Verses on the Bardo by Padmasambhava

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 nonthought. This lucid wakefulness at 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 vast, 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 the 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 Tibet (a country with Dharma) in the presence of your teacher.

Visualize your future parents, from a spiritual family, as Guru Rinpoche and his consort. Abandon desire or aversion, and with trust 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.

This teaching by the precious master of Uddiyana was extracted from a text in Vol. 1 of the Chokling Tersar, called Sheldam Nyingjang, The Essence Manual of Oral Instructions. It is one of the six wonderful teachings that bring Liberation without cultivation in the chapter of Rigdzin Pema Jungney.

Translated by Erik Pema Kunsang according to the oral instructions of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche in the early 1980s with many wishes that it may reach and benefit countless beings. The translation appeared in the first edition of Crystal Cave, Rangjung Yeshe Publications. 

(c) Erik Pema Kunsang, 2014. It can be freely used for readings and teachings, when not for resale.