| One of our personal experiences with our | | | | reasons of physical distance, an effigy is usually |
| deceased friend with whom we related previously | | | | made to represent the one undergoing transition |
| would substantiate this principle as described by | | | | with personal effects surrounding it to attract by |
| Swedenborg:We once decided to visit our friend in | | | | magnetic attunement the awareness-principle of |
| the heavenly regions. We had some joyful news | | | | the dying pilgrim. The instructions of the Bardo |
| that we wanted to convey to her--news that she | | | | Thodol may thus telepathically be heard by the |
| was waiting to hear while she was alive in the | | | | dying soul.It is well worth quoting the fundamental |
| physical. Not knowing where she was or able to | | | | doctrines of the Bardo Thodol as summed-up by |
| directly manifest before her, we were escorted | | | | Evans-Wentz in the Tibetan Book of the Dead, as |
| by a guide to a lovely garden with a Greek | | | | this will help us understand the bardo as well as |
| temple in the midst of it. The garden was empty, | | | | give us some insight into Buddhistic beliefs:"1) That |
| or so it seemed. But while adjusting our sight, | | | | all possible conditions, or states, or realms of |
| people appeared everywhere. They did not notice | | | | sangsaric existence, heavens, hells, and worlds, |
| us, however. It was as though we did not exist in | | | | are entirely dependent upon phenomena, or in |
| their eyes. Our escort went into the building and | | | | other worlds, are naught but phenomena."2) That |
| moments later our friend came out all beaming | | | | all phenomena are transitory, are unreal, and |
| with joy. "I've been waiting for you," she said. | | | | non-existent save in the sangsaric mind perceiving |
| Then she looked more closely at me and | | | | them."3) That in reality there are no such beings |
| commented jocularly, "you are so bright, I could | | | | anywhere as gods, or demons, or spirits, or |
| faint." After conveying to her our message we | | | | sentient creatures--all alike being phenomena |
| bade farewell. As we were leaving, we noticed | | | | dependent upon a cause;"4) That this cause is a |
| that no one was yet aware of our presence; | | | | yearning or thirsting after sensations, after the |
| however, a dark-skinned man who was sitting on | | | | unstable sangsaric existence;"5) That so long as |
| a bench reached out and touched me to, perhaps, | | | | this cause is not overcome by Enlightenment, |
| reassure himself of my presence and reality. We | | | | death follows birth and birth death |
| smiled at each other.After a lengthy stay in the | | | | unceasingly--even as the wise Socrates |
| astral or lower mental heavens, and when one is | | | | believed."6) That the after-death existence is but |
| about ready to reincarnate through karmic | | | | a continuation, under changed conditions, of the |
| necessity or choice, one first goes to the causal | | | | phenomena-born existence of the human |
| realms for a brief sojourn. Not all souls experience | | | | world--both states alike being karmic."7) That the |
| this; however, some incarnate directly from | | | | nature of the existence intervening between |
| whatever realm they may be. In the causal world | | | | death and rebirth in this or any other world is |
| the soul experiences bliss and peace, and a real | | | | determined by antecedent actions;"8) That, |
| rest as a reward for a soul-mission well done. One | | | | psychologically speaking, it is a prolonged |
| of the purposes of this stay in the causal realms | | | | dream-like state, in what may be called the fourth |
| is the transference of the positive qualities | | | | dimension of space, filled with hallucinatory visions |
| acquired by the soul and recorded in the | | | | directly resultant from the mental-content of the |
| seed-atoms, to the causal body where it is stored | | | | percipient, happy and heaven-like if the karma be |
| as one's "treasure in heaven." The positive deeds | | | | good, miserable and hell-like if the karma be |
| and virtues of the soul adorn the causal body with | | | | bad;"9) That, unless Enlightenment be won, rebirth |
| a greater glory than its former condition. Every | | | | in the human world, directly from the Bardo-world |
| incarnation offers a form of nourishment to the | | | | or from any other world or from any paradise or |
| causal body when its incarnated life ends. This | | | | hell to which karma has led, is inevitable."10) That |
| causal body is called in Masonry "the temple not | | | | Enlightenment results from realizing the unreality |
| made with hands." Other traditions call it "the | | | | of sangsara, of existence;"11) That such realizing |
| Chalice." When the soul is prepared to reincarnate | | | | is possible in the human world, or at the important |
| for new soul-experiences, it seeks out the | | | | moment of death in the human world, or during |
| appropriate parents, time and place to be reborn | | | | the whole of the after-death or Bardo-state, or in |
