I’m not sure how we have managed to live here for six months without knowing the oath that is taken by witnesses before they testify in a Cambodian court. I’ve been to court with our team here many times, but no one ever translates the oath for me since it’s a routine matter. My eyes were opened to greatness earlier this week. This is just sublime.
My favorites –
From the oath itself:
“If I answer falsely on any issue, may all the guardian angels, forest guardians and powerful sacred spirits destroy me, may my material possessions be destroyed, and may I die a miserable and violent death.”
From the admonition given by the Court, before the oath is administered:
“Should anyone answer untruthfully about what they know, have seen, have heard, and remember, may all the guardian angels, forest guardians, Yeay Tep and powerful sacred spirits utterly and without mercy destroy them, and bestow upon them a miserable and violent death by means of bullets, electricity, lightning, tiger bites, and snake strikes, and in their future reincarnation separate them from their parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren, impoverish them, and subject them to miseries for 500 reincarnations.”
That's right -- "a miserable and violent death by means of bullets, electricity, lightning, tiger bites, and snake strikes." What I truly love is the word "and." Somehow all of these disparate means of inflicting a torturous and painful death are supposed to converge all at once. Please be very careful when you testify....
The oath does provide an upside:
“But, if I answer truthfully, may the sacred spirits assist me in having abundant material possessions and living in peace and happiness along with my family and relatives forever, in all my reincarnations.”
This positive note of encouragement is reinforced by the Court:
“Anyone testifying truthfully without evasion, without lying, without bias because of bloodline, without collusion arising from fear, hatred, material greed, or having taken bribes, may all the guardian angels, forest guardians, Yeay Tep and powerful sacred spirits in the world assist them in long life, good health, an abundance of material possessions and having respectful and loving families until future reincarnation, encountering only good deeds, progress, prosperity and flourish, in accordance with their aspirations. ”
I defy you to find a more compelling and attention-grabbing oath than this gem of brilliance in Cambodia. Unless and until someone finds something better (good luck!), I'm declaring this the best oath in recorded human history. If interested, here is the full text, from Cambodia's Code of Criminal Procedure:
I hope all of you are well. And may your forest guardians grant you long life, good health, abundant possessions, and respectful and loving families.
- Doug