| Dissolution of the physical form causes a | | | | not recognize its true nature as represented |
| release of the awareness-principle from the | | | | by the Clear Light. Impurity of thoughts and |
| body and expands the consciousness to enfold | | | | emotions, guilt, unforgivingness, attachment |
| a higher state. The absorption of the four | | | | to the world of form and possessions, |
| elements are spiritually related to the | | | | ignorance of the bardo states and its |
| activities of their subtle counterpart | | | | liberating potential, karmic stains, and the |
| personified as goddesses:1) Buddhalocana - | | | | influence of drugs are just some of the many |
| Earth2) Mamaki - Water3) Pandaravasini - | | | | causes that prevents the soul from achieving |
| Fire4) Samayatara - AirAfter the absorption | | | | salvation in the Clear Light. Earlyne Chaney |
| of the elements, what is called the "Three | | | | in her book, "The Mysteries of Death & Dying" |
| Paths" commences. Whereas the above is known | | | | comments on why the Light may not be seen:"If |
| as the "gross dissolution," the Three Paths | | | | there is darkness within the consciousness, |
| is known as the "subtle dissolution." The | | | | it is reflected on the mirror of your mind |
| Three Paths is associated with inner | | | | and the mirror cannot then reflect the |
| processes called by lamas the stages of | | | | radiance of the Clear Light itself. At this |
| "appearance," "increase" and "attainment." | | | | moment when the Clear Light dawns, the mind |
| They are associated with the three "tigle," | | | | is like a mirror and only when it is cleared |
| or "bindu." The tigles are described as being | | | | of karmic obstacles can the mind reflect the |
| the essences of one's parents and possessing | | | | ultimate light of reality. This is why it is |
| certain colours related to the male and | | | | so difficult for most of us to imagine that |
| female seed. The male tigle is white in | | | | we may merge with the Clear Light, because |
| colour and resides at the top of the head. It | | | | the mind must be completely cleared of all |
| represents "skillful means." It is also | | | | karmic darkness." (1989:70)In order to |
| related to the nirmanakaya--one of the three | | | | prepare oneself for the Clear Light |
| bodies often referred to in Mahayana | | | | experience, we are advised by lamas to |
| Buddhism. The female tigle is red in colour | | | | meditate daily, and to undergo certain |
| and has its abode at the base of the spine. | | | | purifying, detoxifying processes--mental, |
| It represents "wisdom," and is related to the | | | | emotional, physical and spiritual--that |
| sambhogakaya. The third tigle is a neutral | | | | clears the skandhas, the aggregates of the |
| essence, it is a combination of both | | | | lower constitution of the microcosm, from all |
| male-female tigles when they meet in the | | | | psycho-physical dross that hangs like a veil |
| heart; it results in the black tigle. This | | | | over the Clear Light preventing its |
| tigle is related to the dharmakaya. The | | | | shimmering brilliance from emerging and |
| movements of the three tigles in the physical | | | | contacting the soul-in-transition. The more |
| body result in the stages of one's | | | | karmic stains in the skandhas, the less we |
| realization of "emptiness," or the Clear | | | | see of the Clear Light. Purifying practices |
| Light of the Void, which in the average | | | | such as the Heruka Vajrasattva sadhana, for |
| person goes unrecognized. During the death | | | | instance, are often resorted to, to clear |
| process the white tigle descends into the | | | | one's mental and emotional continuum of |
| heart center followed by the ascent of the | | | | karmic stains. The necessity for purity in |
| red tigle into the same locality. These are | | | | one's nature in order to see the Clear Light |
| the stages of "appearance" and "increase." | | | | is also to be found in Christian teachings |
| The stage of "attainment" or the "black path" | | | | where it is said that only the pure shall see |
| occurs when both male and female bindus meet | | | | "God." Surat An-Nur of the Quran alludes |
| in the heart center to form the black tigle | | | | poetically to the Clear Light, to Nur Illahi |
| and give rise to the actual moment of death. | | | | and how it is perceived.Basically, one has to |
