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The Judgement of the Dead by Osiris

The Judgement of the Dead by Osiris

o-julgamento-de-osiris-h

“A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.”

(Ecclesiastes 7:1)

A sage spoke significant words more than three thousand years ago, when they were recorded, words that seem to defy common sense. How could we have a positive outlook on the day of death? What is the relationship between life and death? Moreover, what is it that determines the weight of a life?

Numerous ancient civilizations asked these questions; for many of them death was not the end but a passage to another level of existence, and each culture had their own story describing the actions and rituals that made this transition easier. Due to its strong symbolism and the influence it had on later civilizations, the Egyptian account of the Judgment of the Dead by Osiris may well be the myth that best portrays it.

Divine unity and harmony were central concepts in Ancient Egypt, and thus they influenced the life and death of people. The Neter or One was thought to be the source and matrix of everything, and it manifested itself through the Neteru, the gods personifying the fundamental aspects of unity. The figure of Maat, a symbol of truth, justice and cosmic harmony, was among them. She was depicted as a woman donning an ostrich feather on her head, and she was considered to be the daughter of the creator god Atum-Ra. Maat means “righteousness”, and it is the abstract concept of good, balance and universal justice that have prevailed in the world from its origin and from which man should not distance himself; it stresses what is trustworthy, real, genuine, and unalterable. Therefore, her feather was the measure by which the conduct of the deceased was judged.

The Egyptians believed that every human being has a physical body and a “Ka”, the immaterial force that continues to live after the body perishes. After this, the spirit of a dead person would arrive in the Duat, or the underworld, which was presided over by Anubis, a jackal-headed or dog-headed deity. Similarly, the ancient Mayans and Aztecs believed that a dog guided the souls of the dead through the Mictlán, the underworld. Once in the Duat, the deceased faced a court at the head of which was Osiris, the green or black-skinned god of the afterlife. The green color of his skin is a symbol of vegetation and regeneration, a symbolism that the Druids would take up later, and that was personified by their “green man”, the god of fertility and nature. Likewise, several elements of the Osiris myth bear similarity to prominent passages from the life of Jesus for Christians. Thot, the god of wisdom, completed the court. Also known as Hermes and Mercury in other times and cultures, he served as a scribe in the trial.

The heart was the center of life for the Egyptians. Learning, understanding, and reasoning resided in the heart. And the heart accompanied the deceased on the journey to the afterlife, it was the only viscera that remained within the mummified body. During the trial, the Ib (the heart) was placed on one side of a scale balanced against the feather of Maat on the other side. The deceased would then recite the “Negative Confession”, a list of 42 sins which they swore they had never committed. An intense scene, its moral significance is similar to that later found in the “Ten Commandments” as presented by Moses whose history and that of the Hebrew people are closely linked to Egypt and its mysteries. If the Ib was found to be lighter than the feather, the deceased obtained a favorable sentence which assured them eternal life. If, on the other hand, it was heavier than the feather, which implied impurity, they were thrown to Ammit, who was depicted as a crocodile-headed, hippopotamus-legged, and lion-bodied being who would devour them.

The judgment of the Dead by Osiris as immortalized by the Papyrus of Hunefer, together with the Papyrus of Ani, are classic examples of the Book of the Dead, a funerary text dating from Ancient Egypt that brought together the formulas and spells destined to help the deceased to overcome the Judgment of Osiris.

The Egyptians and other ancient civilizations believed that the disappearance of the physical body meant neither the end of life nor a loss. Taking advantage of the passage through the physical world, and having a virtuous and honorable conduct which allowed each being to transcend the forms and to return to its intrinsic nature was what mattered to them. The role assigned to actions by this story, and their moral value, could be linked to a reflection made by a Western thinker several centuries later: “Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.”

