Phowa
Phowa ( Tibetan) is a special meditation practices of Tibetan Buddhism. It is generally considered one of the Six Yogas of Naropa. However, not all phowa transmissions go out of Naropa.
Phowa variants
There are various types of phowa:
- Phowa for obtaining the Dharmakaya, a powa for practitioners with the highest mental abilities
- Phowa for obtaining the sambhogakaya, a powa for practitioners with high skills
- Phowa immeasurable compassion, a powa for students with average abilities
- Phowa of the Pure Land, a powa for ordinary people with no special conditions.
- Phowa the iron hook ( meant: Leithaken the elephant driver), a phowa to beings who can not run phowa itself, to allow practice by a qualified practitioner access to a Pure Land. The iron hook Just as the mahout with his hook redirects the elephant in the right direction, so directs spiritually untrained persons.
Pure Land phowa
With the Pure Land powa, or zab lam ' pho ba, the transfer of consciousness after Sukhavati, the Pure Land of Buddha Amitabha to be trained in his own lifetime. In the opinion of Tibetan Buddhism consciousness leaves after the occurrence of death the body through one of nine body openings (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, urethra and anus). These are also considered as gates to the respective six traditional rebirth areas. The associated with this Pure Land orifice is the orifice 10 of the transference of consciousness, this is also called " Brahman opening ". It is located on the center of the crown, on the fontanel. Means phowa can now own lifetime trains the transference of consciousness, and this 10th gate will open for the consciousness exit.
The sign of a successful phowa practice the escape of a drop of blood or secretions directly from the center of the crown. In Tibet, a Kusha grass blade into the small opening created in the fontanel was also inserted to demonstrate a successful practice. The practice serves to prepare the practitioner to the actual time of death.
Dedication and guidance
The correct practice requires dedication and careful guidance of a qualified Vajrayana master, who is authorized within a lineage to pass on this exercise. Usually these checks before the student thoroughly whether it is suitable for receiving the teachings.