The Tibetan Book of the Dead
Page 40
Thus the buttresses of erroneous views will be severed.
Through these enlightened intentions of the Eight Piśācῑ,
Mental constructs associated with the eight objects will be naturally liberated.
JAḤ HŪṂ VAṂ HOḤ
The mantra-letters of the naturally present causal basis arise
In the form of these seed-syllables of the Four Female Gatekeepers [of the wrathful assembly].
Thus the entrances to the four types of birth will be obstructed,
And the four immeasurable aspirations will grow within the mental continuum.
OṂ VAJRĀṄKUŚĀ JAḤ is the enlightened intention of white horse-headed [Aṅkuśā Vajratejasῑ].
Thus beings will be pulled from the abodes of cyclic existence,
[And immeasurable compassion will grow within the mental continuum].
OṂ VAJRAPĀŚĀ HŪṂ is the enlightened intention of yellow sow-headed [Pāśā Vajrāmoghā].
Thus erroneous mental constructs will be securely tied,
[And immeasurable loving kindness will grow within the mental continuum].
OṂ VAJRASPHOṬĀ VAṂ is the enlightened intention of red lion-headed [Sphoṭā Vajrālokā].
Thus the dissonant mental state of ignorance will be firmly bound,
[And immeasurable sympathetic joy will grow within the mental continuum].
OṂ VAJRAGHAṆṬĀ HOḤ is the enlightened intention of green snake-headed [Gaṇṭhā Vajravetālῑ].
Thus mental constructs associated with the five poisons will be subdued,
[And immeasurable equanimity will grow within the mental continuum].
BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ
BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ
BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ
BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ BHYOḤ
The mantra-letters of the naturally present causal basis arise
[In the form of these seed-syllables] of the Twenty-eight Īśvarῑ.
Thus the aggregates of bewildered thought will be purified,
While [externally] sounds, lights and rays will appear [during the cremation].
OṂ MANURĀKṢASĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Manurākṣasῑ.23
OṂ BRAHMĀṆĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Brahmāṇῑ.
OṂ RAUDRĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Raudrῑ
OṂ INDRĀṆĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Indrāṇῑ.
OṂ KAUMĀRĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Kaumārῑ.
OṂ VAIṢṆĀVĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Vaiṣṇāvῑ.
OṂ VAJRA PIṄGALĀ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Vajra [Piṅgalā].
OṂ SAUMĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Saumῑ.
OṂ AMṚTĀ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Amṛtā.
OṂ DAṆḌĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Daṇḍῑ.
OṂ RĀKṢASĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Rākṣasῑ.
OṂ BHAKṢASĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Bhakṣasῑ.
OṂ RATĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Ratῑ.
OṂ RUDHIRAMADĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Rudhiramadῑ.
OṂ EKACĀRAṆĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Ekacāraṇῑ Rākṣasῑ.
OṂ MANOHĀRIKĀ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Manohārikā.
OṂ SIDDHIKARĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Siddhikarῑ.
OṂ VĀYUDEVĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Vāyudevῑ.
OṂ MAHĀMĀRAṆĀ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Mahāmāraṇā.
OṂ AGNĀYĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Agnāyῑ.
OṂ VĀRĀHĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Vārāhῑ.
OṂ CĀMUṆḌĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Cāmuṇḍῑ.
OṂ BHUJANĀ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Bhujanā.
OṂ VARUṆĀNĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Varuṇānῑ.
OṂ MAHĀKĀLĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Vajra Mahākālῑ.
OṂ MAHĀCHĀGALĀ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Vajra Mahāchāgalā.
OṂ MAHĀKUMBHAKARṆĪ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Vajra Mahākumbhakarṇῑ.
OṂ VAJRA LAMBODARĀ BHYOḤ is the enlightened intention of Vajra Lambodarā.