The spectacle of the cosmos and the multitude of worlds that inhabit it moved him deeply, as did the ability of man to be free by manifesting independent behavior. As Góngora, the great baroque poet put it: “Born but yesterday, to die next dawn.” Mortal, fleeting, small before the immensity of the universe, where do we find our significance, our dignity, that which places us beyond our own death? The Egyptians believed the answer was in our behavior: our actions define us, and they echo in eternity. Perhaps the words of that sage will take on a whole new meaning now. Maybe that way the day of death means not the end but a beginning.

Hello !

Welcome to the internal Home Page of the PRÓ-VIDA website. In this environment you will find information about our movement, such as the activities calendar, news and content that may be of interest to you.

Where to find the activities?

You will find the activities calendar right at the top of the home page and, to see all the available activities, just click on “See full calendar”.

The activities are organized by language, time zone, modality (in person, online, or remote in-center), and categories:

  • BAS, AV1 and INT weeks
  • Exercises and Training
  • Lectures and Talks
  • Advanced Levels
  • CGD (General Center for the Tithe)
  • Departments

What activities can I participate in?

You will be able to participate in all available activities, according to your level. They are identified in the calendar by a stripe with the color of the level, on the left side of the activity name.

Basic Level

Every Monday, online Basic Level activities are available. They are offered in four languages ​​(Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and English) and different time zones.

In addition, starting at the Basic Level, you will be able to participate in all the activities identified with the following colors:

Weeks, lectures and exercises aimed at participants from the Basic Level and up.

Here you can find activities such as Keeping in Touch, celebrations, and ceremonies.

Activities carried out by PRÓ-VIDA Departments, such as lectures, presentations and studies.

Check the calendar for upcoming activities and check their times.

Advanced 1​ Level

Activities for the Advanced 1 Level and up are also available for those who have completed that level

Weeks, lectures, exercises and talks for participants from Advanced 1 Level and up.

Introduction Level

For those at the Introduction Level, also the following activities are available:

Weeks, lectures, exercises, and talks for participants from the Introduction Level and up.

Activity for all PRÓ-VIDA participants, starting at the Introduction Level.

Advanced 2SC Level

From Advanced 2 Level and up, the following activities are also available:

Weeks, lectures, exercises and talks for participants from the Advanced 2SC Level and up.

How to browse the site?

Navigate through the pages and contents of the site by clicking the links on the top golden bar or the “hamburger button” (≡), located in the upper left corner.

In addition to content and articles on various topics, you will be able to access some important areas for your participation in the activities:

Online Activities: It’s the place where you will access the activities that will be transmitted in the online modality.

Participant’s Area: It gathers information about your registration and your level in PRÓ-VIDA.

Need help?

If you need help, or to clarify any questions, contact our support by e-mail: foundation.secretary@provida.net.

Modalities of PRÓ-VIDA activities

In-person

Presenter in-center

Participants in-center

This is a live activity carried out in one of the PRÓ-VIDA Centers with both the presenter and the enrolled participants attending in-person.

Remote in-center

Remote presenter

Participants in-center

The activity is transmitted live from one of the PRÓ-VIDA studios to several Centers where the participants are attending in-person. It allows the presenter and the participants to interact despite the fact that the presenter is in a remote location. 

Online

Online presenter

Online participants

The activity is transmitted live from one of the PRÓ-VIDA studios and enables interaction between participants and the presenter in a virtual environment.

To learn more about the modalities, talk to a PRÓ-VIDA representative by chat or email secretaria@provida.net (for Brazil residents) or foundation.secretary@provida.net (for residents in other countries).

SEG    SEX

22-26

NOV    NOV

Online

Semana de Avançado 1

PT

Será transmitido nos idiomas e horários locais:

PORTUGUÊS - COM INTERAÇÃO

Segunda a sexta-feira

às 20h30*

Hora de São Paulo

*A atividade tem duração aproximada de 3 horas.

Para saber como participar, clique abaixo.

MON    FRI

06-10

DEC    DEC

Online

Semana de Introdução

PT

It will be transmitted in the following language ​​and times:

PORTUGUESE - WITH INTERACTION

Monday to Friday

at 8:30 p.m.*

Time Zone: (UTC-03:00) Brasilia

*The activity lasts approximately 3 hours.

