Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
LOTUS-BORN
While we are alive, we need to be realistic and learn about the nature of this mind and how it really
is, when its free of beliefs and preconceived ideas. I deeply wish that all meditators who spend so
many hours sitting and stay in retreats will understand their mind. When this life is over and we
face the real challenge, death. We need to be familiar with this topic: what is death? What will
happen? Will it hurt? Is there anything after? Will I be okay? Some have given the fact that we die a
lot of thought, some ignore it, some try their best to never think of it. Death is the parting of body
and mind, and the big fear is whats going to happen? Because of this worry, people have different
beliefs, sound or unfounded: we only live once, death is the final end, there is nothing after, finally
the misery ended, he or she has found peace, he or she is in a better place. But such a belief is by
definition not very convincing. A belief is just imagination, and not anchored in experienced insight.
At best, a belief corresponds to reality; at worst, it can be justification for unspeakable
crimes. Whatever we believe, sooner or later the breath will stop and the body is declared dead.
Some people believe that experience ceases, because perception, knowing and everything known
has vanished, just like switching off the display or like a flame being extinguished. No pain, no
pleasure, not even the feeling of peace. It doesnt matter what we did in life, it has no consequence
now. The body returns to dust, merges with the great circle of life. A romantic brand of nihilism.
Some people hope that experience continues, but without any content. Space, you and nothing else.
Dead peace, rest in peace, for eternity. A guaranteed vacation that lasts forever with nothing to
worry about. That is also imagination. There are many other fantasies, but we need to relate to what
actually happens, not beliefs or wishful thinking. The outstanding meditation master Tulku Urgyen
Rinpoche said, we can of course hope for that death is the end of everything, but sorry, we will be
sadly surprised!
So how is death experienced on a personal level? What can we do? What will help us? Is there a set
of methods we can familiarize with to such an extent that we are unafraid, confident or at least,
without regrets? How do we handle losing everything we know? How can we deal with the intense
and vast unfolding of the primal energies of consciousness? How do we find a secure place to be?
According to the Buddha experience continues. He explained that consciousness by nature is
beyond nothingness and a concrete thing, because reality of mind is like that. Our understanding of
what we are and what we experience should therefore also transcend those two extremes, because
its nature is like that. This fact is directly proven by the experiences of dying and taking rebirth.
Since mind is no thing in itself, nothing permanently sticks to it, which becomes evident during the
actual process of dying, when all thoughts and emotions cease, even the sense of personal identity
dissolves. It is here the meditator has the first major chance for liberation. Moreover, since mind
isnt nothingness, something entirely different begins to happen after everything dissolves: the
nature of mind shines forth with tremendous color, light and sound.
The experience of passing on will not be a new event; we all have gone through it countless times.
No one forces us to take one rebirth after the other. No one has done it to us, not a god, devil, fate or
chance. So what makes the wheel spin? It is lack of realization of the nature of mind. When all
thoughts and emotions have dissolved at the moment of death, for the one without meditation
experience and insights, the vastness is terrifying, the natural displays are overwhelming, and the
mind soon seeks safe surroundings, a shelter, a new rebirth. It is therefore of utmost importance to
learn and grow familiar with a meditation experience that correspond to the nature of mind and
reality, in its fullest sense, beyond nothingness and concrete things and which has a natural radiance
of love.
We therefore need instruction in how to recognize the death process as it happens, in how to be at
peace with leaving our body behind, and with the gradual melting away of everything we have ever
known, all names and concepts. We also need an instruction for being at peace with the spectacular
sceneries of lights, colors and sounds, which are infinite, multidimensional, omnidirectional and
coming from all directions at once. To be liberated here requires a firm knowledge that all these
displays are not real, and that they are our own nature at play. We also need instruction in how to
take the right rebirth, rather than leaving it to chance or karma, so we can continue our spiritual
path.
I am delighted to share with you a condensed version of The Tibetan Book of the Dead. The author
is Padmasambhava, the Lotus-Born. It was written down by my teacher Tulku Urgyen Rinpoches
great grand-father, according to vision-teachings he directly received from Padmasambhava. It is
short and therefore easy to memorize. Tulku Urgyen always said that meditators would all
benefit immensely from being familiar with these reminders. You can read them gently near the ear
of the dying person who has been a meditator, as a reminder of something he or she already knows.
You can also learn them by heart for yourself, in case you die alone. The reminders are more
precious than gold and diamonds, because remembering them in the bardo states will free you.
Liberation Through Hearing in the Bardo:
From the Six Wonderful Methods for Enlightenment Without Cultivation.
Here I [Padmasambhava] shall explain the profound meaning of liberation through hearing
for the ones who have arrived at 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. Pay heed. Do not wander.
Every experience in this world is Maras dream-like illusion.
Everything is impermanent, everyone is subject to death.
Noble one, turn away from further painful states.
The experiences of whiteness, redness and blackness are all the magical display of your mind.
These experiences are nothing other than yourself.
Do not be afraid. Do not fear them.
Now it seems that you are losing consciousness.
Outer appearances resemble the sky at dawn.