| The appearance of the Clear Light follows at | | | | be detached from the five skhandas (essence |
| that precise moment. In the black stage the | | | | of form, sensation, volition, consciousness, |
| average person usually falls unconscious, the | | | | and deluded perception) in order to recognize |
| Buddhist initiate of such teachings as | | | | the Clear Light and its transformative |
| Dzogchen or Mahamudra, however, is able to | | | | qualities. It takes a perfectly detached mind |
| maintain awareness and recognize the Clear | | | | and a pure awareness, free from karmic stains |
| Light as it appears. Concerning the nature | | | | to merge with the high energies of the Divine |
| and movements of the tigles, Chokyi Nyima | | | | flame of the Clear Light of the Void. Only |
| Rinpoche in the Bardo Guidebook | | | | then is one free from all mortal states and |
| comments:"Whiteness or appearance is due to | | | | is born into a realm beyond the laws of |
| the descent of the white element, obtained | | | | change, of becoming. Immortality is attained |
| from one's father at the moment of | | | | in such a manner. Bokar Rinpoche, in the book |
| conception. At that time there is a white | | | | Death & the Art of Dying tells us the |
| shimmering light like moonshine. The outer | | | | significance of the consummation of one's |
| sign is similar to the moon descending or | | | | mergence with the Clear Light:"Recognizing |
| rising. The inner sign is that one's | | | | this fundamental Clear Light means `becoming' |
| consciousness feels hazy like a mirage. This | | | | Buddha in the absolute body at the moment of |
| should be acknowledged as the experience of | | | | death! It is said that it also means `being |
| the whiteness."The experience of redness | | | | liberated as a Buddha in the first Bardo.' |
| involving the ascent of the red element | | | | When awakening is attained, the bardo no |
| obtained from one's mother at conception is | | | | longer continues." (1993:19-20)Chikai Bardo, |
| like sunshine in a place filled with dust so | | | | Second StageWhile the first stage of Chikai |
| that the sun appears very red. The outer sign | | | | occurs in the swoon state approaching death, |
| is a red sun either rising or setting. The | | | | this second stage occurs after clinical |
| inner sign is scintillating sparks that | | | | death--usually half an hour after the |
| appear and disappear like fireflies. The | | | | occurrence. From the occult point of view, it |
| experience of blackness is like the darkness | | | | occurs after the heart seed-atom departs from |
| of the night sky. At this point one's | | | | the physical body and the severance of the |
| consciousness alternates between being clear | | | | sutratma. The duration of this stage is a |
| and hazy." (1991:92-93)The phenomena of the | | | | little longer than the previous one. In this |
| three tigles should be considered symbolic. | | | | stage the Clear Light seemingly reduces its |
| They represent psychological processes that | | | | intensity to some degree. It actually does so |
| purifies, as much as possible, the psyche | | | | because of the obscurations of one's |
| from emotional and mental stains. Our | | | | ignorance and karma. Although the Clear Light |
| primordial nature is the Clear Light of the | | | | may not be recognized in the primary stage, |
| Void, in Christian terms this corresponds to | | | | there is still a chance for the |
| one's "Father" in heaven or Nur Illahi, as | | | | awareness-principle, when awakened from its |
| muslims would call it.. This shining divine | | | | stupor or dream-like state to take notice of |
| spark within is clouded by negative emotional | | | | the Clear Light in this secondary phase of |
| and mental qualities, recognized my muslim | | | | the Chikai. This is usually done with the |
| mystics as the "hijab" or veil. Once freed | | | | assistance of the presiding guide, the |
| from those negative toxins of the psyche, | | | | Reciter of the "death manual," or the Bardo |
| one's true nature may be easily apperceived. | | | | Thodol. The bardo ritual also helps awaken |
| The "movements" of the tigles facilitates | | | | the deceased person to recognize the fact |
| this process. In the Bardo Guidebook the | | | | that it had passed through the portal of |
| author refers to the psychological cessation | | | | death and that it should now pay attention to |
