| In the Chonyid one has to exercise Vairagya and | | | | Sidpa Bardo, First Stage |
| Viveka, or detachment and discrimination--detachment | | | | Here, in Sidpa bardo, the lights, sounds, and images |
| as to what is seen, and discrimination as to what is | | | | assume a sight more ghastly than the previous bardo. |
| real and unreal in the unfolding panorama. One has to | | | | The psychic motion within one's consciousness is |
| overcome one's attraction to the images of beauty in | | | | intensified to the utmost degree and it projects out |
| this first Chonyid stage as well as to overcome one's | | | | with a centrifugal force all of one's inner negative |
| repulsion to wrathful and awesome images in the | | | | qualities that takes on forms that corresponds to those |
| following Chonyid phase. One has to embrace every | | | | qualities. It is in this bardo that one's negative karmic |
| appearance as a reflection of one's own pure | | | | deeds play strongly upon one's conscience. In Sidpa, |
| primordial nature. Forms should be seen as illusory, their | | | | the feelings of guilt, of hatreds, greed, anger and other |
| inner essence, however, should be realized as the | | | | egoic expressions seemingly assume terrifying |
| essence of Reality. Tsele Rangorol explains it in this | | | | phantasms--demon-like, to torture one's consciousness |
| way: | | | | of all of the misqualifications of one's personal energy. |
| "The key point in the Bardo of dharmata is simply to | | | | As the peaceful deities are said to emanate from the |
| rest in awareness, no matter what happens, and to be | | | | heart-center, so the terrifying images that one |
| able to embrace everything with the mindfulness of | | | | experiences in the bardo are said to emanate from |
| awareness-wisdom, without losing the continuity of that | | | | the head-centers. One's main objective and natural |
| awareness." (1993:7) | | | | inclination at this state as in previous ones, is to escape, |
| Aside from psychic images that one perceives in the | | | | to flee from these frightening, awesome and |
| Chonyid, one may also see coloured-lights, either bright | | | | gruesome images. This is a mistake of the dualistic |
| and dazzling or dull. The bright coloured-lights originate | | | | mind, however, that requires a reiterated warning: all |
| from the five "Dhyani Buddhas" of the spiritual planes, | | | | that is experienced in the bardo are mental projections, |
| whereas the dull coloured-lights emanate from the 6 | | | | and are, therefore, unreal. The bardo experience is |
| lower realms of becoming. Like the psychic images | | | | subjective and is but a mental journey with an |
| that one may see in the Chonyid, the coloured-lights | | | | alchemical purpose. To acknowledge mental |
| are also a manifestation of one's mind. Their | | | | projections as real and to be deluded by them causes |
| appearance may continue all the way through Sidpa | | | | the awareness-principle to further entrap itself in the |
| bardo. In the following we list the realms with their | | | | snare of Maya. This is spiritual death to the |
| associated coloured-lights together with the Dhyani | | | | consciousness which is referred to by the Piscean |
| Buddhas and their corresponding colour rays: | | | | Master when he advised his disciples to "let the dead |
| [Note: The table may be seen as originally published at | | | | bury the dead." |
| our website] | | | | Should one by any chance, however slim, attain a |
| Generally speaking, one has to distance oneself and | | | | partial liberation in the Sidpa, one obtains the |
| not be attracted to the dull lights as they lead one to a | | | | Nirmanakaya--a pure emanation of the Dharmakaya, |
| rebirth in a lower world. Conversely, bright | | | | the Monad. Eventhough with this attainment, the |
| coloured-lights lead us to a more fortunate rebirth in | | | | awareness-principle is still subjected to the wheel of |
| the spiritual worlds. When encountered, therefore, one | | | | birth and rebirth. However, the next birth may be in |
| has to abide in the dazzling coloured-lights and allow | | | | more fortunate circumstances and surroundings, |
| them to guide one to a higher state. Detlef Lauf in the | | | | conducive to spiritual growth, unfoldment and |
| Secret Doctrines of the Book of the Dead, tells us | | | | awakening. |
| what would occur if we were to be attracted to dull | | | | We should reiterate here that the Bardo, not being a |
| lights: | | | | place or a realm, but an inner experience, is different |
| "If thou art frightened by the pure radiances of | | | | for every soul making its transition. Every form, image, |
| Wisdom and attracted by the impure lights of the 6 | | | | figure, or symbol making an appearance on the screen |
| lokas, then thou will assume a body in any of the 6 | | | | of consciousness simply reflects one's own |
| Lokas and suffer sangsaric miseries . . ." (1989:125) | | | | subconscious content. They are one's personal |
| Chonyid Bardo, Second Stage | | | | conscious and subconscious fantasy assuming a |
| This stage is a continuation of the previous stage. | | | | virtual reality. All of the forms that appear corresponds |
| Should the awareness-principle still be unliberated from | | | | to one's sublime or carnal thoughts, feelings, passions |
| the bardo in the previous experience, this stage dawns | | | | and impulses. One's habitual pattern of thoughts and |
| to reflect the darker side of one's psyche for | | | | feelings are the most potent in expressing themselves |
| immediate reaction--or response. When the images of | | | | in the bardo. The average soul may succumb in a |
