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

Wherever the ether* pervadeth, consciousness pervadeth ; wherever consciousness pervadeth, the Dharma-Kaya pervadeth. Abide tranquilly in the uncreated state of the Dharma-Kaya. In that state, birth will be obstructed and Perfect Enlightenment gained.

1 Here as before (see p. 1247) the MS. is faulty. It gives the lights as follows: white for the Deva-world, red for the Asura-world, blue for the Human-world, green for the Brute-world, yellow for the Preta-world, smokecoloured for the Hell-world. This error, apparently on the part of the copyist of the MS., has been corrected by the translator.

* This expression, ‘the Clearness and the Voidness’, from the instructions following, seems to be synonymous with ‘the Clear Light’, or ‘the Clear Light and the Voidness’,

3 This process corresponds to the two stages of Samddhi: the visualization stage, and the perfected stage, (See p. r1g!.)

* Text : nam-mkhah (pron, nam-kha): Skt. Akdshas ‘ether’, or ‘sky’.

PART II] VITAL TEACHINGS 175

[PART 11]

[iE PROCESS OF REBIRTH
[THE CLOSING OF THE DOOR OF THE WOMB]

[Instructions to the Officiant]: Again, if through great weakness in devotions and lack of familiarity one be not able to understand, illusion may overcome one, and one will wander to the doors of wombs. The instruction for the closing of the womb-doors becometh very important: call the deceased by name and say this:

O nobly-born, if thou hast not understood the above, at this moment, through the influence of Zarma, thou wilt have the impression that thou art either ascending, or moving along on a level, or going downwards. Thereupon, meditate upon the Compassionate One. Remember. Then, as said above, gusts of wind, and icy blasts, hail-storms, and darkness, and impression of being pursued by many people will come upon thee. On fleeing from these [hallucinations], those who are unendowed with meritorious £arma will have the impression of fleeing into places of misery ; those who are endowed with meritorious arma will have the impression of arriving in places of happiness. Thereupon, O nobly-born, in whatever continent or place thou art to be born, the signs of that birthplace will shine upon thee then.

For this moment there are several vital profound teachings. Listen undistractedly. Even though thou hast not apprehended by the above settings-face-to-face, here [thou wilt, because] even those who are very weak in devotions will recognize the signs. Therefore listen.

{Instructions to the Officiant]: Now it is very important to employ the methods of closing the womb-door. Wherefore it is necessary to exercise the utmost care. There are two [chief] ways of closing: preventing the being who would enter from entering, and closing the womb-door which might be entered.

p. 176

[METHOD OF PREVENTING ENTRY INTO A WOMB}

The instructions for preventing the being from entering are thus:

There are two [chief] ways of closing: preventing the being who would enter from entering, and closing the womb-door which might be entered.

p. 176

[METHOD OF PREVENTING ENTRY INTO A WOMB}

The instructions for preventing the being from entering are thus:

O nobly-born, (so-and-so by name,) whosoever may have been thy tutelary deity, tranquilly meditate upon him,—as upon the reflection of the moon in water, apparent yet non-existent [as a moon], like a magically-produced illusion. If thou hast no special tutelary, meditate either upon the Compassionate Lord or upon me; and, with this in mind, meditate tranquilly.

Then, causing the [visualized form of the] tutelary deity to melt away from the extremities, meditate, without any thoughtforming, upon the vacuous Clear Light. This is a very profound art; in virtue of it, a womb is not entered.

{THE FIRST METHOD OF CLOSING THE WOMB-DOOR]

In that manner meditate; but even though this be found inadequate to prevent thee from entering into a womb, and if thou findest thyself ready to enter into one, then there is the profound teaching for closing the womb-door. Listen thou unto it:

‘When, at this time, alas! the Sidpa Bardo is dawning upon oneself,

Holding in mind one single resolution,

Persist in joining up the chain of good karma;}

Close up the womb-door, and remember the opposition.?

This is a time when earnestness and pure love are necessary ;

Abandon jealousy, and meditate upon the Guru Father- Mother.’

Repeat this, from thine own mouth, distinctly; and re-

1 To obtain results, the accumulated merit, born of good actions done in the earth-life, must be made operative, that is, it must be linked with the Bardo existence of the deceased.

2 Normally, existence in the Bardo ever tends to lead the deceased back to birth ; and this is due to karmic propensities, which are the opposition, the forces opposing the Enlightenment of Buddhahood. Hence the deceased must oppose this innate tendency with every help available.

PART II] ONE-POINTEDNESS OF MIND 177

member its meaning vividly, and meditate upon it. The putting of this into practice is essential.

The significance of the above teaching, ‘ When, at this time, the Szdpa Bardo is dawning upon me [or upon oneself |’, is that now thou art wandering in the Szdpa Bardo. As a sign of this, if thou lookest into water, or into mirrors, thou wilt see no reflection of thy face or body; nor doth thy body cast any shadow. Thou hast discarded now thy gross material body of flesh and blood. These are the indications that thou art wandering about in the Sidpa Bardo.

At this time, thou must form, without distraction, one single resolve in thy mind. The forming of one single resolve is very important now. It is like directing the course of a horse by the use of the reins.

These are the indications that thou art wandering about in the Sidpa Bardo.

At this time, thou must form, without distraction, one single resolve in thy mind. The forming of one single resolve is very important now. It is like directing the course of a horse by the use of the reins.

Whatever thou desirest will come to pass. Think not upon evil actions which might turn the course [of thy mind]. Remember thy [spiritual] relationship with the Reader of this Bardo Thodol, or with any one from whom thou hast received teachings, initiation, or spiritual authorization for reading religious texts while in the human world; and persevere in going on with good acts: this is very essential. Be not distracted. The boundary line between going upwards or going downwards is here now. If thou givest way to indecision for even a second, thou wilt have to suffer misery for a long, long time. This is the moment. Hcld fast to one single purpose. Persistently join up the chain of good acts.

Thou hast come now to the time of closing the womb-door. ‘This is a time when earnestness and pure love are necessary’, which implieth that now the time hath come when, first of all, the womb-door should be closed, there being five methods of closing. Bear this well at heart.

[THE SECOND METHOD OF CLOSING THE WOMB-DOOR}

O nobly-born, at this time thou wilt see visions of males and females in union. When thou seest them, remember to withhold thyself from going between them. Regarding the

3069 Aap. 178 father and mother as thy Gwrw and the Divine Mother,’ meditate upon them and bow down; humbly exercise thy faith ; offer up mental worship with great fervency; and resolve that thou wilt request [of them] religious guidance.

By that resolution alone, the womb ought certainly to be closed ; but if it is not closed even by that, and thou findest thysclf ready to enter into it, meditate upon the Divine Gurz Father-Mother,? as upon any tutelary deity, or upon the Compassionate Tutelary and Snakiz; and meditating upon them, worship them with mental offerings. Resolve earnestly that thou wilt request [of them] a boon. By this, the wombdoor ought to be closed.

[THE THIRD METHOD OF CLOSING THE WOMB-DOOR]

Still, if it be not closed even by that, and thou findest thyself ready t6 enter the womb, the third method of repelling attachment and repulsion is hereby shown unto thee:

There are four kinds of birth: birth by egg, birth by womb, supernormal birth,® and birth by heat and moisture.* Amongst these four,® birth by egg and birth by womb agree in character.

As above said, the visions of males and females in union will appear. If, at that time, one entereth into the womb through the feelings of attachment and repulsion, one may be born either as a horse, a fowl, a dog, or a human being.®