The Tibetan Book of the Dead — ed. W. Y. Evans-Wentz

The origin of this mantra is traceable through /evion works concerning the introduction (during the eighth century) of Tantric Buddhism into Tibet. Dr. Waddell is inclined to doubt that these feryton works were hidden away then (i.e. in the time of Padma Sambhava) and in later centuries recovered, as the tertons (i.e. ‘takers-out’ of such lost books) claim, and suggests that their compilation dates from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century—a tentative and possibly unsound theory (cf. L. A. Waddell, Lamatsm in Sikhim, in the Gagetteer of Sikhim, ed. by H. H. Risley, Calcutta, 1894, p. 289 ; also our Introduction, Pp. 73-7). In any case, the mantra, at least by tradition (which ordinarily is as reliable as recorded history), seems to have come into, or been originated in, Tibet contemporaneously with the introduction of Buddhism into Tibct.

1 That is, Chenrazee,

2 These are: Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Ether.

PART IT] WINNING OF LIBERATION 151

However heavy the evil kava may be and however weak the remaining karma may be, it is not possible that liberation will not be obtained [if one but recognize]. If, nevertheless, despite everything done in these [stages of the Bardo], recognition is still not brought about, then—there being danger of one’s wandering further, into the third Bardo, called the Sidpa Bardo—the setting-face-to-face for that will be shown in detail hereinafter.

[THE CONCLUSION, SHOWING THE FUNDAMEN- TAL IMPORTANCE OF THE BARDO TEACH- INGS]

Whatever the religious practices of any one may have been, —whether extensive or limited,—during the moments of death various misleading illusions occur; and hence this 7%ddol is indispensable. To those who have meditated much, the real Truth dawneth as soon as the body and consciousness-principle part. The acquiring of experience while living is important : they who have [then] recognized [the true nature of | thcir own being,! and thus have had some experience, obtain great power during the Bardo of the Moments of Death, when the Clear Light dawneth.

Again, the meditation on the deities of the Mystic Path of the Mantra, | both in the] visualizing and the perfecting stages, while living, will be of great influence when the peaceful and wrathful visions dawn on the Chonyid Bardo. Thus the training in this Bardo being of particular importance even while living,? hold to it, read it, commit it to memory, bear it in mind properly, read it regularly thrice; let the words and the meanings be very clear; it should be so that the words and the meanings will not be forgotten even though a hundred executioners were pursuing [thee].

1 Lit,, ‘intellect’ or ‘ consciousness-principle’.

1 Lit,, ‘intellect’ or ‘ consciousness-principle’.

2 Cf. the following passage from The Book of the Craft of Dying, chap. V, Comper’s ed. (p. 37): ‘That what man that lusteth, and will gladly die well and surely and meritorily, without peri], he must take heed visibly, and study and learn diligently this craft of dying, and the dispositions thereof abovesaid, while he is in heal [i.e. health}; and not abide till the death entereth in him,’

p. 152

It is called the Great Liberation by Hearing, because even those who have committed the five boundless sins! are sure to be liberated if they hear it by the path of the ear. Therefore read it in the midst of vast congregations. Disseminate it. Through having heard it once, even though one do not comprehend it, it will be remembered in the Intermediate State without a word being omitted, for the intellect becometh ninefold more lucid [there]. Hence it should be proclaimed in the ears of all living persons; it should be read over the pillows of all persons who are ill; it should be read at the side of all corpses: it should be spread broadcast.

Those who meet with this [doctrine] are indeed fortunate. Save for them who have accumulated much merit and absolved many obscurations, difficult is it to meet with it. Even when met with, difficult is it to comprehend it. Liberation will be won through simply not disbelieving it upon hearing it. Therefore treat this [doctrine] very dearly: it is the essence of all doctrines.?

The Setting-Face-to-Face while experiencing Reality in the Intermediate State, called ‘The Teaching Which Liberateth By Merely Being Heard And That Which Liberateth By Merely Being Attached ’,° is finished.‘

1 These are: patricide, matricide, setting two religious bodies at war, killing a saint, and causing blood to flow from the body of a Tathagata (i.e. a Buddha).