To find out how to participate, click below.

No registrations will be made on the weekend before the activity, or in the week it takes place.

SEG    SEX

25-29

OUT    OUT

Online

Semana de Avançado 1

PT

Será transmitido nos idiomas e horários locais:

PORTUGUÊS - COM INTERAÇÃO

Segunda a sexta-feira

às 20h30*

Hora de São Paulo

*A atividade tem duração aproximada de 3 horas.

Para saber como participar, clique abaixo.

SEG    DOM

08-14

NOV    NOV

Online

Semana de Básico

PT

Será transmitido nos idiomas e horários locais:

PORTUGUÊS - COM INTERAÇÃO

Segunda a sexta-feira

às 20h30*

Sábado

às 14h30*

Domingo

às 10h00*

Hora de São Paulo

*A atividade tem duração aproximada de 3 horas.

Para saber como participar, clique abaixo.

*Para repetição oficial, participantes que estão retornando ou em R.A., em breve mais informações.

Requisitos técnicos indispensáveis

Gostaríamos de informar que, para a participação no Básico on-line, são indispensáveis os seguintes requisitos mínimos:

Computador (Windows/Mac)

Computador com câmera integrada ou conectada por entrada USB.

As atividades não poderão ser assistidas por nenhum outro dispositivo, tais como celulares, smartphones e tablets ou computadores com outros sistemas operacionais.

Especificações e Sistema Operacional

• Processador: Intel Core i3, i5 e i7 – 3100 Series , ou superior.

• Memória RAM: 4GB, ou superior.

• Sistema Operacional:

• Windows 7 com todas as atualizações, ou versão superior (somente 64 bits).

• MacOS 10.15 Catalina, ou versão superior.

Verifique as configurações de seu computador Windows clicando aqui.

Como verificar suas especificações no Mac? Clique aqui.

Fones de ouvido com microfone (headset)

Modelos homologados para uso com nossa plataforma.

Consulte a lista de headsets homologados:

Internet

Banda larga com conexão estável, com no mínimo 10MB de download e 4MB de upload.

Como verificar sua banda de internet? Clique aqui para testa-la.

* Os requisitos técnicos poderão ser atualizados. Acompanhe aqui eventuais alterações.

Fones de ouvido homologados

Marca

Modelo

Tipo

Bose

Quiet Comfort 35 Stereo

USB e Bluetooth

Dell

Pro Stereo Headset UC150

USB

Jabra

BLZ 2400 II

USB

Jabra

Evolve 20 MS

USB

Jabra

Evolve 75

USB e Bluetooth

Jabra

UC Voice 550a MS Mono

USB

JBL

Everest Elite 750NC Stereo

Bluetooth

Logitech

Headset H390

USB

Logitech

Stereo H650e

USB

Microsoft

LifeChat LX-3000

USB

Microsoft

LifeChat LX-6000

USB

Plantronics

Blackwire 320

USB

Plantronics

Blackwire 3220 Series

USB

Plantronics

Blackwire C220

USB

Plantronics

Audio 628 USB

USB

Samsung

USBC Headset

USB

Sony

WH-CH700N

USB

Sony

Headset Pulse 7.1

USB

Sony

WH-XB900N

Bluetooth

Atualização: 11.06.2021

Regras de conduta para prevenção da COVID-19

Uso de Máscaras

Cobrindo a boca e o nariz. Usar o tempo todo.
Evitar tocar a boca, o nariz e os olhos.

Distanciamento

Mínimo de 2 metros

Mãos

Lavar frequentemente ou higienizar com álcool em gel.

Etiqueta Respiratória

Ao espirrar ou tossir, proteger a boca e o nariz com o cotovelo, ou usar lenço descartável.

Sintomas

Se apresentar sintomas, ficar em casa e buscar atendimento médico.