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ISSN 2753-4812
ISSN 2753-4812

Dying and the Bardos

Dying & the Bardos

English (19) | Deutsch (7) | Español (6) | Français (6) | Italiano (4) | Português (9) | 中文 (4) | བོད་ཡིག (19)

Texts related to the process of dying and the so-called intermediate states or bardos:

Bardos

revealed by Karma Lingpa
One of the most famous sections of Liberation Upon Hearing in the Bardo (bar do thos grol)—the so-called Tibetan Book of the Dead—this text offers instructions on each of the six intermediate states, or bardos: 1) the bardo of this life, 2) the bardo of dreams, 3) the bardo of samādhi meditation, 4) the bardo of dying, 5) the bardo of dharmatā, and 5) the bardo of becoming.
Termas Karling Zhitro
by Longchen Rabjam
In this profound instruction on the process of dying and the intermediate state, or bardo, the great Longchen Rabjam explains how to see death from a Dzogchen perspective and how to attain liberation either at the moment of death or thereafter in the bardos of dharmatā or becoming.
Advice
by Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje
This explanation of the bardos is composed so that it can be read aloud as part of a ritual to guide the deceased. The explanation begins with the meaning of bardo, or intermediate state, in general; it then goes on to describe the process of dying and the subsequent phases, the bardos of dharmatā and becoming, in detail.
Rinchen Terdzö
by Patrul Rinpoche
This short work details the phases of dissolution during and immediately following death, and also outlines the crucial points of practice to be born in mind at this critical time.
Advice
by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol
In these brief notes, Chöying Rangdrol explains what is meant by the 'youthful vase body', and outlines how liberation occurs in the intermediate state (bardo), and how delusion develops should we fail to recognise the nature of bardo appearances.
Dzogchen Notes

Dying

from the Words of the Buddha
In response to a question from the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha, the Buddha explains how a bodhisattva should view the mind at the moment of death. It is important, the Buddha says, to cultivate the perception of insubstantiality, great compassion, referencelessness and non-attachment, and not to seek buddhahood anywhere other than in the mind's own wisdom.
Buddha Nature Kangyur Ten Royal Sūtras
from the Words of the Buddha
In this sūtra (Toh. 311) the Buddha teaches eleven perceptions to be cultivated at the time of death to the assembled monks as his final testament.
Testament Kangyur
by Dodrupchen Jigme Tenpe Nyima
Answers to a series of questions on the distinction between ordinary mind (sem) and pure awareness (rigpa), the dissolution of dualistic perception, mindfulness in Dzogchen, the phases of dissolution at death, and how to practise Dzogchen meditation.
Dzogchen Meditation Mindfulness Replies
by Dodrupchen Jigme Tenpe Nyima
This short work, written for an unnamed disciple, contains general advice on how to prepare for the moment of death.
Advice
by Dodrupchen Jigme Trinle Özer
Jigme Trinlé Özer made this series of altruistic aspirations as he was approaching the moment of death.
Aspiration Prayers
by Dodrupchen Jigme Trinle Özer
This 'guidance' or nedren (gnas 'dren) practice is intended to help guide the deceased to enlightenment by purifying the various realms of saṃsāra and granting empowerment. It belongs to the Natural Liberation of Suffering (sdug bsngal rang grol) set of Avalokiteśvara practices, which, in turn, are part of the Longchen Nyingtik revelation.
Dukngal Rangdrol Avalokiteśvara Restricted
by Jigme Lingpa
This short guide can be read aloud in the presence of the dead and dying. It begins by explaining the truth of the person's situation, that they have passed away, then offers citations from the sūtras, encourages them to aim for Sukhāvatī, and finally guides them in a practice of transference (phowa).
Transference Longchen Nyingtik Phowa
by Marpa Chökyi Lodrö
This brief instruction on using death as an opportunity to recognize luminosity and attain the dharmakāya is part of a collection of instructions known as the five nails that dispel hindrances (gegs sel gzer lnga), a teaching that derives from Nāropa.
Advice
by Sakya Paṇḍita Kunga Gyaltsen
Sakya Paṇḍita provides the outline of a very simple meditation on Amitābha for the moment of death, summarizing the preliminaries, main part, conclusion and benefits of the practice according to the oral tradition of his uncles and their father.
Amitābha
by Sakya Paṇḍita Kunga Gyaltsen
Following some lines of the Prayer of Good Actions (bzang spyod smon lam), Sakya Paṇḍita here offers a simple visualisation centred upon Buddha Amitābha, to be practised each day before falling asleep in order to secure rebirth in the Sukhāvatī pure-land.
Amitābha

Prayers

by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö
An aspiration to recognise the true nature of each stage of the bardo experience, from the moment of death and accompanying stages of dissolution through to the bardo of becoming, and thereby attain awakening.
Aspiration Prayers
by Jigme Lingpa
An aspiration prayer to recognize the various phases of the four intermediate states, or bardos—the natural bardo of this life, the bardo of dying, the bardo of dharmatā, and the bardo of becoming—and apply the techniques and practices that will bring about realization.
Aspiration Prayers Longchen Nyingtik
by Jigme Lingpa
Jigme Lingpa himself describes this text as "a prayer invoking and imploring Guru Rinpoche, coupled with an aspiration prayer suitable for daily recitation based on the root words of the way to attain liberation through the experiences of the bardo states." It was inspired by a sense of sorrow and renunciation when, one morning during a retreat near Samye, Jigme Lingpa glimpsed Mount Hepori in the distance and thought about the great events that had taken place there during Padmasambhava's lifetime, little or no trace of which remained.
Guru Rinpoche Prayers Guru Padmasambhava Zangdok Palri Aspirations Longchen Nyingtik
by Khenchen Ngawang Palzang
A four-verse prayer to attain realization and enlightenment either in the present lifetime or during the intermediate states of dying, dharmatā or becoming.
Prayers

Related Topics

Impermanence Karling Zhitro Peaceful and Wrathful Deities Sleep and Dream Sukhāvatī Aspirations Transference Zangdok Palri Aspirations

Hundred Peaceful & Wrathful Deities

Courtesy of Himalayan Art Resources

Further information:

BDRC T165 (bar do)

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ISSN 2753-4812

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