[I: the Invocation of the Buddhas And Bodhisattvas]

[Instructions to the Officiant]: The invoking of the Buddhas

is [thus]:

Offer up to the Trinity whatever actual offerings can be offered [by the dying person, or by his family], together with mentally-created offerings; and, holding in the hand swect- smelling incense, repeat, with great fervency, the following :

O ye Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, abiding in the Ten Direc- tions,” endowed with great compassion, endowed with fore- knowledge, endowed with the divine eye, endowed with love, affording protection to sentient beings, condescend through the power of your great compassion to come hither; conde- scend to accept these offerings actually laid out and mentally created.

O ye Compassionate Ones, ye possess the wisdom of under-

deeds and of protecting, in incomprehensible measure. Ye Compassionate Ones, (such-and-such a person) is passing from this world to the world beyond. He is leaving this world. He is taking a great leap. No friends [hath he]. Misery is

forces and kinsmen. The light of this world hath set. He

Bardo Thédol above (pp. 88, 192). (hie jay Tiwi

goeth to another place. He entereth thick darkness. He falleth down a steep precipice. He entereth into a jungle solitude. He is pursued by Karmic Forces. He goeth into the Vast Silence. He is borne away by the Great Ocean. He is wafted on the Wind of Karma. He goeth in the direc- tion where stability existeth not. He is caught by the Great Conflict. He is obsessed by the Great Afflicting Spirit. He is awed and terrified by the Messengers of the Lord of Death. Existing Karma putteth him into repeated existence. No strength hath he. He hath come upon a time when he hath to go alone.

O ye Compassionate Ones, defend (so-and-so) who is defence- less. Protect him who is unprotected. Be his forces and his

from the great awe and terror of the Lords of Death. Save him from the long narrow passage-way of the Bardo.

O ye Compassionate Ones, let not the force of your com- passion be weak; but aid him. Let him not go into misery [or the miserable states of existence]. Forget not your ancient vows; and let not the force of your compassion be weak.

O ye Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, let not the might of the method of your compassion be weak towards this one. Catch

sentient being fall under the power of evil karma.

O ye Trinity, protect him from the miseries of the Bardo.’

Saying this with great humility and faith, let thyself and

BCE patoo!.

* It is interesting to compare with this Northern Buddhist prayer the following medieval Christian prayer, to Saint Michael, from The Craft to Know Well to Die, chap. VI, Comper’s ed. (pp. 84-5): ‘Saint Michael Archangel of God, succour us now before the right high Judge. O champion invincible, be thou present now and assist thou this (Name), our brother, which strongly laboureth towards his end, and defend him mightily from the dragon infernal, and from all the frauds of the evil spirits. O yet furthermore, we pray thee, which art the right clear and much fair shower of the divinity, to the end that in this last hour of the life of this (Name), our brother, thou wilt benignly and sweetly receive his soul into thy right holy bosom; and that thou wilt bring him in the place of refreshing, of peace and rest. Amen.’

PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE 199