Vancouver BC 2

I bow in front of my guru Khejok Rinpoche, through him and our lineage, may I have the wisdom and power to report the event last Saturday night. May this be beneficial to myself and others.

By request of Dr. Tsang, we were able to receive another talk of Rinpoche, it is by the great compassion of Rinpoche that we had this opportunity. The talk on Bardo was outside the schedule of his Vancouver visit this time. Although I have read about Bardo from Rinpoche's books, from various articles and have heard about it from many sources, this is the first time I received the teaching from Rinpoche. It is our original Gelug lineage tradition. This makes it very precious and powerful to me, I see last night as an "empowerment-session", I feel as if Rinpoche is touching my head.

There is another point I would like to highlight before I venture into the teaching of Rinpoche in the form of notes. I am just a normal person with limited abilities, I practice with these faculties I possess. Problem is I have short memory, I find very often that I am not able to remember a certain Mantra or the outlines, to my despair I sometime even forget the meaning of the teaching and the purpose of the practice. For example, I promised myself many many times to meditate before eating, but it has never been a successful habit, the idea is swiftly vanished whenever the gourmet delicious food is placed in front of me. It shows how greedy/glutinous I am. Obviously, I need more training and focus to form habits, writing down the notes of Rinpoche's teachings is absolutely necessary in my case, it helps to form an imprint in my mind. As for me going to Bardo, this imprint is so important, it is a matter of HIGH OR LOW REBIRTH!

** Rinpoche began by describing the informal, relax attributes of last night meeting.

** When Bardo is taught, 4 different types of receivers among the audience. The first kind is the Buddha in human body, the second kind is the accomplished (Buddhists who are highly trained, well- practised and those who have attained enlightenment). The third kind is those who are learning but need directions, just like a driver needs GPS to direct them the the destination. The last kind is the non-believers, those go for the wrong path purposely ignoring the advises also purposely. Bardo teaching is useful only to the third type of people.

** Bardo is the in between state of Death and Birth. It is necessary to know about Birth before we go into the teaching of Bardo, to know where we go before venturing the journey. There are also four kinds of Birth: Wet Birth of the insects; Birth within a cell; Embryo Birth is the way with humans; and Birth from seeds or roots like the plants and trees. There are exceptions from the above categories, Guru Rinpoche the Lotus Born is one instance of the exceptions. The Bardo stage we are discussing refers to the Human Embryo-Birth.

** A Buddhist practitioner would most often see signs showing that the end is very close. He or she should be prepared relying on the three jewels and all the practices they have done all along. This of course include all the daily homework of seven limbs, refuge to three jewels and the wish to reach enlightenment for the sake of all beings in the six realms. When we realise death is around the corner, give away all our belongings in order to relieve ourself from the attachment to the world physically and psychologically. Repay our debts(including emotional debts) and correct our wrong doings, I will say the 100 words Mantra as much as possible, fasting for the days is another way to clear obstacles. The homework we have been practising come in handy at this time.

** At the last day(again the good practitioner should know), wash ourself and put on a clean dress, white or some light-colour clothing is the best, black should be avoided. Agitation should also be avoided even if we see our enemies at this time. Stay very calm and not disturbed even the peaceful environment is full of crying and worries around us. The whole point is to prepare ourself leaving everything behind with no attachment and in the utmost peaceful manner. A statue of Buddha or a picture of Khejok Rinpoche should be within sight. In cross-legged or sleeping-lion posture begin our meditations. In my case I will start the "Amritabha" pure-land practise. If our karma allows it would be our luck to have a realised monk beside us helping us along till we reach the pure-land.

** Going through the 4 transitional stages of Earth, Water, Fire, Wind would be painful and horrifying, the degree and intensity of these mental suffering depends on how much good or bad karma we have collected in our life-time. Remind ourself that these are all illusions, they are not real and the sufferings are empty in nature lacking existence. This is why a realised monk(s) sitting next to you at this time is very useful, they can constantly help and guide you to be conscious of the 4 unreal nature of transitions.

** After the 4 stages, and the last breath, you are announced dead medically. However, the consciousness still exists. It will be in the form of a small light going through a small hold at the crown of our head if we can manage it ourself. The monk beside you can help us to perform this important task by a touch of the head or by pulling the hairs around the area of the small hold. Hence forward from this moment we are in the realm of Bardo.

** Once inside Bardo, we are free to fly around with penetrating power of going through objects. There is no distance between Vancouver and Beijing, travelling is instantaneous. We go back to visit the place we died and see the body lying there, the effort of re-entry into the body is impossible. Nobody see or hear us, we are invisible to them. Every 7 days we would go throw the process of dying once again until rebirth. The Bardo state is 49 days, after that there is no escape of rebirth into the six realms. All beings will be reborn again. Reciting mantras or Buddhist scriptures by monks and any members of the Sangha is fruitful at this time, it definitely helps those who died to gain rebirth in the higher realms.

** There are different ways to depose the body after 49 days. The traditional Sky-burial aims to generate merits by giving away our bodies. The Water-burial has the same meaning, the choice of this method is according to circumstances. Tibetan prefers Sky-burial more than the water ritual. A big heavy piece of rock has to be tied around the waist of the body making sure the water around is not littered later. Burial by earth involves "Fung-shui", a good burial location is selected to provide the wondering spirits happy accommodations. Cremation is not the Tibetan custom, ashes and remains are not allowed to place inside a Monastery.

The above are notes of my limited understanding of Bardo, I can guarantee it is incomplete and full of mistakes. However I will see this as the most precious guideline for my practise, the teaching is directly from my guru Khejok Rinpoche. I see this as if I have received it from Buddha Sakyamuni. As I learn and practise more in the future, I am sure my wisdom will grow, there will be constant updates and editing to this blog, and more details will be added as I go along . Please, all my brothers and sisters in the Buddhist community, if you see me err anywhere, point them out to me so that I can benefit from your kindness.

Dedicating this to all beings, may I swiftly reach enlightenment so that no beings in the six realms from beginning to infinity will stay outside the "Amritabha Pure-Land".