Tony
18th June 2011, 08:02
So-called death.
In a effort to blow peoples' minds into somewhere over the rainbow, I thought I'd describe briefly what happens after death, from the Tibetan Buddhist point of view...it's quite colourful! I'm not trying to convert anyone - Buddhism is terrible. All that practice, loads of studying...and then you have to be nice to people...no, no, don't touch it! But if you do, don't give up, as it's terrible to the ego!
Facing death and beyond is really a psychological event for most of us. It is as natural as birth, so that's ok. The way we look at death will depend on education and instinct. Unless you have looked at all the options, you cannot even guess what could be in store.
So let's look at some of our options.
1. Nothing...that's it. The end.
2. Heaven...with God - if you're good enough - but there may be hell as well.
3. Ghost...forever. Not much to eat.
4. Reincarnation...keep coming back. Do it all again.
5. Enlightenment...one big know-all. Take on everyone's troubles.
6. Can't think of any more...don't know. Need help.
All we have to do is choose one, and see how it feels. Does it work for us? How does that choice affect our life? Most of us cannot know (or remember) what happens at death.
What if we could choose the whole lot, wrapped into one?
What I'm going to suggest is from the Tibetan point of view, as that is all I've really studied. I know you will have your own opinion. Just bare with me - though it's not for the faint hearted.
What we call death is called Bardo in Tibetan, meaning gap..in between. There is the bardo experience happening all the time - it's part of our psychological make-up. We see life as one continuous event. 'This is my life'. But it's more like a cine film with individual frames, held together by karma. Karma is the glue that holds it all together, maintained be consciousness at a gross level. Each moment there is a gap for a new life (or, in forum-speak, timeline.) but we hold on dearly to what we want, because we are used to it. It's familiar.
There are six psychological profiles for sentient beings: human, animal, hungry ghost, jealous God and God realm. These are attitudes we hold. Each has both a wisdom and neurotic attributes. I'll put details of these on another thread.
There are six major bardo moments. Bardo of life, bardo of dying, bardo of after life, bardo of becoming, bardo of dream and the bardo of meditation.
Depending on the training one has done in one's life time will dictate what is recognised in the bardo states. This is why repetition of practice is so important. These bardo moments are moments one can recognise one true nature and become enlightened. Or, go to a higher realm to complete training.
The so-called death period lasts for up to 49 days or seven weeks. Most of us are driven on by karma. Practitioners can become enlightened during the process, by remembering what they had practised in life - or go to higher realms to complete training.
The basis of these six psychological profiles are buddhas wisdoms: they are your essence. But the profiles also have a negative side. These Buddhas are represented by deities of brilliant coloured lights. In the first week after death, each deity will come towards you. These are of peaceful in appearance, and will invite you to recognise the projection as your true nature. If you recognise this, you will become a buddha. At the same time a soft coloured light will appear, but it is inviting you to the lower realm of the negative aspect of the deity.
In the second week the deities return in their wrathful aspect: this is intense love, to prevent you from becoming distracted. You always have a choice. That's if you know you have a choice.
After that, it's a matter of choosing a new incarnation - but again, because we practised just reacting in life, we are driven on by karma. It is said the precious human life is as difficult to achieve as a blind turtle coming up from the bottom of the ocean once every hundred years and sticking its head through a rubber ring floating on the surface.
Think yourself fortunate!
So there we have it. Quite mind blowing, I hope. You can now see why reacting through emotions:
fear, pride, anger, jealousy, desire and ignorance can cause us much suffering.
You are fortunate!
Tony
In a effort to blow peoples' minds into somewhere over the rainbow, I thought I'd describe briefly what happens after death, from the Tibetan Buddhist point of view...it's quite colourful! I'm not trying to convert anyone - Buddhism is terrible. All that practice, loads of studying...and then you have to be nice to people...no, no, don't touch it! But if you do, don't give up, as it's terrible to the ego!
Facing death and beyond is really a psychological event for most of us. It is as natural as birth, so that's ok. The way we look at death will depend on education and instinct. Unless you have looked at all the options, you cannot even guess what could be in store.
So let's look at some of our options.
1. Nothing...that's it. The end.
2. Heaven...with God - if you're good enough - but there may be hell as well.
3. Ghost...forever. Not much to eat.
4. Reincarnation...keep coming back. Do it all again.
5. Enlightenment...one big know-all. Take on everyone's troubles.
6. Can't think of any more...don't know. Need help.
All we have to do is choose one, and see how it feels. Does it work for us? How does that choice affect our life? Most of us cannot know (or remember) what happens at death.
What if we could choose the whole lot, wrapped into one?
What I'm going to suggest is from the Tibetan point of view, as that is all I've really studied. I know you will have your own opinion. Just bare with me - though it's not for the faint hearted.
What we call death is called Bardo in Tibetan, meaning gap..in between. There is the bardo experience happening all the time - it's part of our psychological make-up. We see life as one continuous event. 'This is my life'. But it's more like a cine film with individual frames, held together by karma. Karma is the glue that holds it all together, maintained be consciousness at a gross level. Each moment there is a gap for a new life (or, in forum-speak, timeline.) but we hold on dearly to what we want, because we are used to it. It's familiar.
There are six psychological profiles for sentient beings: human, animal, hungry ghost, jealous God and God realm. These are attitudes we hold. Each has both a wisdom and neurotic attributes. I'll put details of these on another thread.
There are six major bardo moments. Bardo of life, bardo of dying, bardo of after life, bardo of becoming, bardo of dream and the bardo of meditation.
Depending on the training one has done in one's life time will dictate what is recognised in the bardo states. This is why repetition of practice is so important. These bardo moments are moments one can recognise one true nature and become enlightened. Or, go to a higher realm to complete training.
The so-called death period lasts for up to 49 days or seven weeks. Most of us are driven on by karma. Practitioners can become enlightened during the process, by remembering what they had practised in life - or go to higher realms to complete training.
The basis of these six psychological profiles are buddhas wisdoms: they are your essence. But the profiles also have a negative side. These Buddhas are represented by deities of brilliant coloured lights. In the first week after death, each deity will come towards you. These are of peaceful in appearance, and will invite you to recognise the projection as your true nature. If you recognise this, you will become a buddha. At the same time a soft coloured light will appear, but it is inviting you to the lower realm of the negative aspect of the deity.
In the second week the deities return in their wrathful aspect: this is intense love, to prevent you from becoming distracted. You always have a choice. That's if you know you have a choice.
After that, it's a matter of choosing a new incarnation - but again, because we practised just reacting in life, we are driven on by karma. It is said the precious human life is as difficult to achieve as a blind turtle coming up from the bottom of the ocean once every hundred years and sticking its head through a rubber ring floating on the surface.
Think yourself fortunate!
So there we have it. Quite mind blowing, I hope. You can now see why reacting through emotions:
fear, pride, anger, jealousy, desire and ignorance can cause us much suffering.
You are fortunate!
Tony