try2: General Path to Sugata

Fourth, samsara as suffering. Although all kinds of cyclic existences, caused by ignorance, desire pleasure, they are found to be indulging in activities [that are causes] of suffering. Therefore, pleasure is found nowhere in samsara, the stream of consciousness [of the sentient beings born in samsara] is always tormented by suffering. Therefore, without succumbing to pleasure and suffering, take [samsara] as the path and engage in practice of the Buddha Dharma.

Fifth, [using] faith in enlightenment [as the path]. Whosoever is faithful [in enlightenment] will gain complete liberation from samsara and will be able to engage in yogic activities in the realm of enlightenment. Therefore, with faith, reverence and firm service make offering Dana to gurus who show the path, cultivate harmonious relations with spiritual brothers and sisters as companions of the path, and stages of the path such as the Great Vehicle. Only faith leads to generation of effects such as complete development of the Buddha nature, complete ripening [of the stream of consciousness], and complete victory [over afflictions]. With concentration and without fluctuations take [faith in enlightenment] as the path.

The secret preliminary is of seven: taking refuge, generation of bodhicitta, the Sevenfold service, meditation and mantra recitation of Vajrasattva, mandala offering, guru yoga and receiving the four empowerments, dedication and aspiration. First, the practice of taking refuge;- visualize the space in front [of oneself] as primordially pure and in the nature of the great expanse of dharmadhatu; devoid of fabrication since time immemorial and changeless at the three times. [In the space,] visualize the rootguru; as the Buddha and incomparable, seated amidst an aura of the five rays of uncontaminated wisdom. Visualize the guru surrounded by Buddhas of the ten directions and all the objects of refuge. Then visualizing inconceivable clouds of kindness and wisdom appearing before the eyes of faithful individuals, think of going for refuge wholeheartedly [in the guru] and maintain physical, verbal and mental reverence [to the objects of refuge] from this very moment till liberation from samsara is achieved. Engage in the practice of taking refuge, so that from this very life till enlightenment, one will be saved from conflicting factors and be swiftly endowed with concordant factors; the common and supreme siddhis.