For M. D.
Homage to the gurus, yidams and dakinis, with their great love may they lead you on the path.
When through confusion you wander in samsara,
on the undistracted light-path of study, reflection and mediation,
may the gurus of the sacred lineage go before you,
their consorts the hosts of dakinis behind you ;
help you to cross the bardo'sdangerous pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
help you to cross the bardo'sdangerous pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
When through intense ignorance you wander in samsara,
on the luminous light-path of the darma-dhatu wisdom,
may Blessed Vairocana go before you,
his consort the Queen of Vajra Space behind you ;
help you cross the bardo's dangerous pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
When through intense aggression you wander in samsara,
on the luminous light-path of the mirror-like wisdom,
When through intense pride you wander in samsara,
on the luminous light-path of the wisdom of equality,
on the luminous light-path of the mirror-like wisdom,
may Blessed Vajrasattva go before you,
his consort Buddha Lacana behind you ;
help you to cross the dangerous bardo pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
When through intense pride you wander in samsara,
on the luminous light-path of the wisdom of equality,
may Blessed Ratnasambhava go before you,
his consort Mamaki behind you,
help you to cross the bardo's dangerous pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
When through intense desire you wander in samsara,
on the luminous light-path of discriminating wisdom,
may Blessed Amitabha go before you,
on the luminous light-path of discriminating wisdom,
may Blessed Amitabha go before you,
his consort Pandaravasini behind you ;
help you to cross the bardo's dangerous pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
When through intense envy you wander in samsara,
on the luminous light-path of action-accomplishing wisdom,
maybe Blessed Amoghasiddhi go before you,
his consort Samaya-Tara behind you ;
help you to cross the bardo's dangerous pathway
on the luminous light-path of action-accomplishing wisdom,
maybe Blessed Amoghasiddhi go before you,
his consort Samaya-Tara behind you ;
help you to cross the bardo's dangerous pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
When through strong unconscious tendencies, you wander in samsara,
on the luminous light-path of the innate wisdom,
may the vidyadhara warriors go before you,
their consorts the host of dakinis behind you ;
help you to cross the dangerous bardo pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
When through fierce confused projections, you wander in samsara,
on the light-path of abandoning all fear,
may the Blessed Ones, peaceful and wrathful, go before you,
the host of dakinis, Queens of Space, behind you ;
help you to cross the bardo's dangerous pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha's state.
May the element of space not rise up as an enemy,
may you see the Realm of the blue buddha.
May the element of water not rise up as an enemy,
may you see the Realm of the white buddha.
May the element of earth not rise up as an enemy,
may you see the Realm of the yellow buddha.
May the element of fire not rise up as an enemy,
may you see the Realm of the red buddha.
May the element of air not rise up as an enemy,
may you see the Realm of the green buddha.
May the rainbow of the elements not rise up as enemies,
may you see the realms of all the buddhas.
May the sounds, lights and rays not rise up as enemies,
may you see the infinite realms of the Peaceful and the Wrathful Ones.
May you know all the sounds as your own sound,
may you know all the lights as your own light,
may's you know all the rays as your own ray.
May you spontaneously know the bardo as yourself,
may you attain the realms of the three kayas.
From the Tibetan Book of the Dead,
translated with commentary by Franscesca Fremantle and Chogyam Trungpa.
Shambhala pocket classics, 1992.
