Originating from Tibetan Buddhism, more precisely from the Vajrayāna tradition, this practice, sometimes called "transfer of consciousness" at the time of death, aims to guide the mind towards a state of liberation or a favorable rebirth.
🔹 Definition and Origin
The Tibetan word P’owa (འཕོ་བ་) literally means transference. This spiritual practice aims to consciously project consciousness out of the body at the moment of death, towards a purer state of consciousness or the field of bliss (Dewachen), associated with Amitābha (Buddha of Infinite Light).
P’owa is one of the Six Yogas of Nāropa, a set of advanced techniques transmitted in the tantric lineages of Tibetan Buddhism (notably the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions).
🔹 Spiritual Objective
The goal of Phowa is to:
Avoid unfavorable rebirths in the lower realms.
Access Dewachen, the paradise of Amitābha, to continue the practice until Enlightenment.
Achieve Mahāmudrā (great union) or clear light in the bardo.
Free oneself from the cycle of samsāra without having to master all the preliminary practices.
🔹 Preparations for Practice
Before practicing P’owa, certain steps are essential:
Ngöndro (Preliminaries)
Refuge in the Three Jewels.
Development of bodhicitta (the mind of enlightenment).
Practice of purification (Vajrasattva).
Accumulation of merit (offerings, prostrations, etc.).
Transmission and Blessing
It is imperative to receive oral transmission (lung), initiation (wang), and instruction (tri) from a qualified master.
🔹 Visualization and Technical Process
Posture
Sitting in meditation posture (lotus or half-lotus).
Spine erect, breathing calm.
Subtle Channels
Visualization of the central channel (uma): straight, transparent, running from the navel chakra to the crown of the head.
The two side channels wrap around the central channel.
Visualization of Buddha Amitābha
Amitābha sits enthroned in the sky before you, radiating ruby-red light.
Visualize a lotus flower, a moon disc, and the syllable HRIH at the crown of your head (crown chakra).
Mantra and Breath
Recitation of the Amitābha Mantra:
OM AMI DEWA HRIH
As you exhale, imagine your consciousness (in the form of a bindu or sphere of light) rising through the central channel and ejecting through the crown of the head to the heart of Buddha Amitābha.
Transfer of Consciousness
With each breath, refine the intention to unite with Amitābha.
Finally, imagine your consciousness merging with the luminous heart of the Buddha, free from the body and karma.
🔹 Signs of Success
According to the masters, signs indicating the successful completion of Phowa may include:
A sensation of warmth or movement at the crown of the head.
Sometimes, a drop of blood or a slight opening at the vertex (crown chakra).
In monasteries, the flexibility of the body after death or the direction of the gaze are sometimes even checked.
🔹 Phowa for Others (Transfer by Proxy)
An advanced practitioner can perform Phowa on behalf of a dying person or deceased person, with dedicated visualization and recitation. This is done within 49 days of death (the duration of the bardo), to orient the mind toward liberation.
🔹 Precautions and Limitations
Do not practice lightly: Phowa can cause premature uprooting of consciousness.
Always practice under the supervision of an experienced teacher.
Can cause energetic imbalances if performed incorrectly.
🔹 Conclusion
Phowa is a powerful method of liberation, centered on trust, devotion, and clarity of consciousness. While it does not replace the entire path of inner transformation, it is a valuable shortcut in cases of imminent death or inability to practice other paths.