Bardo Teachings Part 12
In summary, whichever of the four kinds of birth you are to take,
wherever you are to be born in the six realms,
whichever womb you are to enter—
since you will be under the sway of desire and hatred toward it,
take that itself as your object of practice
for the creation and completion stage yogas,
meditating on the appearance of the deity and emptiness.
Bodhisattvas should meditate on love and compassion.
Śrāvakas should develop a mind of renunciation and rely on antidotes, etc.
By focusing single-pointedly
on whichever practice you have habituated,
you will be able to close the door within one week or else seven weeks.
The previous masters have stated that during this time,
there are two approaches to closing the door:
(1) the approach focused on where one will enter to be reborn and
(2) the approach focused on the one who will reborn.
As for the first, meditate on the guru or yidam
at the place where you will enter to be reborn.
As for the second, visualize yourself as the deity, practice tummo, etc.,
and recall any prior meditative experiences,
practice ethical discipline, and apply the antidotes.
As for how to choose a good womb and take hold of it:
You must understand how to differentiate between good and bad wombs.
You should have conviction and a strong aspiration, thinking,
"I will reject bad wombs and enter a good womb."
If you are chased by the conditions of the karmic winds
and the signs dawn that indicate that you are about to enter a bad womb,
then recall the earlier explanation of how to stop.
Take hold of a rebirth in a higher realm
in a body conducive to practicing the dharma
by entering the palace that is the sign of a good rebirth.
As for how to continue on the path of practice in the next life,
wherever you are born, follow the instructions
for the completely enlightened nirmāṇakāya with its manifold emanations.
You should understand the detailed method for this
according to the Verses on the Path of Method.
Fourth: Choosing a Womb
As for someone who has not attained enlightenment
due to being very weak in the practice of
the bardo of this life, the moment of death, and dreams:
you should follow the instructions for choosing a womb
and focus in the following manner:
it is very important to give rise to a strong aspiration
intending to be miraculously reborn in
Sukhāvati or the Lotus Pure Land.
Even if you enter a mother's womb,
choose the family of a wheel emperor, a king, or a brahmin
in order to be able to benefit sentient beings.
Give rise to a strong aspiration
intending to take on a meritorious body.
Wherever you direct your intention,
you will be instantly be reborn there as though being catapulted.
There is no doubt that you will go there.
Enter the womb just like a bodhisattva
who knows where they will be reborn.
By meditating properly on choosing a body,
you will be able to attain enlightenment within one lifetime.
To summarize the instructions for the bardo in brief:
You should understand the way to traverse the path
as wholly included within the three essential points
according to Liquid Gold by Rangjung Dorjé.
(1) Before the moment of death, clearly recall your meditative experiences.
(2) When you recognize the bardo, develop a strong aspiration.
(3) Do not fail to practice whatever instructions you have received out of laziness
and you must master them.
As stated in Liquid Gold by Rangjung Dorjé,
"You should understand these three essential points.
(1) Before the moment of death, clearly recall your meditative experiences.
(2) When you recognize the bardo, develop a strong aspiration.
(3) Do not fail to practice whatever instructions you have received out of laziness
and you should master them."