| in the physical world. This seeking is done with the | | | | certain of the non-human realm;"12) That training |
| help of spiritual guides.Reincarnation is a law for | | | | in yoga, i.e. in control of the training process so as |
| those not having transcended ignorance and | | | | to be able to concentrate the mind in an effort to |
| earthly desire. Although some religions do not | | | | reach Right Knowledge, is essential."13) That such |
| openly teach reincarnation, the concept or precept | | | | training can best be had under a human guru, or |
| does appear in some form in their holy | | | | teacher."14) That the Greatest of Gurus known |
| scripture.Although not exhaustive, the above | | | | to mankind in this cycle of time is Gautama the |
| information is sufficient enough to offer us some | | | | Buddha."15) That this doctrine is not unique, but is |
| idea of the occult knowledge available concerning | | | | the same doctrine which has been proclaimed in |
| the after death state that is based on personal | | | | the human world for the gaining of salvation, for |
| experiences of psychics and mystics. In order to | | | | the Deliverance from the Cycle of Rebirth and |
| know more in a convincing way, one would have | | | | Death, for the Crossing of the Ocean of |
| to study and master the art of soul-travel. Only in | | | | Sangsara, for the Realization of Nirvana, since |
| this manner, through personal experience, will we | | | | immemorial time, by a long and illustrious dynasty |
| satisfy our thirst for a greater knowledge of | | | | of Buddhas, who were Gautama's |
| God's many dimensions, the Cosmic laws, and the | | | | Predecessors."16) That lesser spiritually enlightened |
| purposes of life.The Tibetan TraditionTibetan | | | | beings, Bodhisattvas and gurus, in this world or in |
| Buddhism declares that men are enchained to a | | | | other worlds, though still not freed from the Net |
| world of suffering and pain, of illusion and | | | | of illusion, can nevertheless, bestow divine grace |
| ignorance. This they call samsara. Samsara refers | | | | and power upon the sishya [student] who is less |
| generally to the condition of the six worlds, but | | | | advanced upon the Path than themselves."17) |
| more specifically it refers to the physical plane. To | | | | That the Goal is and can only be Emancipation |
| be liberated from samsara one had to awaken to | | | | from Sangsara."18) That such Emancipation |
| one's true Reality and the Reality of the Cosmos | | | | comes from the Realization of Nirvana."19) That |
| called in Mahayana and Vajrayana literature, the | | | | Nirvana is non-sangsaric, being beyond all |
| "Clear Light of the Void," "Sunyata," | | | | paradises, heavens, hells, and worlds."20) That it is |
| "Dharmakaya," etc. Tibetan Buddhism, or | | | | the ending of Sorrow."21) That it is Reality" |
| Vajrayana, declares that there are various ways | | | | (1975:66-68)Man, in general, is ignorant of his |
| of liberating oneself. One may be liberated--if | | | | divinity. His mind and consciousness are veiled by |
| prepared beforehand through arduous spiritual | | | | the false light of Maya. Maya is the way we |
| work--through initiation by a spiritual master | | | | perceive and interpret Reality. It translates in our |
| where the Clear Light of one's true primordial | | | | consciousness cosmic vibrations into forms, |
| nature is introduced; or one may be liberated | | | | colours and sensations--a world of appearance. |
| through samadhi or meditation where the Clear | | | | We perceive not what is, but what we believe to |
| Light dawns in the consciousness; liberation may | | | | be. Maya produces a deceiving state of duality, of |
| also be achieved through recognizing and merging | | | | object and subject. All appearances in the mind |
| with the Clear Light during transition in the first | | | | and consciousness as a product of Maya are |
| phase of the bardo.Techniques have been formed | | | | illusory and unreal. The mind, not understanding |
| by lamas and applied at the onset of transition to | | | | the nature of Maya, is indeed the slayer of the |
| assist the dying to achieve Liberation. These | | | | Real, as stated by Helena Blavatsky. This |
| techniques are called:1) Liberation Through Taste, | | | | ignorance of Reality causes man's prolonged stay |
| where consecrated pills are placed in the mouth | | | | in samsara. Recognition of the Clear Light, of |
| to assist the soul to sustain consciousness | | | | Reality, of the Unity of Being, releases man from |
| throughout the bardo so that it would recognize | | | | his spiritual bondage. Tibetan Buddhism believe that |
| the Clear Light when it dawns.2) Liberation | | | | the six worlds are transitory and that rebirth into |
| Through Contact, where the ashes of burnt | | | | any one of them is undesirable and should be |
| talismans are rubbed on the heart for the same | | | | avoided. Man's loftiest aspiration should be directed |
| purpose as the above.3) Liberation Through | | | | to the awakening to Reality as the highest |
| Listening, this is by far the most common | | | | religious goal, and this illumination naturally |
