Passing out from the heart to immortality

8.6.1 Now, as for these arteries of the heart, they arise from the finest essence, which is reddish brown, white, blue, yellow, and red: so it is said. Verily, yonder sun, a sign of God, is reddish brown; it is white; it is blue; it is yellow; it is red.

8.6.2 Now, as a great extending highway goes to two villages, this one and the yonder, even so these rays of the sun go to two worlds, this one and the yonder. They extend from yonder sun, and creep into these arteries. They extend from these arteries, and creep into yonder sun.

8.6.3 Now, when one is thus sound asleep, composed, serene, he knows no dream; then he has crept into these arteries; so no evil touches him, for then he rests in the keeping of his Lord.

8.6.4 Now, when one thus becomes reduced to weakness, those sitting around say: "Do you know me?" "Do you know me?" As long as he has not departed from this body, he knows them.

8.6.5 But when he thus departs from this body, then, by God's command, he is taken upward. As quickly as one could direct his mind to it, he is brought to his Lord. That, verily, indeed, is the door of the worlds, an entrance for the knowing, a stopping for the heedless.

8.6.6 As to this there is the following verse:

There are a hundred and one arteries of the heart.

One of these passes up to the crown of the head.

Going up by it, the righteous soul goes to immortality by God's mercy.

The others are for departing in various directions.