Bardo Thodol
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Bardo Thodol
Bardo Thodol
The chapter titled Liberation Through Hearing During the Intermediate State
is the most famous, known as the Tibetan book of the dead. Here is a nice series of films that explain in simple way, Guru Padmasambhava's gterma teaching, discovered by the great terton Karma Lingpa.
Enjoy!
Part 1.
The chapter titled Liberation Through Hearing During the Intermediate State
is the most famous, known as the Tibetan book of the dead. Here is a nice series of films that explain in simple way, Guru Padmasambhava's gterma teaching, discovered by the great terton Karma Lingpa.
Enjoy!
Part 1.
Re: Bardo Thodol
In a simple way, the bardo thodol is rooted in the 100 peaceful and wrathful deities practice of shitro, this is found in King Indrabhutis ancient mahayoga ( inner) class, Guhyagarbha tantra ( Secret Essence of Magical Net ), transmitted to him by Vajrasattava Sattvavajra.
Brought to Tibet by Guru Rinpoche and hidden as a gterma.
Brought to Tibet by Guru Rinpoche and hidden as a gterma.
Re: Bardo Thodol
Thanks alot, Sherab! I've only watched the first, will watch the rest later at my leisure. We sure do things quite differently here in the west, though. I have little knowledge of the Bardol Thodol, other than reading some of Songyal Rinpoche's book (Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying).
Very intersting. It's hard for many not to outwardly grieve (or cry, understanabley so), but I have always wondered the effects of this as mentioned in part one. I suppose it all comes down to ones belief's on these matters...
Very intersting. It's hard for many not to outwardly grieve (or cry, understanabley so), but I have always wondered the effects of this as mentioned in part one. I suppose it all comes down to ones belief's on these matters...
malalu- Number of posts : 129
Registration date : 2008-12-28
Re: Bardo Thodol
Verses on the Bardo from the Six Wonderful Methods
for Enlightenment Without Cultivation
Here I shall explain the profound meaning of liberation through hearing for the one who has
reached the time of death. Among the three kinds of bardos, the first is the time of the bardo
of dying.
Fortunate one of noble family, listen one-pointedly with mindfulness and no
distraction. Whatever appears in this world is the dream-like deception of Mara.
Everything impermanent is subject to death. Noble one, abandon suffering!
The experiences of whiteness, redness and blackness are all the magical
display of your mind. These appearances are nothing other than yourself.
Don't be afraid or shocked.
Now it seems that you are losing consciousness. Outer appearances resemble
the sky at dawn. Inner experience resembles a butter lamp in a vase. Remain
one-pointedly in the clarity of non-thought. This luminosity of death is buddha
mind itself. Rest naturally without fabricating or distorting anything. Noble one,
in this way you will be liberated into dharmakaya.
Give this advice in a pleasant and clear manner. Those of the highest capacity will be liberated
through this. Now comes the second bardo of dharmata.
Fortunate one of noble family, listen with undistracted, one-pointed mindfulness.
Earlier, you did not recognize awareness. For the next seven days, all experiences
will arise as rainbows, lights, rays, spheres and as the bodies of deities. All are the
magical display of the means and knowledge of the five buddhas. Do not be afraid
or terrified by the brilliant colors and lights. Resolve that they are your own
expressions.
Together with these lights dull colored lights will also appear and attract your
mind. Do not be attached to them. They are the self-display of the five poisons,
the pathways of samsara. Your experience will arise as pure and impure paths,
so do not miss the right path to be chosen.
From the heart centers of the male and female buddhas of the five families,
shafts of light reach your eyes. This is the great, direct path of Vajrasattva.
Quietly abide in awareness and pray, "Look upon me with compassion!"
Supplicate with intense yearning. Without accepting or rejecting, without sending
away or holding on to anything, maintain the state in which the appearances
of deities are inseparable from yourself. At that time, as one deity dissolves
into another, you will be liberated into sambhogakaya.
Listen fortunate one! If you are not liberated now, know that time does not change
though phenomena does. Everywhere in the four cardinal and four intermediate
directions, above and below, amidst a roaring mass of flames and rainbow colors is
the Great and Glorious Heruka. His assembly of deities and terrifying attendants rain
down sharp weapons, HUNG, PHAT and laughter. This fiery spectacle of immense
variety makes one billion world systems tremble.
Without being afraid or terrified, recognize everything as the display of your
awareness. Be firm in this and rest while mingling inseparably with the natural
state. Having entered the path, you will be liberated.
