In Sanskrit: Arya atajñana nama mahayana sutra
In Tibetan: ‘Phags pa ‘da’ ka na ye shes she bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo
In English: The Wisdom of the Time of Death Mahayana Sutra.
Prostrations to all the Buddhas and Bodisattvas.
At one time this was heard by me: the Bhagavan was staying in the palace of the king of the gods in Akanishtha teaching Dharma to the whole retinue. After Akashagarbha made prostrations to the Bhagavan, he made this request:
“Bhagavan, how should a bodhisattva view the mind at the time of death?”
Then the Bhagavan replied:
“Akashagarbha, at the time a bodhisattva dies, he or she should meditate on the wisdom of the time of death. That wisdom is: since all phenomena are pure by nature, the thought of the non-existence of things is the best meditation. Since all phenomena are included in bodhicitta, the thought of great compassion is the best meditation. Since all phenomena are imperceptible and luminously clear, the thought which has no attachment to things at all is the best meditation. Because realizing the mind is wisdom, the thought that does not seek Buddhahood elsewhere is the best meditation.”
The Bhagavan spoke these verses:
Since all phenomena are pure by nature,
meditate the thought of the non-existence of things.
With bodhicitta,
meditate the thought of great compassion.
Imperceptible by nature, luminous clarity,
meditate without any attachment to things at all.
Mind is the cause of the arising of wisdom,
do not seek Buddhahood elsewhere.
Thus the Bhagavan spoke, and and retinue, the bodhisattva Akashagarbha, etc., was very pleased. and praised the Bhagavan’s words.
The Wisdom of the Time of Death Mahayana Sutra is complete.
Translated by the translator Kunga Namdrol with Malcolm Smith