Part 20 (1/2)
Again, calling the deceased by name, the introduction should be given with the following words: O, Child of Buddha Nature, listen without distraction. On the tenth day, he who is called Ratna Heruka, of the Ratna family of blood-drinking deities, will arise from the southern direction of your brain and appear before you. His body is dark yellow in colour, with three faces, six arms and four legs, [firmly] set apart. His right face is white, the left red, and the central face is a burning dark yellow. In his six hands he holds, on the right in the first hand, a jewel, in the middle one, a khatvga and in the last hand a club and to the left, in his first hand, he holds a bell, in the middle one, a skull-cup and in the last a trident. The female consort Ratnakrodhevar is embracing his body, her right hand clasped around his neck and her left offering a skull-cup filled with blood to his mouth.
Do not be afraid! Do not be terrified! And do not be awed! Recognise this to be the buddha-body of your own awareness. These are your own meditational deities, so do not be terrified. This, in reality, is the transcendent lord Ratnasambhava and his consort, so be devoted to them! Recognition and liberation will occur simultaneously!
If, upon hearing these words, [the deceased] recognises the meditational deities, he or she will dissolve indivisibly [with them] and thereby attain buddhahood [in the Buddha-body of Perfect Resource].
Yet, even after receiving this introduction, there are those who, owing to their negative habitual tendencies, will nevertheless flee in awe and terror. Not recognising their own meditational deities, they will perceive them as Yama and thereby the recognition will not occur. So it is that, on the eleventh day, the a.s.sembled deities of the Padma family of blood-drinking deities will come to escort the deceased.
Again, calling the deceased by name, the introduction should be given with the following words: O, Child of Buddha Nature, [listen without distraction]. On the eleventh day, he who is called the transcendent lord Padma Heruka, of the Padma family of blood-drinking deities, will arise from the western direction of your brain, in union with his consort, and appear vividly before you. His body is dark red in colour, with three faces, six arms and four legs, [firmly] set apart. His right face is white, the left blue, and the central face is dark red. In his six hands he holds, on the right in the first hand, a lotus, in the middle one, a khatvga and in the last hand a mace and to the left, in his first hand he holds a bell, in the middle one, a blood-filled skull and in the last a small drum. The female consort Padmakrodhevar is embracing his body, her right hand clasped around his neck and her left offering a skull-cup filled with blood to his mouth.
Do not be afraid! Do not be terrified! And do not be awed! Contemplate them with joy. Recognise this to be the buddha-body of your own awareness. These are your own meditational deities, so do not be terrified. This, in reality, is the transcendent lord Amitbha and his consort, so be devoted to them! Recognition and liberation will occur simultaneously!
If, upon hearing these words, [the deceased] recognises the meditational deities, he or she will dissolve indivisibly [with them] and thereby attain buddhahood [in the Buddha-body of Perfect Resource].
Yet, even after receiving this introduction, there are those who are held back by their negative habitual tendencies and there are those who will not recognise their meditational deities because they have fled in awe and terror. The recognition not having been attained, so it is that, on the twelfth day, the a.s.sembled deities of the Karma family of blood-drinking deities, followed by the Gaur, the Pic, the Female Gatekeepers, and the var, will come to escort the deceased. Since an even greater fear and terror will arise if these are not recognised, again, call the deceased by name, and offer the introduction in the following words: O, Child of Buddha Nature, listen without distraction. When the twelfth day comes, he who is called the transcendent lord Karma Heruka, of the Karma family of blood-drinking deities, will arise from the northern direction of your brain, in union with his consort, and appear vividly before you. His body is dark green in colour, with three faces, six arms and four legs, [firmly] set apart. His right face is white, the left red, and the central face is an awesome dark green. In his six hands he holds, on the right in the first hand, a sword, in the middle one, a khatvga and in the last hand a mace and to the left, in his first hand he holds a bell, in the middle one, a skull and in the last a plough-share. The female consort Karmakrodhevar is embracing his body, her right hand clasped around his neck and her left offering a skull-cup filled with blood to his mouth.
