Endings and Beginnings

For all of us, death is certain. That is our universal condition. But fortunately, there is another universal truth: The process of death, and the journey through the afterdeath state, is the same for all of us. No matter what our background, religion, race, age or life path, we all take the same road.

Preparation

Imagine going into surgery—as the doctor—to perform a delicate brain operation, then realizing you had no prior training in either anatomy or neurosurgery. Or what about giving a lecture to a group of several hundred important guests. And you suddenly remember that you never prepared anything to say, nor do you know anything about the subject. Maybe you dont even speak their language. And we have all experienced the situation where we go to make a very important purchase, and discover that our bank account is empty. These examples are extreme, but they represent exactly what most of us do on the most important day of our life: our death-day.

The Science of Dying

The great sages and adepts of the past developed a deep insight and direct experience of the death process. Over several thousand years, this knowledge was codified and perfected into a system of ritual and meditation. And given its timeless nature, it is as relevant today as when humans first puzzled about the nature of life.

Birthdays and Deathdays

We all love birthdays. Even if they are a sign of age, they are a cause of celebration. Another year of experiences, another milestone passed. The journey continues, as we reflect, we move on. But there comes another day that is an even more crucial landmark. However, our society, our culture, our psychology, makes us want to avoids confronting death at all costs. While death is always a tragedy for those left behind, even for a richly-lived life, it is a time of extraordinary opportunity for the “deceased.”

Faith and Sacred Technology

Every culture and religious tradtitions has important ways of dealing with the death. Faith, prayer and various types of rituals make a valuable contributions to the journey ahead. But it is within the Tibetan spiritual traditions that the real science of the Way of Dying, was preserved and honed to perfection. But beyond the cultural confines of Tibet, or the trappings of Vajrayana Buddhism, this technology of the afterlife can be applied to everyone, anywhere. Just as a medicine or a surgical technique is appropriate to whoever needs it,  Bardo Healing works beyond the any concept of any race, religion, time or place. It is a crucial tool we need to  meet the challenge we must all face, sooner or later.