Dying and the Bardos

• The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra entitled The Wisdom of the Hour of Death from the Words of the Buddha

In reponse 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.

• Advice for a Dying Practitioner 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.

• Aspiration at the Moment of Death by Dodrupchen Jigme Trinle Özer

Jigme Trinlé Özer made this series of altruistic aspirations as he was approaching the moment of death.

• The Excellent Path to Perfect Liberation: A Guidance Practice (Nedren) for the Dukngal Rangdrol (Natural Liberation of Suffering) Practice of the Great Compassionate One from the Longchen Nyingtik 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.

• A Wondrous Instruction for the Moment of Death by Sakya Pandita

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.

• Meditation on Amitābha by Sakya Pandita

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.

• The Root Verses on the Six 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.

• Crucial Advice: A Complete Set of Instructions for the Bardos 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.

• A Brief Introduction to the Bardos 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.

• A Simple Method of Transference for Helpless Animals by Dzong-ngön Pema Tukchok Dorje

A simple practice of the transference of consciousness (phowa; 'pho ba) for animals killed for the sake of their flesh or hide. The author says that the text was partly inspired by references in the biography of Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol.

• Transference: Enlightenment without Meditation (root text) revealed by Jigme Lingpa

The root text of the transference (phowa) practice from the Heart-Essence of the Vast Expanse (Longchen Nyingtik) revelation of Rigdzin Jigme Lingpa.

• Extensive Instructions on the Transference of Consciousness to the Land of Great Bliss by Karma Chakme

This famous commentary on the 'transference of consciousness' ('pho ba; Skt. saṃkrānti/utkrānti) describes the various forms of the practice in general and the specific details of the Namchö (gnam chos) transference in particular. It offers instructions on how to perform the transference both for oneself and others.

• Phowa Instructions: Buddhahood Without Meditation by Nyala Pema Dündul

This profound instruction on phowa, or the transference of consciousness, acknowledges the absolute nature "in which there is nothing to be transferred and no transferrer."

• A Simple Practice of Phowa, 'Transference of Consciousness' by Tsultrim Zangpo

A very simple practice of phowa ('pho ba), or transference of consciousness, in which the practitioner, appearing in the form of Avalokiteśvara, ejects his or her consciousness into the heart of Buddha Amitābha.

• Amitābha and Sukhāvatī Series