Passage from the Tibetan Book of the Dead
Inspiration-Prayer for Deliverance from
the Dangerous Pathway of the Bardo
Homage to the gurus, yidams and dakinis,
with their great love may they lead us on the path.
When through confusion you wander in samsara,
on the undistracted light-path of study, reflection and meditation,
may the gurus of the sacred lineage go before you,
their consorts the hosts of dakinis behind you;
may they help you to cross the bardo’s dangerous pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha state.
When through intense ignorance you wander in samsara,
on the luminous light-path of the dharmadhatu wisdom,
may Blessed Vairocana go before you,
his consort the Queen of Vajra Space behind you;
may they help you to 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,
may Blessed Vajrasattva go before you,
his consort Buddha-Locana behind you;
may they help you to cross the bardo’s dangerous 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;
may they help you to cross the bardo’s dangerous pathway
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,
his consort Pandaravasini behind you;
may they 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,
may Blessed Amoghasiddhi go before you,
his consort Samaya-Tara behind you;
may they 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;
May they help you to cross the bardo’s dangerous 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;
May they help you to cross the bardo’s dangerous pathway
and bring you to the perfect buddha 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 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 Wrathful Ones.
May you know all the sounds as your own sound,
may you know all the lights as your own light,
may 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.
