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Category Archives: The Lankavatarian Book of the Dead
Nunc dimittis: Closing reflection on the Lankavatarian Book of the Dead
Am sitting here awaiting the impending arrival of the mother-of-all storms, being recently christened as the Frankenstorm. Like last year’s nasty punch from Irene, this soon to be “hybrid” (merging with another gigantic weather system approaching from the west) freak … Continue reading
Litania: Bardo 6, The Bardo of Re-becoming
Due to an inability to disengage and abrogate the accumulated habit-energies since time immemorial, a lesser-able mind continues the journey through the Bardo of Re-becoming. Still tossed about through the strong currents of karma, the lesser-able one (puthujjana) wanders along … Continue reading
Posted in The Lankavatarian Book of the Dead
Tagged Bardo 6, Bardo of Re-becoming, Litania
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Dharmakaya Arising: Bardo 5, The Bardo of Dharmatā
The Tibetan Book of the Dead (all quotes are from the Francesca Fremantle-Chogyam Trungpa Edition) invokes the following supplication when the Bardo (5) of Dharmatā dawns: Now when the bardo of dharmatā dawns upon me, I will abandon all thoughts … Continue reading
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Tagged Bardo 5, dharmakaya, Dharmata Buddha
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The Tightrope Walker: Bardo 4, The Bardo of the Moment Before Death
Bardo Realm Four, or the Bardo of the moment before death, is the briefest of all the Bardo stages and yet, for most people, it’s also the most terrifying. All of one’s past-lives flashes before the mind’s eye—all of them … Continue reading
Review of Bardo Realm Three
For a Lankavatarian, of all the Bardo (in-between stages of transition from one stage of awareness to another) Stages we’ve encountered in this series, Bardo Three—the realm of meditation and Deep Samadhis—holds the highest significance. The longest of our investigation, … Continue reading
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Tagged Bardo 3, Deep Samadhis, Mind Voyage
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The Great Samādhis: Bardo 3, Yogadhatu & Dharmamegha
Now resting in the Amala-megha (Primal Consciousness) the will is no longer one’s own but Self-Will—yoked with the Great Unborn Tathatic Spirit-Mind, and as such, with the Element of Truth-Realm: Yogadhatu. The Ariyan Mind is now within the Direct-Sphere of … Continue reading
Posted in The Lankavatarian Book of the Dead
Tagged Bardo 3, Dharmamegha, Samadhis, Yogadhatu
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A Beatific Wonder: Bardo 3, Cittapada; Cittidhatu; Amala vijnana
Trying to find something analogous for these latter stages of Mind Development would prove to be a most audacious undertaking: It’s All indicative of the heart of Suchness …it just IS AT IT IS—with No-thing arising nor cessating. Thomas Aquinas … Continue reading
The Mystical Body: Bardo 3, Bodhikaya
The implications of these excursions into the Dhyāna of Deep Samadhis should give a clear and lucid realization as to their True-Import in terms of transcending any form of phenomena that arises within the Bardos—whatever the given Bardo Stage. Being … Continue reading
Posted in The Lankavatarian Book of the Dead
Tagged Bardo 3, Bodhikaya, Mystical Body, Suchness
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Noble Wisdom’s Child: Bardo 3, Bodhidhatu
The 12th century Saint and Rhineland Mystic, Hildegard von Bingen—also known as Sybil of the Rhine, once reflected on the nature of Noble Wisdom: “I am Wisdom. Mine is the blast of the resounding Word through which all creation came … Continue reading
Posted in The Lankavatarian Book of the Dead
Tagged Bardo 3, Bodhidhatu, dharmadhatu, Hildegard of Bingen
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The Stream-enterer: Bardo 3, Mahabodhicitta
As our study of these Bardo Stages progresses, certain parallels can be drawn with Dante’s Divina Commedia: The Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso. His momentous and Epic Poem is indeed like a journey through bardo stages that hopefully will culminate in … Continue reading
Posted in The Lankavatarian Book of the Dead
Tagged Bardo 3, Dante's Divine Comedy, Mahabodhicitta
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