| practice. In this method, a manual-ritual such as | | | | terminates the ceaseless rounds of birth and |
| the Bardo Thodol is read to the dying to remind | | | | rebirth in the samsaric worlds. In Christian terms, |
| the person of what it had previously learnt of the | | | | this is the attainment of salvation where the true |
| bardo and the way of approaching it.The Bardo | | | | follower of Christian principles is made into a pillar |
| ThodolThe "Bardo Thodol," or the Tibetan Book | | | | in the kingdom of heaven and "goes no more |
| of the Dead, as Christianized by Evans-Wentz, | | | | out."Tibetan Buddhism is not the only religion that |
| deals with the phases of the bardo that the soul | | | | possesses manuals to be read to the dying. To |
| would undergo and what it should do in order to | | | | the Hindus, the Garuda Purana fulfills the same |
| liberate itself from samsara. It provides a unique | | | | purpose. Ancient Egyptians, too, had their |
| psychology of the death process and the | | | | death-manuals such as the one translated by |
| attitudes that the soul should assume in order to | | | | Wallis Budge, the Book of the Dead, or "The |
| escape rebirth in the lower realms. Recognition of | | | | Coming Forth From Day," to give its original title. |
| the Clear Light in the first bardo phase is stressed | | | | This title suggests the acquaintance of the ancient |
| in the manual, because it is the only means for | | | | Egyptians with the Clear Light of the bardo. In this |
| the soul to save itself from experiencing the | | | | manual, taken from hieroglyphical murals painted in |
| subsequent phases of the bardo, which from the | | | | tombs, says that death is followed by the soul's |
| viewpoint of Tibetan metaphysics, lead to rebirth | | | | entry into the "clear light of day." Experience of |
| and a prolonged stay in the samsaric worlds. | | | | the bardo is universal and fundamental to the |
| Thus, the Clear Light that dawns in the first phase | | | | human psyche, therefore, manuals such as the |
| of the bardo offers a chance for the soul to | | | | Bardo Thodol or the Book of the Dead that |
| redeem and free itself from the shackles of | | | | possesses keys to spiritual portals, are relevant to |
| samsara. This Clear Light is the grace of God that | | | | human psychological and spiritual integration. The |
| offers death-bed salvation--salvation from one's | | | | relevance of such texts are not to be confined to |
| so-called "sins," or liberation from karma.In Tibet | | | | its place of origin in time or in space. Adaptations |
| there are many manuals composed as guides for | | | | may be made for western society with its |
| the dying or the newly departed soul. The Bardo | | | | world-wide influence. The phenomenon of the |
| Thodol is one of the most well-known among | | | | Clear Light with its inherent nature of spiritual |
| them in the Western world. It is said to have | | | | grace is for all human beings regardless of race, |
| been written down in the 8th century by the | | | | sex or creed. In one sense, this Clear Light may |
| Precious Guru, Padmasambhava. The teachings | | | | be seen as the "comforter" promised by the |
| and doctrines of the Bardo Thodol as an oral | | | | Piscean Master to his followers.The Bardos and |
| tradition, however, are much older. It is believed | | | | Tibetan Practices Related to DyingBefore |
| that Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet, | | | | continuing, it is appropriate that we define here |
| transmitted much knowledge to Tibetan Buddhism | | | | the word "bardo." Bardo is often translated as |
| concerning the death process.Unlike the Christian | | | | "intermediate state," an interval, or a period |
| forms of prayers of burial-rituals recited on behalf | | | | between two conditions, planes, or states of |
| of the newly-departed (and also the living), the | | | | consciousness in the samsaric worlds. Basically, it |
| Bardo Thodol is more of an instruction manual | | | | refers to the following four states:1) Between |
| read to the dying by a spiritual guide, that it may | | | | two states of consciousness2) Transitional state3) |
| understand the psychological processes that it | | | | Uncertain state4) Twilight stateTibetan teachings |
| would undergo through transition. It is of especial | | | | refer to these 4 states as the psychological |
| value to those who practice and follow Buddhistic | | | | nature of the following six bardos:1) Bardo of Life |
| doctrines, or teachings similar to it because of | | | | (Kye Ne Bardo)2) Bardo of Dreams (Milam |
| certain inherent concepts. The underlying doctrine | | | | Bardo)3) Bardo of Meditation (Samten Bardo)4) |
| of Tibetan Buddhism is that man, a slave to | | | | Bardo of the Transition Process (Chikai Bardo)5) |
| samsara--the wheel of birth and rebirth, or | | | | Bardo of State After Death (Chonyid Bardo)6) |
| reincarnation--is able to liberate himself through | | | | Bardo of Rebirth into Samsara (Sidpa Bardo)The |
| being aware of his primordial nature represented | | | | word Bardo, as is commonly used and |