| of thoughts related to sensual desire, anger | | | | the subsequent psychological phenomena. In |
| and delusions and in connection with the | | | | the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the |
| stages of the three tigles:"During the white | | | | awareness-principle in the Chikai stage is |
| experience the thirty-three thought states | | | | advised to recognize its own primordial |
| caused by anger cease. During the red | | | | Self:"O nobly-born, when the body and mind |
| experience the forty thought states caused by | | | | were separating, thou must have experienced a |
| passions cease. When the two essences meet, | | | | glimpse of the Pure Truth, subtly, sparkling, |
| the seven thought states caused by stupidity | | | | bright, dazzling, glorious, and radiantly |
| cease." (1991:12)And once freed from the | | | | awesome, in appearance like a mirage moving |
| above negative, deluded thoughts of anger, | | | | across a landscape in spring-time in one |
| passion and stupidity, what remains is the | | | | continuous stream of vibrations. Be not |
| Clear Light of the Dharmakaya--one's divine | | | | daunted thereby, nor terrified, nor awed. |
| nature.When the dying's last expiration is | | | | This is the radiance of thine own true |
| about to cease, lamas make it a practice to | | | | nature. Recognize it." (1975:104)Like the |
| turn the pilgrim's dying body over to the | | | | first stage, liberation is also offered here |
| right side. This they call the "Lying Posture | | | | as a gift of the Divine Intelligence; it is, |
| of the Lion." The carotid arteries of the | | | | however, an incomplete liberation, not as |
| left and right side of the throat are pressed | | | | totally or as fully as the liberation of the |
| simultaneously. By such a practice it is | | | | first stage. To ensure the attainment of |
| hoped that the "awareness-principle" would | | | | liberation, as said before, it is necessary |
| emerge from the crown chakra. By pressing the | | | | to practice meditation every day where a |
| arteries the remaining life-force in the body | | | | glimpse of the Clear Light may be seen and |
| no longer re-circulates within the physical | | | | experienced in an altered-state of awareness |
| system--it is forced out through the crown | | | | in order to aid us to recognize its full |
| portal. Pressure on the arteries prevents the | | | | power in the Chikai. Experience of the Clear |
| soul, or awareness-principle from falling | | | | Light in the meditative state help us to |
| unconscious, or into the death-swoon. It also | | | | experience it in the Chikai state. Spiritual |
| triggers the experience of the Clear Light of | | | | exercises such as visualizing one's physical |
| the first phase of the Bardo and the | | | | body and aura surrounded with white light |
| hoped-for recognition of it. Incidentally, it | | | | assists us greatly to recognize the Clear |
| is likewise believed that the arterial | | | | Light when it emerges from the depth of our |
| pressure stimulates kundalini, or the | | | | being. Recollection of teachings pertaining |
| serpent-force lying at the base of the spine, | | | | to the bardo also increases considerably the |
| just as the death-hormone is believed to by | | | | chances that the soul would realize the Clear |
| Chaney. This occult writer also believes that | | | | Light and to know the manner of correct |
| kundalini is an active cause of the | | | | approach toward the following bardos. The |
| appearances of the bardos. Kundalini as it | | | | marifat or gnostic techniques of Islamic and |
| rises to the dying brain via sushumna, or the | | | | Hindu mystics allows the practitioner to |
| subtle spinal nerve, is believed by lamas to | | | | evoke the presence of the Clear Light, as |
| be an important factor in manifesting the | | | | does the techniques of Dzogchen.The intensity |
| Clear Light of the Void. The pressure on the | | | | of the Clear Light that appears to one's |
| carotid arteries is maintained for about six | | | | consciousness is dependent upon the quality |
| minutes after the last breath--the time that | | | | of light within one's own consciousness. An |
| it takes for the Clear Light to dawn. We are | | | | impure consciousness taints the Clear Light |
| also advised by Bardo teachings not to touch | | | | of the Void. Normally, the average person |