Do not be afraid! Do not be terrified! And do not be awed! Recognise this to be the buddha-body of your own awareness. These are your own meditational deities, so do not be terrified. This, in reality, is the transcendent lord Amoghasiddhi and his consort, so regard them with intense devotion! Recognition and liberation will occur simultaneously!
If, upon hearing these words, [the deceased] recognises the meditational deities, he or she will dissolve indivisibly [with them] and thereby attain buddhahood [in the Buddha-body of Perfect Resource].
Based on the spiritual teacher's [former] oral instruction, as one recognises these [visionary appearances] as the natural expressive power of awareness, naturally manifesting, liberation will occur. This is like one who recognises a stuffed lion-skin to be a stuffed lion. The nature of the stuffed lion is such that if its actual nature is not recognised it will generate awe and terror. But, as soon as someone points out what this really is, the facade is penetrated, and the fear dissolves. Similarly, here, when the a.s.sembly of blood-drinking deities arises, with their huge bodies and thick limbs, filling the whole of s.p.a.ce, [the deceased] undoubtedly becomes awed and terrified. But, immediately upon hearing this introduction, the deceased will recognise the appearances to be natural manifestations [of actual reality], or to be their own meditational deities. [As this recognition occurs,] the two [aspects of inner radiance], the 'mother inner radiance', which was formerly [introduced] through the spiritual teacher's guidance, and the 'naturally arising child inner radiance', [the experience of] which emerges subsequently [as the result of practice], meet together - in other words, like meeting an old friend, [the inner radiance] that dawns face to face with oneself does so in a naturally liberating manner and one will be naturally freed within [the expanse of] naturally radiant intrinsic awareness.
If this introduction is not received, even good persons may turn away at this point and continue to roam within cyclic existence. [As this occurs] then, the female wrathful deities, the eight Gaur, and the eight Pic, [the latter] having diverse [animal] heads, will emerge from within the brain [of the deceased], and appear before him or her. Again, calling the deceased by name, the introduction should be given in the following words: O, Child of Buddha Nature, listen without distraction! The eight Gaur will now be emerging from within your own brain and appearing before you. Do not be afraid! From the eastern direction of your brain the white Gaur, holding a human corpse as a cudgel in her right hand and a blood-filled skull in her left hand, will arise before you. Do not be afraid! From the southern direction, the yellow Caur, shooting an arrow from a bow; from the west, the red Pramoh, holding a crocodile victory-banner; and from the north, the black Vetl, holding a vajra and a blood-filled skull, [will arise]. From the south-east, the red-yellow Pukkas, holding entrails in her right [hand] and eating them with her left; from the south-west, the green-black Ghasmar, holding a blood-filled skull in her left [hand], stirring this with a vajra in her right hand and drinking awesomely; from the north-west, the white-yellow Candl, tearing apart the head and body [of a bloated corpse], holding the heart in her right hand and eating the body with her left; and from the north-east, the blue-black man, tearing a head and body apart and eating them, [will arise]. These eight Gaur, who are indicative of the [eight] cla.s.ses [of consciousness], will emerge from within your own brain, and surround the five blood-drinking deities and their consorts. Do not be afraid!
O, Child of Buddha Nature, listen without distraction! The eight Pic, who are indicative of the sense objects, will emerge, and appear before you, encircling this array. From the east, the dark brown Sihamukh, lion-headed, her two arms crossed on her breast, carrying a corpse in her mouth and shaking her mane; from the south, tiger-headed, the red Vyghrmukh, her two arms crossed, snarling and staring with bulging eyes; from the west, fox-headed, the black rglamukh, holding a razor in her right hand, and entrails in her left, eating the entrails and licking the blood; from the north, wolf-headed, the black-blue vnamukh, tearing apart a corpse with her two arms and staring with bulging eyes; from the south-east, vulture-headed, the white-yellow Grdhramukh, carrying a large human corpse over her shoulder and holding a skeleton in [both] hands; from the south-west, kite-headed, the black-red Kakamukh, carrying a large corpse over her shoulders; from the north-west, crow-headed, the black Kkamukh, holding a skull in her left [hand], a sword in her right, and eating a [human] heart and lungs; and from the north-east, owl-headed, the blue-black Ulkamukh, holding a vajra in her right [hand], wielding a sword in her left and eating flesh. These, the eight Pic, indicative of the sense objects, will emerge from within your brain and arise before you, encircling the five blood-drinking deities and their consorts. Do not be afraid! Recognise all that arises as the natural expressive power of awareness, manifesting naturally.
