But if, notwithstanding this setting-face-to-face, through power of anger or obscuring karma one should be startled at the glorious light and flee, or be overcome by illusions, despite the prayer, on the Second Day, Vajra-Sattva and his attendant
to receive one.
Thereupon the setting-face-to-face is, calling the deceased by name, thus:
O nobly-born, listen undistractedly. On the Second Day the pure form of water will shine as a white light. At that time, from the deep blue Eastern Realm of Pre-eminent Hap-
colour, holding in his hand a five-pronged dovje,? seated upon an elephant-throne, and embraced by the Mother Mamaki’?, will appear to thee, attended by the Bodhisattvas Kshiti- garbha* and Maitreya,® with the female Bodhisattvas, Lasema and Pushpema.® These six Bodhic deities will appear to thee.
* The dorje is the /amaic sceptre, a type of the thunderbolt of Indra (Jupiter).
‘ Text: Sahi-snying-po (pron. Sayi-nying-po): Skt. Kshitigarbha: ‘Womb (or Matrix) of the Earth.’
The aggregate of thy principle of consciousness,! being in its pure form—which is the Mirror-like Wisdom—will shine as a bright, radiant white light, from the heart of Vajra-Sattva, the Father-Mother,? with such dazzling brilliancy and trans- parency that thou wilt scarcely be able to look at it, [and] will strike against thee. And a dull, smoke-coloured light from Hell will shine alongside the light of the Mirror-like
Thereupon, through the power of anger, thou wilt beget fear and be startled at the dazzling white light and wilt [wish
dull smoke-coloured light from Hell. Act then so that thou wilt not fear that bright, dazzling, transparent white light. Know it to be Wisdom. Put thy humble and earnest faith in it. That is the light of the grace of the Bhagavan Vajra- Sattva. Think, with faith, ‘I will take refuge in it’; and pray:
That is the Bhagavan Vajra-Sattva coming to receive thee and to save thee from the fear and terror of the Bardo. Believe in it; for it is the hook of the rays of grace of Vajra- Sattva.®
Be not fond of the dull, smoke-coloured light from Hell. That is the path which openeth out to receive thee because of the power of accumulated evil karma from violent anger. If thou be attracted by it, thou wilt fall into the Hell-Worlds; and, falling therein, thou wilt have to endure unbearable misery, whence there is no certain time of getting out. That being an interruption to obstruct thee on the Path of Libera- tion, look not at it; and avoid anger. Be not attracted by
ee See pi 100°:
IIO BARDO OF KARMIC ILLUSIONS [Book I
it; be not weak. Believe in the dazzling bright white light ;
Vajra-Sattva, pray thus :
‘Alas! when wandering in the Sangsara because of the power of violent anger,
On the radiant light-path of the Mirror-like Wisdom,
Bardo;
Buddhahood.’
Praying thus, in intense humble faith, thou wilt merge, in rainbow light, into the heart of the Bhagavan Vajra-Sattva and obtain Buddhahood in the Sambhoga-K aya, in the Eastern Realm called Pre-eminently Happy.