Helpful Bardo Prayers

I wanted to compose something beneficial for those people that have a loved one that has died or is in the process of dying.  Since it is never easy to find what you need at the last minute, I figured it would be proper to put all the texts and information in one place.

This yantra (image at right) is depicted in the classic text called the Tibetan Book of the Dead.  It was also passed down from Yogi C. M. Chen to his disciples.  It belongs to a class of blessing objects called “Liberation through Touch”, meaning that one will gain liberation merely by wearing it.

The central deity is Adi Buddha or Samantabhadra Buddha the supreme dharmakaya buddha.  He is surrounded by all the 100 peaceful and wrathful deities.  The surrounding mantras are associated with the deities in the mandala and the buddhas of the six realms at the outermost circle.

Click here to receive instructions on how to fold it and place it properly on the dying family member’s body: Adi Buddha Mandala Mantra Sheet

The Bardo Teachings:

The following info was prepared by Buz & Joanie Overbeck:

Many westerners, having received teachings on the Bardo states, wonder how these might be applied at the time of their death or the death of others.  Basically, the teachings say that, rather than fearing death, one should approach the Bardo states as opportunities for enlightenment and, in order to be open to these opportunities, one should have prepared through practice during one’s lifetime.

“However, even with no experience whatsoever, if one can die a ‘conscious death’ — calmly and openly with no fear, anger, or attachment—one can still create the conditions for enlightenment or a fortunate rebirth.”

These notes were compiled to help all practitioners attain that goal.

Click here: Bardo Information

Bardo Prayers:

These are the actual root verses that a Tibetan Lama would recite next to the bedside of a dying person.  This is a very important text.  It is called Bardo Thodal or “Liberation upon Hearing” in the Bardo.

This text has four sections:

1. Prayer requesting assistance from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
2. Root verses of the Bardo Thodal
3. Prayer for the deliverance from the Bardo’s narrow passage
4. The prayer that protects from fears in the bardos

Click here to download: Bardo Prayers

Five Powerful Mantras:

These mantras are chanted at the time of death.  This text was arranged by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.  These mantras can be chanted for the dying person so that they receive blessings.  It doesn’t matter how close or far away you are.  You can still direct energy and transfer merits to them in this skillful way.

Fortunately, there is one bonus within this text.  There is a special Tibetan script which you can print and then cut out.  Once you have it, then you can place it on the body of the one who is dying.  It will benefit them tremendously so they will have a peaceful death and a higher rebirth in the next life.

Click here to download – Five Powerful Mantras

The Medicine Buddha:

The Medicine Buddha mantra is an excellent way to help your loved one who is in the process of dying or after they have passed.  Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the following to help us understand the value of the Medicine Buddha practice:

“The Medicine Buddha encompasses all the buddhas.  This means that when we practice the seven-limb prayer and make offerings with the seven limbs, we receive the same merit as we would if we had made offerings to all the buddhas.  Similarly, when we recite the mantra of Medicine Buddha, we collect unbelievable merit just as when we offer the seven-limb practice to Medicine Buddha.”

Guru Shakyamuni Buddha said in the sutra entitled Medicine Guru Beams of Lapis Lazuli:

“Kungawo, do you believe my explanation of the qualities of that tathagata [Medicine Buddha]?”

Kungawo replied to the Bhagavan: “I do not have a two-pointed mind with regard to the teachings of you, the celibate Bhagavan. Why? Because the actions of the tathagata’s holy body, holy speech, and holy mind are always pure, without a single mistake.”

Then Guru Shakyamuni Buddha gave this advice:

“Kungawo, whoever hears the holy name of that tathagata will not fall into the evil realms of the suffering transmigratory beings.”

Therefore, at the time of death, it is excellent to recite both Tathagata Medicine Buddha’s holy name and his mantra in the ear of the dying person.

It is extremely beneficial to recite the mantra and blow it upon meat that you are eating, or even on old bones or the dead bodies of animals or humans.  This action purifies the karmic obscurations of those sentient beings.  It can cause someone who has been reborn in the suffering lower realms to immediately pass away and be reborn in a pure realm or amongst happy transmigrators.  At the very least, it will shorten the duration of their suffering in the lower realms.

Medicine Buddha Sadhana:

For forty-nine days after someone’s death, it is a Buddhist tradition that prayers are done for your loved one.  For each seven day period, within the Bardo (intermediate state), there is a significant transition that occurs for the deceased.  To help them wake up and become more lucid at this time, prayers and mantras can be done to assist them.  These prayers are done before the weekly anniversary of their death.  For example, if someone dies on a Wednesday, it is especially important to do sadhana practice on each Tuesday.

