Powerful prayers Prayers are an important feature of the main section of ‘Liberation through Hearing’ to first help the dying person and later the intermediate being between death and rebirth to better cope with the fears and confusions that inevitably arise. Prayers such as the following two are not mere cries for help, beseeching an almighty god or goddess to come to rescue. Rather they are verses of inspiration. They are meant to call forth the power of awareness that is the fundamental aspect of our being. They are intended to help us save ourselves, through awareness, from our confusion and discover our own luminosity or Buddha-nature. Essentially, the entire text of ‘Liberation through Hearing’, including all the prayers and practices put forth in the text itself as well as in all the related scriptures have only one purpose—to help the living recognise their own Buddha-nature, and to remind the dying and the dead that they will always be safe if only they remember the energy of compassion inherent in their own true self. May the elements of space not rise up as enemies; May I see the realm of the blue Buddha. May the elements of water not rise up as enemies; May I see the realm of the white Buddha. May the elements of earth not rise up as enemies; May I see the realm of the yellow Buddha. May the elements of fire not rise up as enemies; May I see the realm of the red Buddha. May the elements of air not rise up as enemies; May I see the realm of the green Buddha. May the rainbow of elements not rise up as enemies; May I see the realm of all the Buddhas. ~ ~ ~ Parted from beloved friends, wandering alone, Now when the empty forms of self-display appear May the Buddhas send out the powers of their compassion So that the bardo’s fear and terror do not arise. When I suffer through the power of evil karma May my chosen deity remove all suffering. When the natural sound of Dharmata roars like a thousand thunders May it all become the sound of the six syllables (Om Mani Padme Hum). When I follow my karma without a refuge May the Lord of Great Compassion be my refuge. When I suffer the results of karmic imprints May the samadhi of bliss and luminosity arise.