Through these enlightened intentions of the Twenty-eight Īśvarῑ,
The bewildering apparitions of the intermediate state will be naturally purified,
While [external] signs such as sounds, lights, rays and [bursts of] fire and smoke will appear as the transfer of consciousness occurs.
How wonderful!
The innermost heart[-mantras] of the Four Great Wrathful [Male Gatekeepers],
The subjugators who naturally liberate the four beguiling forces,
Appear as an unobstructed lion’s roar,
Whose naturally arising enlightened intentions resound as follows:
OṂ VAJRA KRODHA KYEMA KYERI KARIMASTA BHALI BHALI ATA EKARASULI BHASATI ENILANILA KĀ EBINA ABHISIÑCA
This lion’s roar which subdues the beguiling force of the psycho-physical aggregates,
[Is the enlightened intention of Mahābala Kumārakalaśa].
Thus one will dissolve indivisibly in the body of Buddha Kumārakalaśa,
And liberation will occur in the naturally present expanse.
OṂ VAJRA KRODHA MAHĀMUDRA JÑĀNA OJASVĀ HŪṂ SPHARAṆA PHAṬ SVĀHĀ
This lion’s roar which subdues the beguiling force of the dissonant mental states,
[Is the enlightened intention of Yamāntaka Vajra Heruka].
Thus one will dissolve indivisibly in the body of Vajra Heruka,
And buddhahood will then be obtained.
One will be naturally liberated beyond the boundaries of the five poisons,
And emanations, and their emanations, will bring about the welfare of sentient beings.
OṂ VAJRA KRODHA AMṚTAKUṆḌALI HŪṂ CHINDHA CHINDHA BHINDHA BHINDHA HANA HANA DAHA DAHA PACA PACA HŪṂ PHAṬ
This lion’s roar which subdues the beguiling force of ‘deva’s son’,
[Is the enlightened intention of Amṛtakuṇḍalin].
Thus one will dissolve indivisibly in the body of Amṛtakuṇḍalin,
And buddhahood will then be obtained.
One will be freed from the sufferings of the lower existences,
And enlightened activities will be accomplished in all directions, without distinction.
OṂ VAJRA KRODHA HAYAGRĪVA HRĪḤ SARVA TATHĀGATA MAHĀPAÑCA OṂ ĀYURJÑĀNA MAHĀPUṆYE TIṢṬHA OṂ
This lion’s roar which subdues the beguiling force of the lord of death,
[Is the enlightened intention of Hayagrῑvarāja].
Thus Hayagrῑvarāja’s accomplishment of long-life will be attained,
And, abiding in the state of reality, which is supreme bliss,
Ignorance and other dissonant mental states will be uprooted,
The five poisons will be liberated, right where they are, without being renounced,
And the habitual tendencies of beginningless cyclic existence will be swept away.
[Through these innermost heart-mantras of the Four Great Wrathful Gatekeepers],
The four beguiling forces will be destroyed and liberated in the four buddha-bodies,
While [externally] bone relics, minor relics, and rainbow lights will appear [during the cremation].
[How wonderful!
Through the expansive diffusion of these enlightened intentions of the buddha-mind of the Sixty Herukas,
The mass of bewildered thoughts is naturally liberated,
While [externally] sounds, lights
and rays, and bursts of fire or smoke, spiralling to the right of the pyre,
As well as rainbow lights, bone relics, and small relics, and other signs, will appear.]24
[PART THREE]
How wonderful!
The enlightened intention of the unimpeded Buddha-body of Emanation
Arises as the following six syllables,
By which the six classes of sentient beings are naturally liberated into the expanse [of actual reality]:
’A A HA ŚA SA MA
Through this enlightened intention free from origination or cessation,
These six syllables which are the six naturally present seminal points [of light],
Will naturally liberate the six classes of sentient beings within the expanse [of reality],25
While [externally], numerous subtle relics and diverse rainbow lights will appear [during the cremation].
How wonderful!
