Part 24 (1/2)
THE DEITY REPRESENTING THE GOOD CONSCIENCE: Please recite the Six-syllable Mantra once on behalf of the deceased, the wrongdoing Laksanraka! OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH! Please recite the Six-syllable Mantra once on behalf of all beings present within the intermediate state [of rebirth]! (Then speaking to the a.s.sembled audience) O listen! I am the one called deity of good conscience. This wrongdoing Laksanraka has committed many negative actions, as a result of which, at this moment, in the whole world, I can only find six tiny white pebbles representing his virtuous actions, but there are innumerable pebbles [here] representing his non-virtuous past actions. [Now], by the power of his bad past actions, he has been led away to the h.e.l.ls by the executors of Yama's rites. Although I wanted to guide him to higher rebirths, I have been unable to find a way [to help him].
All of you who inhabit the human world of Jambudvpa, and all of you gathered here, should not now engage in negative actions but practise only virtue. These following messages are the ones which we [now] send to you [from the intermediate state of rebirth]! (Then, circ.u.mambulating the mandala,4 and chanting the Six-syllable Mantra in a melodious voice, he continues with a sad demeanour.) How wonderful! I pray to gracious Dharmarja, Glorious embodiment of the activities of the buddhas of the three times, Who manifests for the benefit of beings!
Alas! Listen and be attentive, all you gathered here!
[Considering] the difficulties of obtaining a human form, All those who commit non-virtuous and negative acts [while living in the world]
Will have missed the opportunity of escaping from this ocean of suffering.
All [such] beings living in this world, Who are [all] powerless to remain [in the world] for long, Will feel remorse when entering the jaws of the Lord of Death.
But [this remorse] will be of no benefit to them then - For, despite their sorrows, they will be obliged to move on!
All peoples of the past have gathered family and wealth [around them], Hoping these would last forever - But, when [their own] impermanence and death arrive, They set out alone, devoid of refuge or sanctuary.
The relatives and friends surrounding us in this life Are like a gathering of shoppers at a market.
Although they seem close to us, they are not dependable.
When the market closes, the shoppers will disperse.
[Likewise,] this illusory aggregate of form, Like a fallen cairn at the top of a pa.s.s, Will be severed of all its flesh and bones.
This our body is not to be relied on!
Even though we have cherished this body, [A collection] of pus, blood, serum, and sinews, It is nonetheless [ever] on the verge of disintegration.
Even though we miss it, birds and dogs will devour it, Even though we [try to sustain it by] engaging in ritual services, It will be s.n.a.t.c.hed away by Yama, the lord of death.
This body composed of the four elements will be left behind on the earth, Our consciousness will travel as a wanderer through the intermediate states, And the habitual tendencies of our negative past actions will follow like a shadow.
How pitiful that we have committed non-virtuous actions!
The deity and demon representing our good and bad conscience Will compare the white and black pebbles of past actions, And Dharmarja will reveal all in the [all-seeing] mirror.
All great wrongdoers will suffer these torments.
Even though they should not commit even the slightest negative acts, The human beings of Jambudvpa are let down by wrongdoing!
It is by engaging in virtue that they will be reborn in the higher realms, And by engaging in negativity that they will travel to the h.e.l.ls.
At this one time, when one has attained a human body, But failed to return with at least some virtue, What a pity it is that we carry the [alternative] burden of negativity, And bring sufferings upon ourselves!
The hunters in the mountains, The fishermen by the rivers, And those who kill domestic livestock Will transmigrate and be reborn in the eighteen h.e.l.ls.
Those who engage in deceit and deception, Having adulterated measures and weights, And those who steal, plunder or deceive Will long roam through the three inferior existences.
Those bound to their wealth by the knot of miserliness, Those who squander the property of others, And those who appropriate donations made to the Three Precious Jewels, Will long roam through the realms of anguished spirits.
This, the impact of non-virtuous past actions Is like a thunderbolt, it is extremely powerful.
And even though we feel remorse, it will be of no help - We will not be able to escape!
The punishment for negative actions is exacted by Yama.
In this dangerous pa.s.sageway, traversed by all, The executors of Yama's rites bring us to trial.
Pity those human beings who do not avoid negativity - For there is no way to help them.
How severe is the att.i.tude of Dharmarja!
How precise is the accounting of the deity and demon of conscience!
How remorseful are the great wrongdoers!
Only by engaging in virtue, will one proceed to higher rebirths.
Alas! The body ages day by day.
The lifespan is consumed moment by moment.
Dying in turn, one after another, Sentient beings of this errant degenerate age Have lifespans shorter than the tail of a sheep!
All householders with many dependants, [such as this wrongdoer], Will reap the fruits of their evil past actions in so many ways, And even their relatives and friends will [one day] arise as their enemies.
In these bad times, keeping a household [can in itself] engender sorrow.
Now, [therefore], having attained a human body, Endowed with freedom and favourable opportunities, Direct your thought towards your own mind!
The critical point is to concentrate on the sacred teachings!
Then, you will be happy in this life and joyful in the next.
ACT TWO.
(Then again, [in the masked drama of rebirth], when the householder rjta is shown setting off for the realms of higher rebirth, he prays in the presence of Avalokitevara, and after [Dharmarja] has finished reciting the aspirational prayer of Avalokitevara on behalf of rjta, the householder is adorned with fine ornaments, and installed upon a throne. Then, before the mult.i.tude of the five hosts of dkins arrive to welcome him with music and song, at that time, the deity of good conscience should joyfully make the following prayer, telling of the advantages of abandoning negativity and practising virtue.5 ) THE DEITY REPRESENTING THE GOOD CONSCIENCE:.
I pray to Samantabhadra and Samantabhadr, the Buddha-body of Reality, Who abide in Akanistha, the palace of reality's expanse!
I pray to Vajradhara, [lord of] the sixth [enlightened family], Who abides in the Buddha field of the Dense Array.