III • Concluding Practices

A • Dedication and Aspiration

Following the example of the dedications by the previous victors and their heirs, dedicate all the virtue that you and others have accumulated in the three times, and especially the virtuous roots of making this donation of your body on this occasion, in order that all sentient beings realize the intention of the unborn Mother once they have totally severed the inflation of self-fixation.

B • Dissolution Phase

The entire field of refuge gradually dissolves into light, clockwise and downward, melting into Machik.13 Machik’s form becomes a thumb-sized figure radiating five-colored lights. She enters through your cranial aperture and descends, coming to rest in vajra posture in the center of the eight-petaled lotus in your heart. Imagine that the petals of the heart lotus close around her. However, there is also a customary practice when doing the daily body donation of meditating that Machik becomes [an orb of] light the size of a duck’s egg and melts into the top of your head.

C • Integration

Visualize that you instantly become four-armed Avalokiteshvara, Tamer of Beings. The gods, demons, and six classes of beings make prostrations, circumambulate, and pay homage to you. Light rays emanate from your heart and turn all males into Avalokiteshvara and all females into Venerable Tārā. Meditate on them reciting the six syllables with a great humming sound. After you repeat the six syllables, meditate that all the guests joyfully return whence they came. Then maintain the view and intention of the uncontrived, native state of mahāmudrā.

13. For the exact sequence, see Harding, Machik’s Complete Explanation, p. 182.