The supreme enlightened intention of the Hundred Genuine Enlightened Families
Appears as the secret hundred syllable mantra,
Naturally arising within the heart of Vajrasattva, as follows:
OṂ VAJRASATTVA SAMAYAMANUPĀLAYA VAJRASATTVA TVENOPATIṢṬHA DṚḌOH ME BHAVA SUPOṢYO ME BHAVA SUTOṢYO ME BHAVA ANURAKTO ME BHAVA SARVASIDDHIṂ ME PRAYACCHA SARVAKARMASU CA ME CITTAṂ ŚREYAḤ KURU HŪṂ HAHAHAHA HO BHAGAVĀN SARVA TATHĀGATA VAJRA MĀ ME MUÑCA VAJRABHAVA MAHĀSAMAYASATTVA ĀḤ
Through this unified enlightened intention of the Hundred Enlightened Families,
Degenerations and breaches [of the commitments, and all] negativity and obscurations, will be naturally liberated, without renunciation,26
While [externally], bone relics, rainbows, lights and rays will appear [during the cremation],
And sounds will reverberate throughout the universe.
How wonderful!
The supreme innermost heart-mantra, unborn and liberating, arises in the form of the following naturally present syllables:
A Ā I Ī̄ U Ū̄ Ṛ Ṝ̣LḸ E AI O AU AṂ AḤ.
These sixteen unborn syllables, in eight pairs, will give rise to an indestructible resonance,
While [externally], they will produce a clear cloudless sky.
How wonderful!
The supreme innermost heart-mantra, unceasing and liberating, arises in the form of the following naturally present syllables:
KA KHA GA GHA ṄA CA CHA JA JHA ÑA ṬA ṬHA ḌA ḌHA ṆA TA THA DA DHA NA PA PHA BA BHA MA YA RA LA VA ŚA ṢA SA HA KṢA
These thirty-four unceasing syllables, in eight clusters, will give rise to an indestructible resonance,
Which is the enlightened intention of the unchanging [sacred] teachings,
While causing rainbow lights and relics to appear [in the pyre].
How wonderful!
The supreme innermost heart-mantra which liberates the enduring continuum [of phenomena] arises in the form of the following naturally present syllables:
[OṂ] YE DHARMĀ HETUPRABHAVĀ HETUN TEṢĀṂ TATHĀGATO HY AVADAT TEṢĀṂ CA YO NIRODHO EVAṂ VĀDĪ MAHĀŚRAMAṆAḤ SVĀHĀ27
These thirty-nine liberating mantra syllables, in twelve clusters, give rise to an indestructible resonance,
While [externally] multiplying relics and [shimmering] rainbow lights will appear.
The supplementary mantras which symbolise [the four] enlightened activities and [which are appended to the basic mantras above] arise in the form of the following naturally present syllables:
May diseases, possession by malignant forces,
And the eight fears, together with all negativity and obscurations,
Be pacified within the expanse of intrinsic awareness!
ŚĀNTIṂ KURUYE SVĀHĀ
May the lifespan [of beings] and all the fields of merit
Be enriched within the modality of [intrinsic] awareness!
PUṢṬIṂ KURUYE SVĀHĀ
May the Three Precious Jewels and all cyclic existence and nirvāṇa
Be controlled within the modality of [intrinsic] awareness!
VAŚAṂ KURUYE SVĀHĀ
May all hostile, obstructing forces,
The five poisons and the three poisons,
Be destroyed within the modality of [intrinsic] awareness!
MĀRAYA PHAṬ SVĀHĀ
May [all] these naturally present enlightened intentions,
Which are the unique offspring of all the teachings,
Naturally arise and manifest for the sake of sentient beings!
[CONCLUSION]
Through [the power of] this authentic precious jewel,
All one’s needs and wishes in this life can be manifested,
And in the next life buddhahood can certainly be achieved.
