The-Tibetan-Book-of-Living-and-Dying

HELPING AFTER DEATH 319and sparkling, the source of all healing. He sits serenely on alotus blossom, ringed by a shimmering sphere of light.Think of him as infinitely warm and loving, a sun of bliss,comfort, peace, and healing. Open your heart, let out all yoursuffering; cry out for help. And say his mantra: OM AH HUMVAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM.Imagine now thousands of rays of light streaming out ofhis body or from his heart: Imagine that the nectar of GreatBliss in the skull cup in his hands overflows with joy andpours down over you in a continuous stream of soothing,golden liquid light. It flows into your heart, filling it and transformingyour suffering into bliss.This nectar flow from the Padmasambhava of Great Bliss isthe wonderful practice that my master used to teach: it hasnever failed to give me great inspiration and help in times ofreal need.4. Helping Those Who Have DiedAs you do this practice again and again, saying the mantraand filling your heart with bliss, slowly your suffering will dissolvein the confident peace of the nature of your mind. Youwill realize, with joy and delight, that the buddhas are notoutside of you but always with you, inseparable from thenature of your mind. And what they have done through theirblessing is to empower and nourish you with the confidenceof the buddha within you.Now, with all the power and confidence this practice hasgiven you, imagine you are sending this blessing, the light ofhealing compassion of the enlightened beings, to your lovedone who has died. This is especially vital in the case of someonewho has suffered a traumatic death, as it transforms theirsuffering and brings them peace and bliss. In the past, youmay have felt helpless in your grief and impotent to help yourdear friend, but now through this practice you can feel consoled,encouraged, and empowered to help the dead person.KEEPING THE HEART OPENDon't expect immediate results, or a miracle. It may onlybe after a while, or even much later, when you least expect it,that your suffering will shift. Do not have any expectationthat it is going to "work," and end your grief once and for all.Be open to your grief, as open as you are to the enlightenedbeings and buddhas in the practice.