In a general way, the following texts can be recited by anyone.  Just print it out and make it into a precious text for yourself.   The booklet form, however, is a little harder to put together.  I would suggest this short four-page text would be easiest to perform:

1. Medicine Prayers (booklet form)
2. Medicine Prayers2 (normal version)

Remember that reciting the Medicine Buddha mantra definitely brings inconceivable merits for you and your loved ones.

many blessings!
Neo

Tibetan Book of the Dead

The Tibetan Book of the Dead which is also called “The Great Liberation upon Hearing in the Intermediate State” or Bardo Thodal, is traditionally believed to be the work of Padmasambhava, the eighth century mystic-saint better known as Guru Rinpoche.  Also considered as the second Buddha after Shakyamuni, he was the first person to bring Buddhism to the land of Tibet.

The Bardo Thodal is an important text to be read aloud to the deceased person while they are in the ‘transitional-state’ between death and rebirth. This will help them wake up from their swoon and not be frightened at the projected images they see.  As you assist them to perceive and understand what is happening in a peaceful way, it is a great opportunity for them to recognize the nature of their mind and achieve enlightenment on the spot.

When this is not the case, they can be benefited by having their consciousness transferred to a Pure Realm.  The most significant being Amitabha’s Pure Land, which is the ideal place to go where there is absolutely no suffering.  In fact, it is called Dewachen, the Land of Great Bliss, where the suffering of the three lower realms doesn’t exist.  Ordinary beings are permitted to enter there, without having any sort of high level of realization as a prerequisite.  This is all due to the great vows and blessings of Amitabha Buddha himself.

The mandala above is said to be so potent that merely looking at it could liberate any being from all negative karma–the unavoidable consequences of harmful actions.  It could transform anger and fear into altruism and compassion.

In Christian terms, the pure land would be considered the “Kingdom of Heaven” and not an ordinary heavenly place where the masses of people will enter.  The Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying has more on this and is a popular book for beginners and written by Sogyal Rinpoche.

When I was first starting out practicing Tibetan Buddhism, I had a number of friends of the family that passed away.  For most people, I think it is very difficult to contact one’s own lama to perform the Bardo Deliverance Ceremony as they are usually busy teaching or in another country.  Searching online I only found one lama that offered to do this phowa ritual as a public service.  So I know it is very rare.

A true story:

A long time ago, my mother had a sickly day-care child.  The girl had heart-surgery when she was born.  As a child, this cute little girl had placed tiny stickers (of footprints) on the bottom corner of my bedroom door.  As they came off from house-cleaning, my mom decided to glue them to the door.  Naturally, she was there to help my mom stick them permanently in place.  It was a fond reminder to see them every time we entered my room.  Three stickers remained there untouched for thirteen years.

This same girl was close to us even after she finished day-care at the age of five.  She would always attend our sports functions with the family and often visit us at home.  Unfortunately, she also developed a type of cancer early on.  It is sad to say that she passed away from this cancer, in the prime of her life, at the age of eighteen.  My mother almost had a nervous-breakdown at the loss of someone who was like her own child.  The memory brings tears to my face even as I write this now.

I thought long and hard for a way to give my mother some peace of mind.  A few days later, I explained to her what positive action we could do to help.  A tantric lama (whom I found on a Vajrayana website) was available to the public.  He performed the Bardo Deliverance Ceremony every Friday as part of his commitment.  So, I sent the monk her picture and a donation through the mail.  And to our surprise, a few weeks later a very auspicious thing occurred.

As both my mother and I walked into my bedroom, we saw those very three footprints – on the floor… a few inches apart as if they were walking towards my shrine.

I’d like to think those footprints represented the Triple Gem: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.  I truly believe it was a sure, positive sign that she made it to Amitabha’s Pure Land and is happy and in good health.  This put a wonderful smile on both our faces.

About ten years later, I met Tulku Thubten Nyingpo.  To my delight, he offered a small group of us the empowerment into a special Drikung Kagyu practice.  This would authorize us to perform the Bardo Deliverence Ceremony directly for others.  As long as I have been involved in Buddhism, I know it is only rarely given.  This Rinpoche is considered a highly realized and qualified lama.  His incarnation can be traced back to Atsara Sale, who lived in 9th century Tibet.  He is one of the heart sons of Guru Rinpoche and consort of Yeshe Tsogyal.

My aspiration:

In 2009, I made a strong vow that I would perform the Bardo Deliverance Ceremony for EVERY PERSON that has passed away that I personally met.  It is my wish to be able to help others “cross-over” to the other side without fear.  There are extensive prayers, chanting of mantras, and offering of (tsok) food that is done to help them remove their karmic obscurations and increase their merits to enter the Amitabha Pure Land.  I am glad to say that I have done this two-hour long practice for over twenty-five people so far.

Therefore, if anyone needs this ritual done for their loved one (and it is still within the 49 days since they passed on) please contact me.  I would be more than willing to assist them as well.  It can be helpful in many ways.  For example, you can be relieved as the karmic “cords” that tie you to a loved one are properly removed without pain.

As in the case with my friend, her mother passed away and she couldn’t stop crying for weeks.  I performed the Bardo Ceremony and we were both surprised, at the exact hour it was finished, she felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders and she instantly stopped crying.

many blessings,
Neo