"When you take refuge in the three jewels with devotion on behalf of someone who's died, the

three jewels are immediately going to be there

and see the whole situation clearly, since you're

making that connection. Where can the deceased

escape from the broad view of the three jewels?

Their compassion, blessings, and guidance will

be immediately there. Even though the dead don't

know how to make that connection, if you make

it on their behalf, they immediately make the

connection as well. Therefore I think doing the

practice of refuge, reciting the refuge over and

over for the deceased, is very powerful, espe-

cially during the first forty-nine days. The prayer

we should do is Avalokiteshvara's refuge prayer,

called The Outer, Inner, and Secret Refuge Prac-

tice of the Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo. This

prayer is very helpful. I do it all the time, day and

night, whenever there's a need. It was given di-

rectly to Thangtong Gyalpo's teacher by Avalo-

kiteshvara himself for Thangtong Gyalpo to

spread, and later he received it from his teacher

and spread it. It has been one of the most power-

ful refuge prayers of all. I've given it to a few

people to do it, to transform their life circum-

stances and different difficulties and patterns, and

it seems like it really has worked wonderfully."

​

- Venerable Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche