Transference of Consciousness at the Time of
Death
Lama Thubten Yeshe |
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Third Discourse: 3rd March
When you practice, it is most important to have strong concentration.
Transference is accomplished mainly through concentration
and is helped by the breathing technique already explained.
As most people know through other meditation practices, the
breath comes in through the right and left channels, which
hook into the central channel, or shushuma, below
the level of the navel. Then it is time to tighten the lower
muscles, specifically the muscles governing the anus and the
sex organ, but it can also be helpful to tighten the muscles
of your feet and hands. You can feel how this tightening
forces energy into the central channel from below—it
is not merely imagination.
It is very important to practice these techniques now. If
we do not, even though we know what to do, we won't be able
to employ them at the time of death. This is like our ordinary
Dharma practices: we may feel that we have learned everything
there is to know about a particular antidote, but when a delusion
actually arises in our mind we are completely helpless. We
miss being able to apply this antidote correctly. Therefore,
we should put a lot of effort into practicing these techniques
of po-wa right now.
In actuality, these techniques are very easy; they are simple,
scientific and very practical. There is no reason why you
should not be successful in such a practice. The spiritual
masters claim that our concentration on the practice should
be so strong that even the attack of seven vicious dogs would
not disturb us. It is important to practice now, because at
the time of death, when these teachings are actually going
to be put in use, many hindrances and interferences are likely
to arise. Thus we should prepare ourselves now, while we are
free from such problems.
In some teachings it is explained that in order to prevent
our consciousness from leaving through one of the eight samsaric
doors, each one should be sealed with a HUNG. However, it
is not strictly necessary to visualize these letters. Why
not? Because we have already visualized that our central channel
has only one opening—that in the crown of our head.
Therefore, if we visualize our central channel well, there
is no danger of our consciousness leaving through any of the
other doors. However, if you are uncomfortable because you
have so many holes in your body, you can seal these samsaric
doors as described. Even if you don't need to do this now,
you might find it helpful at the time of death, when your
concentration is much weaker than at present.
It is important to recognize that the clear light drop in
our heart is our very subtle consciousness. We should realize
that this is both the consciousness that came from our previous
lives and the one that will go into our future lives. Feel
it to be as light as a feather, very delicate and clear. All
it needs is one small cause and it is ready to fly upwards.
From Amitabha Buddha's heart, radiant red light flashes down
as quick as lightning and hooks this very subtle consciousness
at your heart. Therefore, when we recite HIC, this red light
energy from Amitabha's heart is pulling our mind upwards at
the same time that the lower air energy is pushing it from
below. The movement of the mind upwards, therefore, does not
need a great deal of effort; it is simple and automatic because
according to the visualization, there is only one path it
can take.
There are certain signs that come with success in this practice,
and these will be discussed in greater detail later, but one
thing that happens is an itching sensation at the top of the
head. Some people may even gain telepathic powers and the
ability to see another reality. This is possible. In ancient
times the gurus tested their disciples' proficiency in this
meditation by sticking a flower stem in the hole at their
crown. If their meditations were successful and this hole
grew wider, the flower would actually stand up. At the end
of this course I'm going to test you like that!
As mentioned before, while Amitabha is generally a deity
of the lowest class of tantra, this particular technical method
has been taken from the highest level of tantra. This practice
is extremely worthwhile for Westerners because it demonstrates,
within a short period of time, a completely different aspect
of reality. This is very helpful in breaking down our strong
preconceptions concerning reality.
There are many different ways of doing this practice. The
method explained here uses one long HIC to propel the consciousness
upward. There is another method whereby three HICs are used:
the first brings the mind up to the throat level, the second
up to the crown and the third propels it into Amitabha's heart.
These methods are equally effective and it is up to you to
choose the one that suits you best. Furthermore, the use of
prayers should be adopted to your individual needs. They are
helpful because they aid in the generation of the necessary
feeling. However, if you find them too long you may shorten
them to your liking.
One last word before we practice these techniques once again.
It is a very good idea to practice po-wa meditation
in a group rather than doing it completely alone. In this
way we keep an eye on one another and thereby prevent anything
dangerous from happening. If a person practices alone there
is a chance, though not a very big one, of getting into trouble.
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