Awakening the Buddha Within _ Eight Steps to Enlightenment - Lama Surya Das [151]
The other three bardo states, covering the time between death and rebirth, are the primary focus of The Tibetan Book of the Dead.
The Bardo of Dying
This bardo refers to the process of dying itself. In Tibet, dying is seen as a process of purification, for we are returning to the clear light, to our intrinsic natural state of ground luminosity—dissolving in it. At the moment of death, this clear light of reality dawns for everyone. This is your own radiant nature, sometimes known as Rigpa—enlightened wakefulness. However, to take advantage of this “moment of truth,” to gain liberation, you must be prepared. Otherwise it will too swiftly pass by. Because most of us are still so connected to the habits and behavior patterns we have established in life, we don’t recognize ground luminosity for what it is. We react inappropriately and unconsciously. Instead of making a leap of faith and surrendering to this luminosity, we hold back. Thus the moment passes. Kalu Rinpoche’s instructions for that moment of ground luminosity were: “Let go of body and mind, and dissolve in the clear light of inner luminosity. Recognize the dawn of clear light and be liberated in that very instant. Go beyond the snares of dualism, life and death.”
My teachers say that when we miss that moment of liberation-through-recognition, we enter into a state that is similar to being totally oblivious, unconscious—a deep dreamless sleep that lasts for several days. Then the karmic winds assert themselves, and the next bardo begins.
The Bardo of Dharmata (Reality)
In this second bardo state after death, we have another opportunity to gain liberation. Kalu Rinpoche used to teach that the important thing to remember is that, much like a dream, everything you see is the creation of your own mind and can be changed just as we can awaken within our dreams and alter them. In this state, it is as if we are dreaming, and nothing can really harm us. Liberation can occur if we are able to erase resistance and doubts, let go, and surrender to the innate luminosity of the natural mind. If we cannot do that, then the next bardo stage inexorably begins.
The Bardo of Becoming
In this third bardo state after death, our perceptions are returning. We again have likes and dislikes, and we are drawn to the kinds of places and people that are familiar. As our attachments, passions, and karmic propensities begin to assert themselves, we are moving closer to rebirth. At this point, we would do well to turn our minds toward the unique intentions of the Bodhisattva to benefit and serve all beings without exception. Free from the snares of attraction and repulsion, we must seek an opportune environment to fulfill the Bodhisattva Vow. When you are in this bardo state, through fearless courage and pure vision, go beyond and abandon your attraction and desire to the male and female coming together in sexual union. Rather, perceive this loving couple, who will be your new parents, as a Buddha couple—Mr. and Mrs. Wisdom and Compassion. Gracefully enter that human temple and find your new life.
Living Up to Death: A Meditation
We all have to face issues of life and death. Whether we face them in the aging of an elder or in the birth of a child, birth and death are part of life. Philosophy, science, religion, the arts—all address the issues of birth and death, death or rebirth. Don’t we all wonder what happens when we die? Is death simply our end? What does that mean for us? How can we make our own lives more meaningful?
There are many religions and cultures, yet in many ways they all share at least one common principle: All have rites, rituals, and specialists for dealing with