| a corpse for at least an hour after death, | | | | would not experience or recognize the Clear |
| for, it is said, that the awareness-principle | | | | Light of the Chikai stage; and those who |
| is attracted to the area being touched. This | | | | experience violent deaths go through the |
| would only cause the mind of the soul to be | | | | first stages of the bardos very quickly, |
| distracted and to wander away from the | | | | likewise without recognizing the Clear |
| important bardo experiences.Although | | | | Light.While experiencing the Chikai stage, it |
| soul-emergence out of the crown chakra is the | | | | is possible for the awareness-principle to be |
| desire of every well-informed Tibetan, the | | | | distracted from the Clear Light by loud |
| incarnated soul may also exit, according to | | | | physical noises, or the lamenting of |
| Lamas, through any of the other eight | | | | relatives and friends. It is for this reason |
| different openings of the body, the route of | | | | that the room of the dying one should be free |
| which, it is said, determines the place of | | | | from any conditions that may disturb its |
| abode of one's awareness-principle in the | | | | mental focus.Should one successfully |
| after-life. Below we give the nine portals of | | | | recognize the Clear Light, one should merge |
| exit and their associated realms:Anus - Hell | | | | into it, or absorb its radiance. This will |
| realmGenital - Animal realmMouth - Hungry | | | | lead one to the Buddhic or higher worlds. |
| ghost realmNose - Human realmNavel - | | | | Otherwise, if unsuccessful in recognizing and |
| Desire-gods realmEars - Asura/Titan realmEyes | | | | merging with the Clear Light, one would |
| - Form realms of the godsTop of head - | | | | simply fall into slumber and awaken to the |
| Formless realms of the godsCrown of head - | | | | subsequent bardos. It is to be noted that in |
| DevachanWe shall now consider the three | | | | this Secondary Light of the Chikai that the |
| bardos, or the three phases of the Bardo--the | | | | deceased may often catch a glimpse of |
| Chikai, Chonyid, and Sidpa. Below we give the | | | | awaiting relatives and friends on the |
| bardo-phases and stages, and the approximate | | | | Otherside, or see their presiding deity or |
| number of days that the soul may linger in | | | | guru, or even hear heavenly music. This |
| them:1) Chikai Bardo, first stage - First to | | | | phenomena is substantiated in Near-Death |
| third day2) Chikai Bardo, second stage - | | | | Experiences as recorded by doctors and |
| Third to fourth day3) Chonyid Bardo, first | | | | researchers of the paranormal.Chonyid Bardo, |
| stage - Fourth to eleventh day4) Chonyid | | | | First StageAs the awareness-principle sink |
| Bardo, second stage - Eleventh to nineteenth | | | | deeper into the depths of the bardo--because |
| day5) Sidpa Bardo, first stage - Nineteenth | | | | of lack of spiritual attainment--the Clear |
| to fortieth day6) Sidpa Bardo, second stage - | | | | Light of the Void lessens its shining |
| Fortieth to forty-ninth dayIt should be noted | | | | brilliance, or to be more accurate, heavier |
| that not all of these bardos may be | | | | veils enshroud it. In the previous Chikai |
| experienced by the one undergoing transition. | | | | stage, the Clear Light was a manifestation of |
| Liberation and illumination may occur in the | | | | the dharmakaya. In this Chonyid stage, the |
| first or second phase making the undergoing | | | | Bardo of Dharmata, the Light filters through |
| of the succeeding stages unnecessary; it all | | | | the sambogakaya, which may be interpreted to |
| depends upon the purity, the spirituality, | | | | mean the causal body. In terms of psychology, |
| and the karma of the dying pilgrim. Each | | | | this sambogakaya may correspond to the |
| succeeding stage makes it more improbable | | | | superconsciousness, whereas the former |
| that liberation be gained; however, with the | | | | corresponds to Cosmic Consciousness. One's |
| correct faith, humility, knowledge, attitude, | | | | consciousness at this stage sees the |
| behaviour, and awareness, the grace of the | | | | refracted Clear Light of the sambogakaya as |
| Cosmos may pour upon the one experiencing the | | | | coloured rays which are moulded according to |
| bardo and offer attainment of the long | | | | the nature of the spiritual side of our |
