The Five Powers to Develop for a Happy Successful Death
(These are explained in the tradition of Thought Transformation;
see the Recommended Reading list for books on Thought Transformation)
- The Power of the White Seed:
purify negative karma with the 4 powers of regret, reliance, remedy and
resolution; give up attachment to your possessions and make offerings of
them; meditate upon refuge in the 3 Jewels, give rise to positive thoughts
such as Bodhicitta; reaffirm your commitment to whatever spiritual goals
and values you cultivated during your life
- The Power of Intention: develop
in your mind strong, positive resolutions such as not allowing your mind
to come under the influence of negative, disturbing emotions; or not letting
your mind be separated from the altruistic attitude of Bodhicitta
- The Power of Remorse: remembering
the disadvantages of the disturbing emotions, protect yourself from being
overwhelmed by them
- The Power of Prayer: make strong
prayers never to be separated from Bodhicitta, not to be dominated by the
misconception of self or the disturbing emotions, to obtain a fortunate
rebirth in the next life to be able to continue your practice of the Dharma,
etc.
- The Power of Familiarity: utilize
whatever difficulties you face at the time of death to reflect on the teachings,
e.g. the suffering nature of samsara, and to develop compassion for all
beings; when the time of death comes, lie on your right side with your right
ring finger blocking your right nostril (this is the posture the Buddha
adopted during his Parinirvana); meditate on “taking and giving”; and on
the emptiness of true existence of all things
Further Reading on the Thought Transformation Tradition
(the 5 Powers)
·
Beresford, Brian,
trans. Mind Training Like the Rays of the Sun. Dharamsala: Library
of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1992
·
Gyalwa Gendun Druppa.
Training the Mind in the Great Way. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion, 1993 trans.
by Glenn H. Mullin
·
Geshe Rabten and
Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey. Advice from a Spiritual Friend. London: Wisdom,
1976, 1984
·
Chodron, Pema. Start
Where You Are . Shambhala. USA, Aug 2001 (Also other books by this author)