A Buddhist Prayer for the Dead and Dying
The Five Powers to Develop for a Happy Successful Death
from UrbanDharma.org
A Buddhist Prayer for the Dead and Dying Oh Buddhas and Bodhisattvas abiding in all directions, Oh Compassionate Ones, you who possess Oh Compassionate Ones, protect [……….] who is defenceless. Be to [him/her] like a mother and father. Oh Compassionate Ones, let not the force of your compassion be weak, but aid them. Let [………..] not go into the miserable states of existence. Forget not your ancient vows. |
The Five Powers to Develop for a Happy Successful Death
1. 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
2. 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
3. The Power of Remorse: remembering the disadvantages of the disturbing emotions, protect yourself from being overwhelmed by them
4. 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.
5. 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