O, Child of Buddha Nature, the four Female Gatekeepers will also emerge from within your brain and appear before you. Recognise them! From the eastern direction of your brain the white horse-headed Aku, a blood-filled skull in her left hand; from the south, the yellow sow-headed P, holding a noose; from the west, the red lion-headed Sphot, holding an iron chain; and from the north, the green snake-headed Ghant, holding a bell, will instantaneously arise.6 These, the four Female Gatekeepers, will indeed emerge from within your brain and appear before you. Recognise them, as they are your own meditational deities!
O, Child of Buddha Nature, on the periphery of these thirty deities, who are the wrathful Herukas [and their retinues], the twenty-eight var will emerge from within your brain and appear before you. They will have diverse [animal] heads and bear diverse weapons. But, do not be afraid! Recognise all that arises as the natural expressive power of awareness, manifesting naturally. Now, at this most critical point, remember your spiritual teacher's oral instructions.
O, Child of Buddha Nature, from the east, the six yogin of the east will emerge from within your brain and appear before you: the brownish white yak-headed Manurksas, holding [a vajra and] a skull; the yellowish white snake-headed Brahmn, holding a lotus; the greenish white leopard-headed Raudr, holding a trident; the bluish white weasel-headed Vaisnv, holding a wheel; the reddish white brown-bear-headed Kaumr, holding a pike; and the white black-bear-headed Indrn, holding a noose of entrails in her hand.7 Do not be afraid!
O, Child of Buddha Nature, from the south, the six yogin of the south will emerge from within your brain and appear before you: the yellow bat-headed8 Pigal, holding a razor; the reddish yellow crocodile-headed nt, holding a vase; the reddish yellow scorpion-headed Amrt, holding a lotus; the whitish yellow hawk-headed Saum, holding a vajra; the greenish yellow fox-headed Dand, holding a cudgel, and the blackish yellow tiger-headed Rksas holding a blood-filled skull in her hand.9 Do not be afraid!
O, Child of Buddha Nature, from the west, the six yogin of the west will emerge from within your brain and appear before you: the greenish red vulture-headed Bhaksas, holding a club; the red horse-headed Rat, holding a large torso; the pale red garudaheaded mighty one [Rudhiramad, consort of Mahbala], holding a cudgel; the red dog-headed [Ekacrin] Rksas, wielding a vajra-razor in her hand; the red hoopoe-headed Manohrik, firing an arrow from a bow; and the greenish red deer-headed protectress of wealth, [Siddhikar, consort of Vasuraksita], holding a vase in her hand.10 Do not be afraid!
O, Child of Buddha Nature, from the north, the six yogin of the north will emerge from within your brain and appear before you: the bluish green snake-headed Vyudev, brandis.h.i.+ng an ensign; the reddish green ibex-headed Agny, holding a glowing fire-brand; the blackish green sow-headed Varh, holding a noose of fangs; the reddish green crow-headed Vajr [Cmund], holding an infant human corpse; the blackish green elephant-headed Bhujan, holding a club and drinking blood [from a skull]; and the bluish green snake-headed Varunn, holding a noose of snakes in her hand.11 Do not be afraid!
O, Child of Buddha Nature, the four yogin who are the [four] female gatekeepers will emerge from within your brain and appear before you: from the east, the white cuckoo-headed Vajr [Mahkl], holding an iron hook; from the south, the yellow goat-headed Vajr [Mahchgal], holding a noose; from the west, the red lion-headed Vajr [Mahk.u.mbhakarn], holding an iron chain; and from the north, the black-green snake-headed Vajr [Lambodar], holding a bell in her hand. These four yogin, the female gatekeepers, will indeed emerge from within your brain and appear before you. Do not be afraid!
Since these twenty-eight var emanate naturally from the expressive power of the naturally arising deities, which are the wrathful Herukas - recognise them now!