In this way, those of the middle capacity are liberated. Thirdly, during the bardo of becoming,
say to the dead person:
Listen, child of noble family. Maintain mindfulness and do not be distracted. Your
body is now comprised of prana and mind. Around it the appearances of the bardo
of becoming arise. Knowing you are dead, you long to be alive. You are caught
by the fierce servants of the Lord of the Dead. Frightening sounds and steep defiles
appear along with many definite and indefinite signs. All this is the manifestation of
your mind, which is ultimately empty like the sky. Space cannot be harmed by space.
Therefore, develop unconditioned confidence.
This consecrated substance, burnt and offered, is an inexhaustible feast, the
food of undefiled liberation through hearing. Partake of it, and without attachment
to being alive turn with longing to your yidam and master.
To the west of here is the Blissful Realm where Lord Amitabha dwells. Whoever
recalls his name will be born there. You, too, while recalling his name, should
make prayers. Generate devotion, thinking, "Care for me, Lokeshvara and Guru
Rinpoche!" Free of doubt, move with a spontaneous vajra leap. In that buddhafield,
within the hollow of a lotus bud, you will be swiftly and miraculously born. Therefore,
noble one, with delight and joy give rise to devotion.
Those of the lowest capacity are liberated like this. If not, now comes the way of liberation
once one has passed through to rebirth.
Listen, child of noble family. Since you have not closed the door to the womb,
when you see a log, a hollow space, a dark place, a forest or a palace, abandon
desire and clinging.
Make up your mind to be born on the earth and specifically in Tibet1 in the
presence of your teacher.
Visualize your future parents, from a religious family, as Guru Rinpoche and his
consort. Abandon desire or anger, and with faith enter the state of composure.
Having become a vessel for the profound Dharma, you will swiftly attain wisdom.
Through these gradual instructions, no matter how low one's capacity may be, one will
certainly be liberated within seven rebirths.
Draw the session to a close with the dedication and aspiration prayers and rest in the
natural state of the pure nature of all phenomena.
A deeply profound instruction such as this does not require cultivation, but liberates
through hearing.
for Enlightenment Without Cultivation
Here I shall explain the profound meaning of liberation through hearing for the one who has
reached the time of death. Among the three kinds of bardos, the first is the time of the bardo
of dying.
Fortunate one of noble family, listen one-pointedly with mindfulness and no
distraction. Whatever appears in this world is the dream-like deception of Mara.
Everything impermanent is subject to death. Noble one, abandon suffering!
The experiences of whiteness, redness and blackness are all the magical
display of your mind. These appearances are nothing other than yourself.
Don't be afraid or shocked.
Now it seems that you are losing consciousness. Outer appearances resemble
the sky at dawn. Inner experience resembles a butter lamp in a vase. Remain
one-pointedly in the clarity of non-thought. This luminosity of death is buddha
mind itself. Rest naturally without fabricating or distorting anything. Noble one,
in this way you will be liberated into dharmakaya.
Give this advice in a pleasant and clear manner. Those of the highest capacity will be liberated
through this. Now comes the second bardo of dharmata.
Fortunate one of noble family, listen with undistracted, one-pointed mindfulness.
Earlier, you did not recognize awareness. For the next seven days, all experiences
will arise as rainbows, lights, rays, spheres and as the bodies of deities. All are the
magical display of the means and knowledge of the five buddhas. Do not be afraid
or terrified by the brilliant colors and lights. Resolve that they are your own
expressions.
Together with these lights dull colored lights will also appear and attract your
mind. Do not be attached to them. They are the self-display of the five poisons,
the pathways of samsara. Your experience will arise as pure and impure paths,
so do not miss the right path to be chosen.
From the heart centers of the male and female buddhas of the five families,
shafts of light reach your eyes. This is the great, direct path of Vajrasattva.
Quietly abide in awareness and pray, "Look upon me with compassion!"
Supplicate with intense yearning. Without accepting or rejecting, without sending
away or holding on to anything, maintain the state in which the appearances
of deities are inseparable from yourself. At that time, as one deity dissolves
into another, you will be liberated into sambhogakaya.
Listen fortunate one! If you are not liberated now, know that time does not change
though phenomena does. Everywhere in the four cardinal and four intermediate
directions, above and below, amidst a roaring mass of flames and rainbow colors is
the Great and Glorious Heruka. His assembly of deities and terrifying attendants rain
down sharp weapons, HUNG, PHAT and laughter. This fiery spectacle of immense
variety makes one billion world systems tremble.