| sought-for salvation. Our understanding, | | | | psychic contents. What one sees in the |
| awareness and reactions in the Bardo | | | | Chonyid are, basically, hallucinations.In |
| determines whether we attain enlightenment or | | | | this phase and stage one's mental and |
| prolong our existence in samsara.Chikai | | | | subconscious contents of a spiritual nature |
| Bardo, First StageIn this first stage of the | | | | are projected externally onto the sambogakaya |
| bardo the Clear Light of the Void dawns upon | | | | lights as psychic images. These images may |
| the consciousness or awareness-principle. In | | | | take the form of gods, devas, masters, or |
| Vajrayana teachings this Clear Light is none | | | | angels--anything that reflects our spiritual |
| other than the dharmakaya, the highest | | | | conscious state. Teachings of Tibetan |
| principle within the microcosmic being of | | | | Buddhism refer to this stage as the |
| man. In Theosophy, this is the Monad; or the | | | | appearance of the "42 peaceful deities," or |
| "I AM Presence," as some esoteric schools of | | | | the appearance of karmic illusions of a |
| thought would call it; or "Yechidah" in the | | | | spiritual nature. It is said that these |
| Qaballa, the oral tradition of Judaism.The | | | | peaceful deities emanate from the heart |
| Clear Light is like a mirror that reflects | | | | center. The spiritual forms of these deities |
| our Divine Self, our true Buddha nature. This | | | | usually appear in the guise of the being that |
| Clear Light is said to be resplendent and | | | | we often pray to and seek spiritual refuge. |
| scintillating, of a brightness that surpasses | | | | It is, however, important to realize that all |
| a thousand suns. Recognizing, being aware, | | | | forms that appear in the Chonyid and Sidpa |
| and merging with one's true nature confers | | | | are mental creations, and are, therefore, |
| upon one a new spiritual status. The | | | | unreal. Concerning the nature of these |
| experience expands one's consciousness, not | | | | deities, Tsele Rangorol in The Mirror of |
| unlike the "Cosmic Consciousness" of Richard | | | | Mindfulness says that,". . . the deities are |
| M. Bucke. Fundamentally, the Clear Light is | | | | an expression of one's spontaneously present |
| experienced when one abides in one's true | | | | wakefulness; they are automatically there, |
| primordial nature in stillness without being | | | | inherent in one's nature." (1993:10)Visions |
| moved by thoughts or emotions. This usually | | | | within this and the following bardos are |
| occurs in a deep state of meditation. | | | | reflections of our habitual thought patterns. |
| Experiencing the Clear Light in full | | | | The spiritual inclined will see spiritual |
| awareness liberates oneself from samsara, | | | | images at this stage, while the mind with |
| from Maya, and the dualistic state of mind | | | | habitual carnal thoughts would probably |
| and conception. The Clear Light and | | | | bypass this bardo stage as it would have done |
| liberation implies a non-dual state, a | | | | so with the previous Chikai stage and go onto |
| non-thought-formation, and an abidance in | | | | the next to see visions of its based |
| one's Divine nature.According to Vajrayana | | | | thoughts. The primary aim in this and in the |
| teachings, the Chikai stage is the first | | | | following stages is to realize the |
| opportunity given to us to be free from the | | | | "emptiness" of these images, and to grasp |
| world of birth and rebirth, of the cycle of | | | | their real essence as being that of the Clear |
| reincarnation with its concomitant sufferings | | | | Light. In this manner we transform our |
| and pain. Our main problem here is | | | | consciousness by realizing the true basis of |
| maintaining consciousness while undergoing | | | | these visions and integrating them into our |
| the process of soul-release and recognizing | | | | own being. Failure to do so simply results in |
| the Clear Light when it appears. Most people | | | | a rebirth in one of the lower six realms. Not |
| pass through this stage unconsciously, in a | | | | recognizing the psychic images as one's own |
| state of slumber. Various factors causes the | | | | thoughtforms in this bardo and in the next |
| awareness-principle to fall into a stupor and | | | | results in a continued existence in samsara. |