Chokter Phowa

Phowa is the practice of deliberately transferring one’s own or another’s consciousness to achieve a felicitous result at the time of death. This transference (phowa) be directed towards liberation within the dharmakaya, rebirth within a pure realm such as Sukhavati, or birth into a favourable existence in the human realm. Although it is said to grant “enlightenment without meditation,” phowa does require training before it can be put into effect successfully.

The particular phowa practice contained within this booklet, The Transference of Consciousness Practice of Lotus Lord of Dance (Pema Garwang kyi Pholung), was initially taught by Guru Padmasambhava, and subsequently revealed as a treasure by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (1829–1870) on December 12th, 1857, from the Pema Wangpuk Cave at Karmé Bumdzong as part of The Great Compassionate One Who Dredges the Depths of Samsara (Khorwa Dongtruk) cycle of teachings. Taking the treasure root text as a basis, Karmé Khenpo Rinchen Dargyé composed the short practice liturgy contain herein.

A brief sleeping practice based on Amitabha precedes the main phowa practice featured in this booklet. This practice was composed by Kyabjé Jamyang Khyentsé Chökyi Lodrö with the aim of helping the practitioners to transform their sleep into meditation practice. The booklet concludes with the classic aspiration to be reborn in Amitabha’s pure realm of Sukhavati, the Blissful Paradise, where one may effortless travel the path to awakening for the benefit of all.