5–6pm Bardo Thötröl

The back cover of Francesca Fremantle and Trungpa Rinpoche’s book “The Tibetan Book of the Dead – The Great Liberation through Hearing in the Bardo” states:

The Bardo Thötröl is a Tibetan Buddhist scripture of the Nyingma or old tradition. It concerns the nature of the mind and its projections—beautiful or terrible, peaceful or wrathful—which seem to exist objectively and inhabit the external world. In particular it describes these projections as they appear immediately after death, in a  much more overwhelming form since the consciousness is no longer grounded and shielded by its connections with a physical body. It teaches recognition of these terrifying and seductive forms, and through recognition attainment of the state of enlightenment.

To help Gelongma Migme Chödrön — who has passed away on October 11 — in her post-death state, we will be reading daily (from 5–6pm) until the 49th day sections from the Bardo Thötröl. The purpose of reading the Bardo Thötröl is meant to be a support to remind Migme of what she has practiced during her life and to remind the reader “that the notion of impermanence becomes a living experience rather than a philosophical view”.