O, Child of Buddha Nature, through the expressive power of emptiness, the Buddha-body of Reality has arisen as the peaceful deities, recognise this! Through the expressive power of radiance, the Buddha-body of Perfect Resource has arisen as the wrathful deities.12 Recognise this!
At this time, when the a.s.sembly of the fifty-eight blood-drinking deities manifests from within your brain, you should recognise all that arises as the naturally arising luminosity of your own awareness. Then, [if recognition occurs], you will immediately attain buddhahood, inseparable from the blood-drinking deities.
O, Child of Buddha Nature, if even now you do not recognise this [reality], and become afraid and turn away from the [visionary appearances], you will go on to experience yet further suffering. If recognition does not occur, all the blood-drinking deities will be perceived as Yama. You will be overwhelmed by fear, by awe and by terror at [the sight of] all the blood-drinking deities; and you will faint. Those [visionary appearances], which are natural manifestations [of actual reality], will [seem to] have become demons, and you will continue to roam in cyclic existence. But [even now], if you are not awed and not terrified, you will avoid the continued wandering within cyclic existence.
O, Child of Buddha Nature, the largest of the buddha-bodies of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities will be as vast as the sky; the medium ones will be the size of Mount Sumeru; and even the smallest will be the size of eighteen of our bodies, standing one above the other.13 Do not be afraid! All phenomenal existence is now arising as luminosities and buddha-bodies. By recognising all the present visionary appearances to be the natural luminosity of your own intrinsic awareness, manifesting as lights and buddha-bodies, you will dissolve inseparably within the lights and buddha-bodies, and buddhahood will be attained. O Child of Buddha Nature, whatever fearsome and terrifying apparitions appear to you now, recognise them to be natural manifestations [of actual reality]. Do not be afraid! Recognise these [appearances] as inner radiance, your own natural luminosity. Upon recognition, you will undoubtedly attain buddhahood, right now. That which is called 'instantaneous perfect buddhahood' will occur at this very moment. Remember this, and hold it in your mind!
Child of Buddha Nature, if you do not recognise [the visionary appearances] now, and continue to be afraid, then all the buddha-bodies of the peaceful deities will arise in the form of Mahkla; all the buddha-bodies of the wrathful deities will arise in the form of Yama Dharmarja; and then all of your perceptions will turn into malevolent forces. In this way, you will continue to wander in cyclic existence.
O, Child of Buddha Nature, if you do not recognise the present appearances as natural manifestations [of actual reality], even though you may have been learned in all the stras and tantras, which form the [Buddha's] transmitted precepts, and even though you may have practised these doctrines for an aeon, buddhahood will not be attained. Yet, if you recognise now the visionary appearances that are manifesting naturally, then, through [the understanding of] a single essential point, and through [the understanding of] a single word, you will attain buddhahood.
If, immediately after death, you do not recognise the appearances which manifest naturally, these appearances will [eventually] arise during the intermediate state of reality, in the forms of Yama Dharmarja. The largest form a.s.sumed by Yama Dharmarja is as vast as s.p.a.ce; the medium form, the size of Mount Sumeru, filling this world-system. [Thus, Yama Dharmarja will appear], his upper teeth biting into his lower lip, his eyes gla.s.sy, his hair tied up on the crown of his head, his belly bulging and his neck thin, brandis.h.i.+ng in his hand the wooden slate [doc.u.menting] past actions - his mouth echoing with the cries of 'strike!', and 'kill!' - he is drinking brains, severing heads and ripping out internal organs. In this way, [it will appear as if his form] fills the entire world.
O, Child of Buddha Nature, when such visions arise, do not be afraid or terrified. Your body is a mental body, formed of habitual tendencies. Therefore, even if you are slain and cut into pieces, you will not die. You are, [in reality], a natural form of emptiness, so there is no need to be afraid. The forms of Yama Dharmarja arise, too, from the natural luminosity of your own intrinsic awareness. They have no material substance. Emptiness cannot be harmed by emptiness. [Clearly] determine now that, other than arising from the natural expressive power of your own awareness, [whatever seems to appear to you] externally - the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, the blood-drinking [Herukas], the diverse animal-headed deities, the rainbow lights, the frightening forms of Yama, etc. - these are all without substantial existence. If this is successfully determined, all fear and terror will be liberated [naturally], just where it is. You will dissolve inseparably [with the visionary appearances] and buddhahood will be attained.