| by the Clear Light which appears in the early | | | | understood, refers to the general framework of |
| stages of the bardo. Recitation of texts such as | | | | the death process. In this section we will be |
| the Bardo Thodol reminds the departing soul, the | | | | considering the nature of the last three bardos |
| "awareness-principle," what it had previously learnt | | | | listed above. But before we do, however, it would |
| of the bardo and its liberating potential while still | | | | be interesting to note certain practices related to |
| alive in the physical plane.Although dissociated | | | | the art of dying and the psycho-somatic |
| from the physical body, the awareness-principle | | | | processes of dying as occultly observed by |
| still retains its sensory faculties. In the disembodied | | | | spiritual practitioners of Lamaism throughout the |
| state its psychic senses are acute and enhanced | | | | centuries.Physiologically speaking, when one |
| and is able to register and perceive physical | | | | undergoes a natural death the physical senses fail |
| surroundings--to listen to the bardo-guidance and | | | | one by one. First the sense of vision blurs, then |
| instructions as given by the spiritual guide or lama, | | | | the sense of hearing is impaired, next the sense |
| for instance. In the death process, as the physical | | | | of smell fails; this is followed by the deterioration |
| senses grow dull the psychic senses grow more | | | | of the sense of taste and touch. There is also a |
| keen.The recitation of the bardo text to the | | | | feeling or sensation of pressure, followed by |
| departed may last for a total of 49 days. This is | | | | coldness, heat, and a sense of being blown to bits. |
| done at first in the presence of the corpse but | | | | Dissolution of the senses and its varied sensations |
| later a representation of it. The 49 days is | | | | are symbolically described in Tibetan Buddhism as |
| supposed to be the maximum length of days the | | | | the merging of the elements one into the other |
| soul would spend in the bardo. This given figure is | | | | until it sinks into the primal substance. This is the |
| probably symbolic, representing as it does the | | | | process of Thimrim. To describe the illustrative |
| number 7 squared. The number 7 is the | | | | process above in symbolical detail:First, "earth |
| mathematical and geometrical principle in which our | | | | sinks into water;" second, "water sinks into fire;" |
| solar system is based. We have many indications | | | | third, "fire sinks into air;" fourth, "air sinks into |
| of the number seven as creative manifestations, | | | | space."As for the external signs of the approach |
| for instance, the seven colours of the light | | | | of death that may be observed by an outsider, |
| spectrum, and the seven notes in an octave. | | | | they may include sagging facial muscles, coldness |
| Forty-nine days of the bardo may also refer to | | | | in the extremities, blueness beneath the nails, |
| soul-progression and evolution within the 49 | | | | difficulty in breathing, and glazed eyes.This |
| realms of the cosmic physical plane. In Indonesia, | | | | merging of the elements are accompanied by |
| 40 days is referred to as the period it takes for | | | | internal and external phenomena or signs which |
| the soul to complete its wandering in the | | | | the dying is taught to recognize. Tulku Urgyen |
| borderland between the physical and higher worlds | | | | Rinpoche explains certain inner signs as cited in the |
| before settling in its destined home in the subtle | | | | Bardo Guidebook:"First the earth element starts |
| spheres. In other traditions, three days and three | | | | to disintegrate. One feels very heavy. That's |
| nights after transition are considered to be of | | | | when people say `Please lift me up, raise me up. I |
| some importance to the soul. For instance, the | | | | feel like I'm sinking.' When the water element |
| Hadhokht Nask, one of the scriptures of | | | | dissolves then one feels very cold and says, |
| Zoroastrianism, declares that the soul remains | | | | `Please warm me up. It's too cold in here.' When |
| near its body for such a period. This 3-day | | | | the fire element dissolves one feels very thirsty |
| lingering is probably based on the occult fact that | | | | and wants water, one's lips are drying up. When |
| sometimes the sutratma may still be connected | | | | the wind element dissolves one feels as if one is |
| to the body after the pronouncement of "death," | | | | floating at the brink of an abyss, not anchored |
| meaning that the so-called corpse is actually in a | | | | anywhere. When consciousness dissolves into |
| comatose state and that revival may occur.Being | | | | space it means that everything grows very big |
| symbolic, in reality the 40 or 49 days may take | | | | and completely ungrounded. The outer breath has |
| just a few moments or several days. Should the | | | | stopped but the inner breathing is still taking place. |
| spiritual guide be unable to attend to the dying for | | | | |