Part 11 - The impermanence of the three levels

^[1]

Moreover:

Within the three levels, from Hell to the peak of cyclic existence,
The domain of the Lord of Death cannot be overcome.
Everything is impermanent, changing, and essenceless.
Untrustworthy things are rolling along like a wagon wheel.

Particularly the human world has many afflictions,
Being a place of harm by sickness and by döns,^[2]
By fires and falls and weapons; by poison and wild beasts.
By kings and enemies, by robbers and the like,
We will be ravished of life, and our wealth will be destroyed.

There are no beings anywhere in the six realms, for whom death does not establish itself. We should recall that none of the six kinds of beings in the three levels transcend death. The scriptures on monastic discipline say:

A place where beings live without death being established,
Such a land does not exist within this world.
Nor is there such a place in the air or oceans.
There is also none among the tallest mountains.

When we die, as soon as we lose our bodies, this mind, by its former karma, undergoes rounds of cyclic existence in many worlds. The Vast Play says:

People, because of the ignorance of cyclic existence,
In the places of gods and humans, and those of the lower realms,
Are tumbled in samsara as five kinds of ignorant beings.^[3]
For example, as a pot is turned upon a wheel.

Baited with fine and pleasant forms and ravishing sounds,
Sweet fragrances, delicious tastes, and blissful touch,
The snare of evil times always traps these beings;
For example, like a monkey in a hunter's net.

These karmas in particular do great harm in the human realm. People are afflicted with leprosy, contagion, disorders of wind and bile, and other diseases. There are many injuries from birds, rakshasas, .daakiniis, obstructing spirits and demons. Kings, enemies, savages, fatal disasters, and so forth end hundreds of lives. These contend with the Lord of Beings for our body and life. Since we die without warning, we should try to practice the holy Dharma. The Collection of Precious Qualities (ratna-guna-sañcaya-gaathaa-naama-pañjikaa, yon tan rin po che sdud pa) says:

With the many harmful spirits and diseases of the world,
Peace is a truly kind and beneficial gift.