This [mantra circle] should be accurately inscribed in a headed script,
On a sheet of fine blue paper,
The size of a four finger-width booklet,
Using refined gold, the colour of the Buddha,
And it should be rolled up in silk in the right way.28
[Then], on the eighth day of the lunar month,
Coinciding with the constellation Cancer,
A yogin with pure commitments should consecrate it,
And then it should be worn [continuously].29
Inexpressible virtues and negative actions may both greatly increase.
Therefore the [yogin] should persevere in the practice of virtue and act for the sake of sentient beings,
Avoiding even the most minute of negative acts.
One who does this in the correct manner,
Even if he or she has previously committed the five inexpiable crimes,
Cannot possibly fall into inferior existences, once this [mantra circle] has been encountered.
Since even those who have not practised the [sacred] teachings at all can attain buddhahood [in this way],
It is called the ‘Liberation by Wearing’.
Since all who see this [mantra] circle can attain buddhahood,
It is called the ‘Liberation by Seeing’.
Since all who touch it can attain buddhahood,
It is called the ‘Liberation by Touching’.
Since all who hear it read aloud can attain buddhahood,
It is called the ‘Liberation by Hearing’.
Since all who feel its breath can attain buddhahood,
It is called the ‘Liberation by Feeling’.
Since there has never been a single buddha who did not see [this mantra circle],
It is indeed the nucleus of the [sacred] teachings.
All who see it being inscribed will attain buddhahood,
All who come into contact with it, by wearing it, will attain buddhahood.
All who hear it read aloud will attain buddhahood.
Therefore, it should be inscribed and worn [as an amulet].
It should be read aloud and contemplated in the appropriate way,
And it should be thoroughly comprehended in every respect!
Except for those fortunate ones, with appropriate past actions,
[This mantra circle] should be kept secret and concealed,
Because those who have not accumulated merit cannot comprehend [its meaning],
And if they were to defame this [mantra circle], they would proceed to the hells.
This is like an anguished spirit seeing [nutritious] food as an enemy!
Therefore, it should be kept as a secret, esoteric instruction.
[This mantra circle] is a field of experience of the fortunate.
It is extremely difficult to encounter this [mantra circle],
And once encountered, it is difficult to mentally comprehend.
Therefore, those who do encounter it should rejoice,
And embrace it with respect!
At the time of death [this mantra circle] should not be removed from the body,
And when cremation takes place it should not be removed from the corpse.
This completes the Liberation by Wearing: Natural Liberation of the Psycho-physical Aggregates,
Which encompasses [the mantras of] the hundred enlightened families of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities.
SAMAYA! rgya rgya rgya a gter-rgya
This is a discovered text extracted from Mount Gampodar by the treasure-finder Karma Lingpa.
ŚUBHAṂ
Appendix One: Peaceful and Wrathful Deities and the Tibetan Book of the Dead
A correspondence between the chapters of Karma Lingpa’s Peaceful and Wrathful Deities: A Profound Sacred Teaching, [entitled] Natural Liberation through [Recognition of] Enlightened Intention (Dudjom Rinpoche three-volume edition, Delhi: Sherab Lama, 1975-6) and the chapters of this book
History (lo-rgyus)
1) Memorandum (Them-byad zin-bris), composed by Gyarawa Namka Chokyi Gyeltsen, Volume 1, pp. 1-6.
2) Legend of King ’Gyod tshangs (’Gyod-tshangs rgyal-po’i lo-rgyus). Volume 1, pp. 7-13.
3) Legend of the Brahmin Dung-phreng (Bram-ze dung-phreng-gi lo-rgyus). Volume 1, pp. 15-20.
4) Padmasambhava’s Prophecy of the Treasure-finder and the Series of Authentic Spiritual Lineage Holders (gTer-ston lung-bstan-dang khungs btsun-pa bla-ma brgyud-pa’i rim-pa-rnams), composed by Gendun Gyeltsen. Volume 1, pp. 21-26.