Upon recognising [the visionary appearances] in this way, be fervently devoted, and think: 'These are my meditational deities. They have come to escort me on the dangerous pathway of the intermediate state. I take refuge in them.' Remember the Three Precious Jewels! Remember your meditational deity, whichever it may be! Call to your meditational deity by name and pray with the following words: 'I am roaming in the intermediate state - come quickly to rescue me! Hold me in your compa.s.sion, O precious meditational deity!' Call to your spiritual teacher, by name, and pray with the following words: 'I am roaming in the intermediate state. Rescue me! Do not let your compa.s.sion forsake me!' Pray devotedly, yet again, to the a.s.sembled blood-drinking deities and recite this aspirational prayer: O, as I roam in cyclic existence, [driven] by deep-seated habitual tendencies, May the a.s.sembly of [male] Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, transcendent lords, draw me forward, Leading me on the path of [radiant] light, Through which [all] awesome and terrifying perceptions are left behind.
May the a.s.sembly of the wrathful female deities, Dhtvvar [and so forth], support me from behind, And, thus [encircled], may I be rescued From the fearsome pa.s.sageway of the intermediate state, And be escorted to the level of an utterly perfect buddha.
Now, when I roam alone, separated from my loved ones, And [myriad] images of emptiness arise, naturally manifesting, May the buddhas [quickly] release the power of their compa.s.sion, And may the fear of the awesome and terrifying intermediate state be annulled.
When the five radiant lights of pristine cognition dawn, May I recognise them as my own [nature], without awe and without terror, And as the [manifold] forms of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities arise, May I be fearlessly confident and recognise [the characteristics of] the intermediate state.
When I experience suffering as the result of negative past actions, May the meditational deities dispel all such misery, And as the natural sound of reality reverberates like a thousand peals of thunder, May all [sounds] be heard as the resonance of the Six Syllables.
When I am driven on by past actions, unable to find a refuge, May the Great Compa.s.sionate One, Mahkrunika, protect me.
And as I experience the suffering of habitual tendencies and past actions, May the meditative stabilities of inner radiance and bliss [naturally] arise.
May the fields of the five elements not rise up as a hostile force, And may I see [them as] the fields of the five enlightened families!
Recite this aspirational prayer with deep devotion. It is very important. As all fear and terror dissolve, you will a.s.suredly attain buddhahood in the Buddha-body of Perfect Resource - so do not be distracted!
The above introduction should be given three or up to seven times. Even if the negativity of the deceased is very great and even if the inheritance of past actions is very bad, it is impossible for liberation not to occur - [if there is recognition]. Yet, regardless of how often these teachings are given, if recognition does not occur, [the deceased] will necessarily roam into the intermediate state of rebirth. The introduction to that [state] is presented below, in detail.
CONCLUSION OF THE INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERMEDIATE STATE OF THE TIME OF DEATH AND THE INTERMEDIATE STATE OF REALITY.
Since it is generally the case that one will experience bewilderment at the time of death, this Liberation by Hearing is indispensable, whatever one's degree of familiarity with [meditative] practices. In the case of those who have considerable familiarity with [meditative] experience the recognition of the nature of reality can arise instantly, as soon as awareness separates from the material body. Therefore, it is essential to cultivate this experience [of reality] during one's lifetime. Those who have been introduced to [the nature of] awareness, directly, and who have cultivated [this aspect of meditative experience] during their lifetime, will have the greatest ability during the intermediate state of the time of death when the inner radiance arises. Additionally, those who during their lifetime emphasised meditation on the deity, according to the generation and perfection stages of the way of secret mantra, will have the greatest ability during the intermediate state of reality, when the visions of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities arise.
Given the above, it is extremely important to train the mind particularly in this Liberation by Hearing, while one is alive. It should be embraced. It should be read aloud. It should be thoroughly comprehended. It should be taken to heart perfectly. It should be read aloud three times [a day], without fail. Its words and meaning should be so clearly impressed on the mind that, even were one to be pursued by a hundred a.s.sa.s.sins, its text and meaning would not be forgotten.