Phowa is a tantric practice found in both Hinduism and Buddhism. It may be described as "transference of consciousness at the time of death", "mindstream transference", "the practice of conscious dying", or "enlightenment without meditation". In Tibetan Buddhism phowa is one of the Six yogas of Naropa and also appears in many other lineages and systems of teaching.
Buddha Amitayus in his Pure Land Sukhavati
Sukhavati is the pure land of Amitābha in Mahayana Buddhism. It is also called the Land of Bliss or Western Pure Land and is the most well-known of Buddhist pure lands due to the popularity of Pure Land Buddhism in East Asia.
Japanese painting of the Taima Mandala, depicting Sukhavati. Kamakura period, 13th century.
Painting of Amitabha in Sukhavati. Tibet, circa 1700.
Amitābha welcomes Chūjō-hime to the Western Paradise.Japan, 16th century.
Silk painting of the paradise of Amitabha (Sukhavati). Japan, Heian period, 794-1185.