Without being afraid or terrified, recognize everything as the display of your
awareness. Be firm in this and rest while mingling inseparably with the natural
state. Having entered the path, you will be liberated.
In this way, those of the middle capacity are liberated. Thirdly, during the bardo of becoming,
say to the dead person:
Listen, child of noble family. Maintain mindfulness and do not be distracted. Your
body is now comprised of prana and mind. Around it the appearances of the bardo
of becoming arise. Knowing you are dead, you long to be alive. You are caught
by the fierce servants of the Lord of the Dead. Frightening sounds and steep defiles
appear along with many definite and indefinite signs. All this is the manifestation of
your mind, which is ultimately empty like the sky. Space cannot be harmed by space.
Therefore, develop unconditioned confidence.
This consecrated substance, burnt and offered, is an inexhaustible feast, the
food of undefiled liberation through hearing. Partake of it, and without attachment
to being alive turn with longing to your yidam and master.
To the west of here is the Blissful Realm where Lord Amitabha dwells. Whoever
recalls his name will be born there. You, too, while recalling his name, should
make prayers. Generate devotion, thinking, "Care for me, Lokeshvara and Guru
Rinpoche!" Free of doubt, move with a spontaneous vajra leap. In that buddhafield,
within the hollow of a lotus bud, you will be swiftly and miraculously born. Therefore,
noble one, with delight and joy give rise to devotion.
Those of the lowest capacity are liberated like this. If not, now comes the way of liberation
once one has passed through to rebirth.
Listen, child of noble family. Since you have not closed the door to the womb,
when you see a log, a hollow space, a dark place, a forest or a palace, abandon
desire and clinging.
Make up your mind to be born on the earth and specifically in Tibet1 in the
presence of your teacher.
Visualize your future parents, from a religious family, as Guru Rinpoche and his
consort. Abandon desire or anger, and with faith enter the state of composure.
Having become a vessel for the profound Dharma, you will swiftly attain wisdom.
Through these gradual instructions, no matter how low one's capacity may be, one will
certainly be liberated within seven rebirths.
Draw the session to a close with the dedication and aspiration prayers and rest in the
natural state of the pure nature of all phenomena.
A deeply profound instruction such as this does not require cultivation, but liberates
through hearing.
Re: Bardo Thodol
Those videos I recognize: The Tibetan book of the death in two parts: A way of life and The Great Liberation. The second part is about these special videos.
In the first part is there the tradition to see, practice for a deceased old Ladakhi man and it includes an interview with The Dalai Lama. Narrated by Leonard Cohen.
A commentary on the movie: An extraordinary window into traditional Buddhist practices of devotion and compassion. _/\_
In the first part is there the tradition to see, practice for a deceased old Ladakhi man and it includes an interview with The Dalai Lama. Narrated by Leonard Cohen.
A commentary on the movie: An extraordinary window into traditional Buddhist practices of devotion and compassion. _/\_
muni- Number of posts : 449
Registration date : 2009-01-27
Re: Bardo Thodol
Wow thanks for all this.
Karma Dondrup Tashi- Number of posts : 51
Registration date : 2009-01-01
Re: Bardo Thodol
Trolwa trungden (six liberation's) makes a good cause for sentient beings to connect with the teachings, through seeing, hearing, touch, smell etc, even nyandrol (taste). We have this potential, a possibility to eventually become liberated, not even in this lifetime, but for future life, by connecting, in a simple way with all these trolwa trungdens.
Trolwa trugdens,
thonngdrol,seeing
thodrol, hearing
dridrul, smelling
tagdrol, touch
nyongdrol, taste
trendrol, remembering.
Trolwa trugdens,
thonngdrol,seeing
thodrol, hearing
dridrul, smelling
tagdrol, touch
nyongdrol, taste
trendrol, remembering.
Re: Bardo Thodol
http://www.americanbuddhist.net/tibetan-sky-burial
In the impermanence of life,
reflection shows the importance,
of being in peaceful abiding
no picture from thoughts
no sea waves to push
movement in calmness
no thought can benefit
no thought can harm
wonderful joy in unaprehended. _/\_
In the impermanence of life,
reflection shows the importance,
of being in peaceful abiding
no picture from thoughts
no sea waves to push
movement in calmness
no thought can benefit
no thought can harm
wonderful joy in unaprehended. _/\_
muni- Number of posts : 449
Registration date : 2009-01-27
Re: Bardo Thodol
Conscious living, conscious dying
It is important to consider what happens to us when we die. The Buddhist view is that at the time of death the subtle consciousness, which carries with it all the karmic imprints from previous lives, separates from the body.