2 Here the Block-Print has: ‘ This is the Tantra of all doctrines.’

8 This refers to the Thadol. (See p. 1924.)

4 The Block-Print text, corresponding in all essentials, and in almost every important detail, word for word with the text of our Manuscript, contains (on folio 48b), as the parallel concluding sentence of the Chénytd Bardo, the following, which differs from our own; ‘The Teaching for the Intermediate State, the Setting-Face-to-Face while experiencing Reality, from The Great Liberation by Hearing While in the Interinediate State, Liberating by Merely Being Heard, And Liberating By Merely Being Seen, is finished,

(BOOK If)
[PIO E Sie A BARDO|

THIS ts KNOWN AS THE GOOD HEAD-PART Om THAT GALEED ‘THE PROFOUND BSSENGE OF THE LIBERATION BY HEARING’,—THE RE- MINDER, THE CLEAR SETTING-FACE-TO-FACE IN THE INTERMEDIATE STATE WHEN SEEKING REBIRTH?

1 Text: SRID-PA BAR-DOHI NGO-SPROD GSAL-HDEBS THOS- GROL ZHES-BYA-VA ZAB-PAHI NYING-KHU ZHES-BYA-VAHI DVU- PHYOGS LEGS (pronounced: SID-PA BAR-DOI NGO-TOD SAL-DEB THO-DOL SHAY-CHA-WA ZAB-PAI NYING-KHU SHAY-CHA-WAI U-CHO LAY).

In the Block-Print, the Bardo Thédol being divided into two distinctly separate books—-whereas in our MS. Book II is an unbroken continuation of Book I—the first four folios of its second book contain—unlike our MS.—a summary of the introductory parts of the first book; and the title of Book II of the Block-Print is as follows: Bar-do Thés-grol Chen-mo Las Srid-pa Bardohit Ngo-Spréd Bzhugs-so (pronounced: Bar-do Thé-dol Chen-mo Lay Sid-pa Bar-doi Ngo-Téd Zhu-so), which means, ‘Herein Lieth the Setting-Face-to- Face in the Intermediate State of [or when seeking] Worldly Existence (i. e. Rebirth), from “The Great Liberation by Hearing on the After-Death Plane’’’.

3069 x

‘The essence of all things is one and the same, perfectly calm and tranquil, and shows no sign of ‘‘becoming” ; ignorance, however, is in its blindness and delusion oblivious of Enlightenment, and, on that account, cannot recognize truthfully all those conditions, differences, and activities which characterize the phenomena of the Universe.’—Ashvaghosha. Zhe Awakening of Faith (Suzuki’s Translation).

p. 155

[THE OBEISANCES]

To the assembled Deities, to the Tutelaries, to the Gurus,

Humbly is obeisance paid:

May Liberation in the Intermediate State be vouchsafed by nem

[INTRODUCTORY VERSES]

Above, in the Great Bardo-Thodol,
The Bardo called Chonyid was taught ;
And now, of the Bardo called Sidpa,
The vivid reminder is brought.

(PAs ST}

[THE AFTER-DEATH WORLD)

[Introductory Instructions to the Officiant]: Although, herctofore, while in the Chédnyid Bardo, many vivid remindings have been given,—setting aside those who have had great familiarity with the real Truth and those who have good karma,—for them of evil karma who have had no familiarity, and for them of evil karma who because of the influence thereof become stricken with fear and terror, recognition is difficult. These go down to the Fourtecnth Day; and, to reimpress them vividly, that which follows is to be read.

Wipes k DO BODY: lTseBittieAND Irs
SUPEKRNORMAL BPACULTINS|

Worship having been offered to the Trinity, and the prayer invoking the aid of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas having been recited, then, calling the deceased by name, three or seven times, speak thus:

O nobly-born, listen thou well, and bear at heart that birth

1 Lit., ‘ Act so as to liberate in the Intermediate State ’—a direct supplication to the Deities, Tutelaries, and Gurus, rendered by us in the third person to fit the context better.

p. 156

in the Hell-world, in the Deva-world, and in this Bardo-body is of the kind called supernormal birth.!