Día de los muertos
Posted: Sat 21 Feb, 2004 23.39
We've had a thread about God, but what about one based on the afterlife? To be honest, I'm pretty straight forward when it comes to this - you die, and then you rot. But there's a Mexican belief based on Aztec mythology that I really like. In my opinion, if you're going to believe in an after-life then why not this one, as it's the prettiest.
After you die you go to the land of the dead where you continue to live in a physical (though not enitrely human) form for a maximum of four years. At the end of the journey is a temple which leads to the ninth underworld, eternal rest - like heaven, although the soul ceases to exist after it enters.
Nobody goes to 'hell' - everyone has a chance to get to the ninth underworld. Although those who have done good are helped along the way. In El Marrow, the city of the dead, the good deeds in your life are added up - like Karma. If you've been a good person, you earn a ticket on the number nine train - a train which takes you straight through the land of the dead in four minutes.
If you've lead a bad life, you get little help, and have to set off on your journey alone. If you haven't reached the ninth underworld by the fourth year, you become a lost soul and are trapped in the land of the dead for eternity. You are still very much a fragile being and things that cause death in humans (like falling off a buiding) would result in the death of your soul - you become trapped in the land of the dead. Obviously, it's best to do good in your life and catch the train as this minimises the chace of becoming a lost soul.
Once a year on 'Día de los muertos', the day of the dead, the souls who have failed to reach the ninth underworld become trapped, whilst the living celebrate in memory of their deceased on Earth.
You reach the temple at a mountain after going past the cities of Rubacava and Los Angelitos. At the top there is a large marble building which you enter alone. Inside there is a pool, in which you wash away your sin, cleanse the soul and reflect on your life. Then you enter the gateway, into the ninth underworld. Eternal rest follows.
Well... it's nice to believe in something, even if it is a little unlikely.
After you die you go to the land of the dead where you continue to live in a physical (though not enitrely human) form for a maximum of four years. At the end of the journey is a temple which leads to the ninth underworld, eternal rest - like heaven, although the soul ceases to exist after it enters.
Nobody goes to 'hell' - everyone has a chance to get to the ninth underworld. Although those who have done good are helped along the way. In El Marrow, the city of the dead, the good deeds in your life are added up - like Karma. If you've been a good person, you earn a ticket on the number nine train - a train which takes you straight through the land of the dead in four minutes.
If you've lead a bad life, you get little help, and have to set off on your journey alone. If you haven't reached the ninth underworld by the fourth year, you become a lost soul and are trapped in the land of the dead for eternity. You are still very much a fragile being and things that cause death in humans (like falling off a buiding) would result in the death of your soul - you become trapped in the land of the dead. Obviously, it's best to do good in your life and catch the train as this minimises the chace of becoming a lost soul.
Once a year on 'Día de los muertos', the day of the dead, the souls who have failed to reach the ninth underworld become trapped, whilst the living celebrate in memory of their deceased on Earth.
You reach the temple at a mountain after going past the cities of Rubacava and Los Angelitos. At the top there is a large marble building which you enter alone. Inside there is a pool, in which you wash away your sin, cleanse the soul and reflect on your life. Then you enter the gateway, into the ninth underworld. Eternal rest follows.
Well... it's nice to believe in something, even if it is a little unlikely.