After spending up to forty-nine days in an intermediate state between lives, the consciousness enters the fertilised egg of its future mother at or near the moment of conception. New life then begins. We bring into our new life a long history of PREVIOUS actions with the potential to RIPEN at any time or in any of a myriad ways.
The state of mind at the time of death is VITALLY IMPORTANT and can have a considerable EFFECT on the situation into which we are reborn. Hence the need to prepare well for death and to be able to approach our death with a PEACEFUL, CALM and controlled mind.
Death itself can be natural, due to exhaustion of the lifespan, or untimely, due to certain obstacles. These obstacles arise from the mind and can be counteracted in different ways. One method commonly employed in Tibetan Buddhism to remove life obstacles is to save the lives of animals that would otherwise have been killed. For example, animals can be rescued from being slaughtered or live bait can be purchased and released.
For those with a life threatening illness, it is important to understand that being free of that illness doesn't mean that you will have a long life. There are many causes of death and death can happen to anybody at any time.
Warm heart = happiness!
It is important to consider what happens to us when we die. The Buddhist view is that at the time of death the subtle consciousness, which carries with it all the karmic imprints from previous lives, separates from the body.
After spending up to forty-nine days in an intermediate state between lives, the consciousness enters the fertilised egg of its future mother at or near the moment of conception. New life then begins. We bring into our new life a long history of PREVIOUS actions with the potential to RIPEN at any time or in any of a myriad ways.
The state of mind at the time of death is VITALLY IMPORTANT and can have a considerable EFFECT on the situation into which we are reborn. Hence the need to prepare well for death and to be able to approach our death with a PEACEFUL, CALM and controlled mind.
Death itself can be natural, due to exhaustion of the lifespan, or untimely, due to certain obstacles. These obstacles arise from the mind and can be counteracted in different ways. One method commonly employed in Tibetan Buddhism to remove life obstacles is to save the lives of animals that would otherwise have been killed. For example, animals can be rescued from being slaughtered or live bait can be purchased and released.
For those with a life threatening illness, it is important to understand that being free of that illness doesn't mean that you will have a long life. There are many causes of death and death can happen to anybody at any time.
Warm heart = happiness!
muni- Number of posts : 449
Registration date : 2009-01-27
Re: Bardo Thodol
His Holiness The Dalai Lama: Clear Light Advice on Living Well and Dying Consciously.
Tsele Natsok Rangdrol: The Mirror of Mindfulness: the Cycle of the Four Bardos.
Dudjom Rinpoche: Counsels From My heart.
Thurman Robert: Bardo Thödol: The Tibetan book of the death.
Sogyal Rinpoche: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.
With gratefulness for these works. _/\_
muni- Number of posts : 449
Registration date : 2009-01-27
Re: Bardo Thodol
Hello,
Quite some time ago, I attended a months Bardo retreat with Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and was fortunate enough to receive all of the Bardo teachings and do the related practices. I would therefore recommend reading the following:
http://www.rinpoche.com/teachings/bardo.pdf
http://www.rinpoche.com/teachings/journey.pdf
With kind wishes,
Dazzled...... :ufo:
Quite some time ago, I attended a months Bardo retreat with Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and was fortunate enough to receive all of the Bardo teachings and do the related practices. I would therefore recommend reading the following:
http://www.rinpoche.com/teachings/bardo.pdf
http://www.rinpoche.com/teachings/journey.pdf
With kind wishes,
Dazzled...... :ufo:
Guest- Guest
Re: Bardo Thodol
:hands: _/\_ Very appreciated!
muni- Number of posts : 449
Registration date : 2009-01-27
Re: Bardo Thodol
sherab zangpo wrote:In a simple way, the bardo thodol is rooted in the 100 peaceful and wrathful deities practice of shitro, this is found in King Indrabhutis ancient mahayoga ( inner) class, Guhyagarbha tantra ( Secret Essence of Magical Net ), transmitted to him by Vajrasattava Sattvavajra.
Brought to Tibet by Guru Rinpoche and hidden as a gterma.
Beautiful!
Re: Bardo Thodol
For my brother in law and all those who "passed away" right now, is my simple prayer. May they see and dwell in genuine peace, beyond birth and death label.
_/\_ _/\_ _/\_
http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/dead/otherworld.html
_/\_ _/\_ _/\_
http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/dead/otherworld.html
muni- Number of posts : 449
Registration date : 2009-01-27
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