Bardo Thodol

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Bardo Thodol, commonly known in the West as The Tibetan Book of the Dead, is a text from a larger corpus of teachings, the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is meant to guide one through the experiences that the consciousness has after death, during the interval between death and the next rebirth. This period is known as the bardo, the intermediate state or transitional state.

Origins and History

The Bardo Thodol is part of a larger work called Dzogchen teachings, which were hidden by the master Padmasambhava in the 8th century in the Himalayas for future discovery. According to Tibetan tradition, these texts were later discovered by a Tibetan terton, or treasure finder, Karma Lingpa in the 14th century. The Bardo Thodol is a profound spiritual text, deeply embedded in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, encapsulating the essence of Dzogchen teachings.

Structure and Content

The text is structured into different chapters, each detailing the experiences the consciousness undergoes in the bardo. The Bardo Thodol outlines three main bardos:

1. The Chikhai Bardo or the bardo of the moment of death, which features the experience of the "clear light of reality." 2. The Chonyid Bardo or the bardo of the experiencing of reality, which involves the seeing of various Buddhas and deities. 3. The Sidpa Bardo or the bardo of rebirth, which includes instructions on how to avoid the lower realms of rebirth.

The text serves as a guide for the deceased, providing detailed instructions on how to navigate these bardos to achieve a favorable rebirth or liberation from the cycle of samsara.

Philosophical and Religious Significance

The Bardo Thodol is not just a funerary text but also a source of profound philosophical insights. It teaches the nature of mind and reality, emphasizing the impermanent nature of life and the importance of living a virtuous life to prepare for the moment of death. The teachings contained within the Bardo Thodol are meant to liberate the mind from the illusions that bind it to the cycle of rebirth, leading to enlightenment.

Influence and Interpretation

The Bardo Thodol has had a significant impact beyond the confines of Tibetan Buddhism, influencing Western thought, psychology, and culture. Notably, Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist, wrote a psychological commentary on the Bardo Thodol, interpreting it as a symbolic representation of the process of individuation.

Modern Usage

Today, the Bardo Thodol continues to be used in Tibetan Buddhist communities, particularly in rituals associated with death and dying. It has also found a place in the broader spiritual landscape, with many people drawing on its teachings as a source of insight into the nature of life and death.

See Also

• Tibetan Buddhism
• Padmasambhava
• Dzogchen
• Karma Lingpa
• Samsara