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THE BARDO OF BECOMING 301Alas! the father and mother, the great storm, the whirlwind, thethunder, the terrifying projections and all these apparent phenomenaare illusory in their real nature. However they appear, they arenot real. All substances are false and untrue. They are like amirage, they are not permanent, they are not changeless. What isthe use of desire? What is the use of fear? It is regarding thenonexistent as existent...The Tibetan Book of the Dead goes on to advise us:"All substances are my own mind, and this mind is emptiness,unarisen and unobstructed." Thinking this, keep yourmind natural and undiluted, self-contained in its own nature likewater poured into water, just as it is, loose, open and relaxed. Byletting it rest naturally and loosely, you can be sure that the wombentranceto all the different kinds of birth will certainly be closed. 9The next best method to prevent rebirth is to see yourpotential parents as the buddha, or your master, or yidamdeity. And at the very least, you should try to generate a feelingof renunciation against being drawn into feelings of desire,and to think of the pure realms of the buddhas. This will preventrebirth and may cause you to be reborn in one of thebuddha realms.If you are unable to stabilize the mind enough to do eventhis kind of practice, then there remain the methods for choosinga rebirth, which are linked to the landmarks and signs ofthe different realms. If you must take rebirth, or you intentionallywish to be reborn in order to pursue your spiritual pathand be of benefit to others, you should not enter any but thehuman realm. It is only there that conditions are favorable forspiritual progress. If you are going to be born in a fortunatesituation in the human realm, the teachings tell us, you willfeel you are arriving at a sumptuous and beautiful house, or ina city, or among a crowd of people, or you will have a visionof couples making love.Otherwise, generally we have no choice. We are drawntoward our birthplace "as inexorably as a bird lured into acage, dry grass catching fire, or an animal sinking into amarsh." The Tibetan Book of the Dead says: "O son/daughter ofan enlightened family, even though you do not want to go,you have no power of your own; you are helpless and compelledto go."