III: The Root Verses of the Six Bardos

Verses 1–2

O now, when the Birthplace Bardo upon me is dawning!
Abandoning idleness — there being no idleness in [a devotee's] life —
Entering into the Reality undistractedly, listening, reflecting, and meditating,
Carrying on to the Path [knowledge of the true nature of] appearances and of mind, may the Tri-Kāya be realized:
Once that the human form hath been attained,
May there be no time [or opportunity] in which to idle it [or human life] away.
O now, when the Dream Bardo upon me is dawning!
Abandoning the inordinate corpse-like sleeping of the sleep of stupidity,
May the consciousness undistractedly be kept in its natural state;
Grasping the [true nature of] dreams, [may I] train [myself] in the Clear Light of Miraculous Transformation:
Acting not like the brutes in slothfulness,
May the blending of the practicing of the sleep [state] and actual [or waking] experience be highly valued [by me].