| one's spiritual aspect exhausts itself from one's | | | | negative way to these protean forms and changing |
| psyche, what remains are the negative side with | | | | scenes, the spiritually inclined would, however, |
| images called by Tibetan teachings "the 58 wrathful | | | | transform these images into more pleasant ones with |
| deities." Like the images of the peaceful deities, these | | | | the power of thought. Recognizing the underlying |
| wrathful images are mere illusions, thoughtforms, | | | | reality of the bardo forms, one may go through it |
| hallucinations, or mirages. They are simply projections | | | | quickly. Amidst the dark thought-forms of Sidpa bardo, |
| of one's negative thoughts, feelings and karmic stains. It | | | | there still lurks the Clear Light of the Void. Therefore, |
| is therefore imperative that the soul grasp the true | | | | reaching out to the greatest light perceivable hidden in |
| nature of these images and not be repulsed, frightened | | | | and around the monstrous forms one may discover a |
| or alarmed by them. Nothing can hurt one's primordial | | | | "saviour" that leads one away from experiencing the |
| nature, one's Divine Self--"the Real cannot be | | | | Judgment in the latter half of the Sidpa bardo. |
| threatened"--and this is a lesson that one has to learn | | | | At every stage masterful beings watch intently the |
| even now while incarnated in the physical form. A | | | | souls experiencing the bardo--to give subtle aid when |
| calm abiding in one's pure awareness without any | | | | necessary, or when a plea for help is made. The |
| dualistic thought of "I" and "thou" or any sense of | | | | nature of that aid is dependent upon the soul's own |
| separation should be cultivated and maintained. There | | | | personal karma. Such saviours when recognized |
| should only be a feeling of unity, of oneness, of | | | | amidst the psychedelic and surrealistic images will free |
| integration with All That Is, which is one's Divine Self. | | | | one from further doings in the bardo. |
| Understandably, such an awareness may not come | | | | Sidpa bardo is often called the "bardo of becoming," |
| automatically while one is facing terrifying images. It is | | | | because at this stage it is almost certain that one |
| for this reason that there should be a reasonable | | | | would be reborn in one of the 6 realms, in one of the |
| amount of spiritual practice while one is still yet alive on | | | | phenomenal world of change. In Sidpa the |
| the physical plane. Referring to the images perceived in | | | | awareness-principle is made aware through certain |
| the bardo and a possible emancipation through right | | | | signs and indications that it is deceased. With such an |
| understanding and awareness as well as the result of | | | | awareness it may desire to be quickly reborn; it does |
| wrong apprehension, Detlef Lauf comments: | | | | so by seeking the lights emanating from the human |
| "If all the temptations of deceptive visionary images, | | | | realm--as though drawn to it. These lights play upon |
| which are continually referred to in the texts [Bardo | | | | the psychic senses, swirling and twirling together as |
| Thodol] as hostile forms of the intellect, can be | | | | though a human couple were in the act of copulation. |
| recognized as empty creations of one's mind and can | | | | Other lights from the other lower realms also play |
| be immediately penetrated, one will attain liberation. | | | | about in one's vision. The light that the soul is attracted |
| These images dissolve away and the awareness | | | | to and merges with determines the realm of its rebirth. |
| reaches the peaceful and imageless release of | | | | This may occur before or after the judgment--normally |
| nirvana. Every fleeing from these fearsome and | | | | after. |
| terrifying bardo images and every feeling of being | | | | Sidpa Bardo, Second Stage |
| seduced by certain colours and visionary apparitions is | | | | One now comes to the Judgment with which almost |
| a step into the ambivalence of the feelings of hatred | | | | all religions teach. After undergoing the previous bardos |
| and desire and is attachment to the opposites of divine | | | | without being released from it, the soul, the |
| consciousness. It is therefore a step back into | | | | awareness-principle, hallucinates a judgment scene. In |
| ignorance, for the antagonistic forces of desire and | | | | this judgment, all of the actors--the judge, the |
| aversion prevent salvation and unity of awareness in | | | | prosecutor, the defender, the scribe and others--are all |
| the state of liberation." (1989:69) | | | | aspects of one's being participating in a drama that |
| One of the reasons that one slips into this bardo from | | | | directs the attention of the soul to all of its misdeeds in |
| the former stage is that the anxiety, and the terror | | | | thought, words, and action--whether of omission or |
| engendered by the fear of the unknown, and | | | | commission--in the physical life that it had just passed. It |
| augmented by the appearance of holy images which | | | | is a period of soul-review, reflection, introspection and |
| often stimulates guilt feelings, causes the | | | | self-examination. Regarding this soul-review, Helena |
| awareness-principle to evoke the negative side of its | | | | Blavatsky, the co-founder of the Theosophical Society |
| subconscious content, thus resulting in the appearance | | | | remarks: |
| of wrathful images. What one experiences in the | | | | "At the solemn moment of death every man, even |
