai, the Papyrus of Gerusher and the Negative Confessions of the Royal Mother Nezemt.

The author, Dr Seleem, studied the ancient Egyptian tradition from the age of three for some 25 years. Egypt suffered many invasions and oppressions over the centuries, and the ancient practices and traditions went underground in 95AD. Modern scholars have therefore only been able to speculate on their exact nature. Dr Seleem, however, with his vital connection to the source, is able to present his work accurately from the point of view of the ancient Egyptians in contrast to earlier versions which suffered from lack of reliable information on the subtlety of the language and its symbolism. He states very clearly that the ancient Egyptians did not worship many gods and goddesses as is commonly believed. They did not spend time worshipping idols of cats, dogs and scarabs, or humans or kneeling in front of them. Dr Seleem, has therefore, include a detailed introduction to the ancient Egyptian spiritual doctrine which will help the reader to understand the texts.

The Illustrated Egyptian Book of the Dead, by Godfield Press, describes the future of the soul after death in the intermediate worlds. This world was known as the Dwat by the Egyptians, or the netherworld or purgatory state by the Catholics. The ancient Egyptians believed there were three worlds: the world below, Ta, the world above, Nut, and the world in between, Dwat. The soul travels from the realm of Ta (earth) to the realm of Dwat (netherworld) and finally to the spiritual realm of Nut (heaven), either to be born again or to become one with the perfected souls who are not subject to the laws of reincarnation.

The Book of the Dead is meant to be read and enacted by the living in order to help the living and the dead in their journey through the netherworld. It was to ensure that they could find their way to the spiritual realm, and be saved from the darkness of the Dwat, and to reach the Field of the Reeds, where true peace envelops the soul.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is considered by many to be the pre-Christian word of God. The spiritual concept contained in it explains life in its continuity and the condition of the reincarnated soul both in this life and in the Dwat. This is in direct contrast to the emphasis on life and death and dead relics that can often be seen in modern museums. The concepts embodied in the Book of the Dead were embraced by most of the religious and philosophical systems of the ancient world.

In reality, the Book of the Dead is the Egyptian book of life - life now, life hereafter and life everlasting...The text that was buried with the deceased was written by Tehuty. He was the greatest educator of all human kind. On the day of judgement, Tehuty weighed this text against another one, written by the deceased during his or her lifetime on earth to see how the individual's book of deeds measured up against the book of the truth, and every act was weighed in the balancing scales of justice.

The Egyptian salvation was based on truthfulness and the behaviour during a person's lifetime. That is what acquired victory in Ementet. It was the responsibility of the living to acquire power by achieving unity with their organs and making the house of life (the body) full of light, so that they could live eternally. As the texts of the 6th dynasty said, "Live your life and you will never die." Knowledge gives the power to act in truth and causes life, whilst ignorance blinds the sight and causes death. As Tehuty said, "Death is the result of ignorance alone." The book of truth is written in time by God while the book of deeds is written in time by the living human. When the book of deeds harmonises with the book of the truth, then the book of the dead becomes the book of life in death.

Dr Seleem has produced a magnificent book, beautifully illustrated and presented by the publishers. It will serve scholars, people fascinated by the most ancient of traditions and anyone seeking to understand how life should be lived in order to secure the rewards of the life hereafter.