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