| bardo is the direct result of one's karma and the | | | | when death is sudden, sees the whole of his past life |
| nature of one's psyche, whether it be spiritual or carnal. | | | | marshalled before him, in its minutest details. For one |
| The images of peaceful or terrifying deities, or other | | | | short instant the person becomes one with the |
| frightening forms are there to purify the awareness of | | | | individual and all knowing Ego. But this instant is enough |
| ignorance and to offer an opportunity for the | | | | to show him the whole chain of causes which have |
| awareness-principle to grasp their inner nature. Should | | | | been at work during his life. He sees and now |
| the soul react negatively to these images, it passes on | | | | understands himself as he is, unadorned by flattery or |
| to the next bardo. A positive response offers release. | | | | self-deception. He reads his life, remaining as a |
| One's negative reaction is due to one's karma and lack | | | | spectator looking down into the arena he is quitting; he |
| of spiritual unfoldment. | | | | feels and knows the justice of all the sufferings that |
| Should one fail to gain liberation in the Chikai or in the | | | | has overtaken him." (cf Cosmos in Man 1983:180) |
| former stage of Chonyid because of one's negative | | | | In this judgment one's past life is relived and viewed as |
| karma and negative mental and emotional traits, there | | | | though one were watching a movie. One is enforced |
| is still hope to liberate oneself at this stage; not from | | | | here to realize the significance of one's misdeeds and |
| samsara, however, but from rebirth in one of the lower | | | | made aware of one's error. Every misdeed the soul |
| planes of the six worlds. Liberation at this stage also | | | | has to account for, and motives are scrutinized by |
| emancipates the awareness-principle from having to | | | | one's conscience represented by Dharmaraja, the |
| undergo the "Judgment" in Sidpa bardo. A soul gains | | | | Judge, literally, "king of the law." This is the event |
| liberation, totally or partially, at whatever stage his | | | | where the saying "God is not mocked," is seen |
| karma allows. As said before, preparation beforehand | | | | explicitly. All of the persons that the soul had harmed |
| through spiritual practices is an indispensable task to be | | | | or done wrong in any way, seemingly appear to |
| undertaken by those seeking a better soul-life. Chokyi | | | | accuse the soul of its violation of truth and |
| Nyima, the author of The Bardo Guidebook, advises | | | | righteousness. Their sufferings and pain are somewhat |
| this succinctly: | | | | felt by the soul being judged, that it may acquire an |
| "The Buddhas very kindly gave many teachings and | | | | understanding of the effect of its evil actions. One's |
| methods of practicing, but all these different systems | | | | reaction here may determine one's "placement" in the |
| converge at one point: right now, while you are alive, | | | | subtle realms, whether it be in one of the hell regions or |
| get used to the non-conceptual wakefulness called | | | | in purgatory. Should the soul be filled with remorse and |
| luminous dharmata, the state free from concepts, | | | | shame, acknowledge its error, sincerely repent and ask |
| beyond a meditation of mental fabrication . . . | | | | forgiveness, it may be granted a reprieve and sent to |
| Accustom yourself to non-conceptual wakefulness | | | | the purgatorial worlds; otherwise, if it is filled with hate |
| now so at the time of death you will not have to go | | | | and anger for God and man and hardens its heart, it |
| through the remaining bardos [Chonyid and Sidpa] to a | | | | would be isolated in hell where it has illusory visions of |
| new rebirth. Resting in non-conceptual wakefulness is | | | | being tortured by demons, or even literally feel the |
| enough to cover all aspects of practice . . . " (1991:137) | | | | effects of the flames. This punishment in reality is |
| In Chonyid bardo one's psychic senses are enhanced, | | | | self-imposed, for none condemns the soul but its own |
| and one acquires a certain degree of clairvoyance. | | | | self. The low vibrations that it generates with its |
| The pilgrim of the bardo is somewhat aware at this | | | | negative feelings simply anchors it down to the mire of |
| stage of the surroundings related to its physical form | | | | the astral worlds. |
| and its newly-terminated incarnated life. The soul may | | | | The results of one's judgment are recorded in the |
| hear and see its relatives and friends grieving and | | | | seed-atoms and in the subconsciousness of the soul, |
| lamenting, but they do not perceive the astral form of | | | | and this has a great influence upon its subsequent lives |
| its awareness-principle. The awareness-principle may | | | | in the physical plane; and while still imprinted fresh in its |
| or may not realize at this stage that it has permanently | | | | mind in the subtle realms, it provides food for thought |
| severed connections with its physical form. The | | | | and consideration which may evolve into a conscience |
| incapability of offering comfort and solace to beloved | | | | of a higher standard. In the judgment of Sidpa the soul |
| ones at this point frustrates the soul. Bombarded by | | | | sees itself for what it really is and not what it believes |
| frightening sounds and coloured-lights likewise make | | | | itself to be or what others believe itself to be. |
| this an exhausting period for the soul. | | | | |