CHAPTER NINE

THE TRANSFORMATION YOGA

The ramifications or sub-instructions of the main path are given as follows:

1. The teaching of going above to the pure land--(instructions on the Transformation Yoga).

2. The teaching of entering into another's body (instruction on the Yoga of Entering Another's Body).

The teaching of transforming one's consciousness to the Pure Land, is a special teaching of the Unparalleled [i.e. Anuttara Ed.] Tantra. It is found in both the Tantra of Bde-mchog's Teaching and that of Jerdo, and their common Tantra Sambhuda; in the Tantra of Vajra Dakini, a special Tantra of Bde-mchog; in the Two Tantras of Sdom-abyung (Bde-mchog's teaching) and in the Admonishment of the Holy Manjus'ri, etc. If one intends to get well acquainted with the pith-instructions of the Transformation Yoga, one may study these Tantras and their special commentaries. The instructions given here are all based upon these sources, with careful arrangement.

The merit of this practice is stated in the Tantra of Vajra Dakini:

"If one has committed the sin of killing a kinsman,
Of slaughtering the Brahmins;
Or has committed the Five Paramount Crimes[r_nar:100],
Or has stolen or robbed from others for pleasure
All these sins can be cleansed
By practicing this superb teaching.
No evils or sins can ever defile it,
It stays aloof and far apart from all wickednesses of Samsara."

Its advantages are also claimed by the Tantra of G'a-sbyor and Gdan-bzhi. Therefore, this yoga is of utmost importance and should receive greater attention. These sources say that this teaching can liberate one from falling into the miserable path, cleanse one's sins, and bring one to the happy land.

The time to apply this yoga is instructed by the Tantra of Vajra-Dakini as follows:

"When the time (of death) comes,
This teaching is applied.
If the time (of death) is not near when anyone applies the teaching,
He is committing the crime of slaughtering Buddha;
He will certainly fall into hell and be scourged.
Therefore, one should carefully and diligently study the signs of death."