When death comes we have no escape, we have to accept it and go on to the next life. In the precious teachings, Lord Shakyamuni Buddha taught the Dharma to suit the different levels of understanding and to different dispositions of all beings through Shravakayana, Pratyekayana and Mahayana practices. The Hetuyana or the Sutrayana consists of all the practices without the tantric initiations. In the Vajrayana, the Phowa practice is the most direct and the quickest path for one to achieve enlightenment. It is said that even the heaviest of sinners has a chance for enlightenment through the practice of the Phowa.
Linage is one of the precious phowa practices.
Guru Padmasambhava was residing in Ch'im-phu cave in the vicinity of Samye when an important minister of the king, Nyima, had a tragedy. Nyima, who had two palaces and was in the process of moving from one to the other, was packing some belongings by the light of a lantern when a small spark caused a fire which instantly burned down the whole palace tragically killing thirteen people including his parents. All his horses, mules, cattle and other animals also perished in the fire. Minister Nyima, thinking of the love and respect that others show their parents felt that he had committed the heaviest of sins by causing the death of his parents and others. The king desiring to end the suffering of his minister went to Ch'im-phu cave to request the help of Padmasambhava.