Bardo Journey – by Ganna T.
Bardo Journey Story
In Buddhism, the concept of rebirth is central to the belief system. It’s believed that when a person dies, their consciousness continues on, and they are reborn into another life.
This cycle of death and rebirth is known as samsara. However, what happens in between these two states is equally important, and that is where the concept of bardo comes in.
The word “bardo” means “intermediate state” or “transition” in Tibetan. It’s a period of time that begins at the moment of death and lasts until the next rebirth. According to Buddhist tradition, during this time, the person’s consciousness goes through a series of experiences and encounters a variety of different beings and visions.
The bardo is said to last for 49 days, during which time the person’s consciousness is in a state of flux. It’s during this time that the person’s karma is said to play a major role in determining their future rebirth. The bardo is divided into three stages: the bardo of dying, the bardo of dharmata (or luminosity), and the bardo of becoming.
The first stage, the bardo of dying, begins at the moment of death and lasts for a few moments up to a few days. During this time, the person’s consciousness experiences intense fear, confusion, and disorientation.
It’s believed that if the person has trained their mind through meditation, they can use this time to achieve enlightenment and break the cycle of rebirth.
The second stage, the bardo of dharmata, is a period of pure consciousness and is considered the most peaceful of the three stages. It’s believed that during this time, the person’s consciousness experiences a state of luminosity and is able to see the true nature of reality.
The third and final stage, the bardo of becoming, is when the person’s consciousness begins to seek out a new body to be reborn into.
During this time, the person’s karma plays a major role in determining their future rebirth. It’s said that if the person has lived a virtuous life, they will be reborn into a higher realm, while those who have lived an unvirtuous life will be reborn into a lower realm.
In conclusion, the concept of bardo is an important aspect of Buddhist belief. It’s a time of transition between death and rebirth and is believed to be a critical period for the person’s consciousness. Understanding the bardo is seen as a way to prepare for death and to achieve enlightenment.