Table of Contents
Preface ix
Illustrations xvii
Foreword: The Science of Death Sir John Woodroffe xxv
Introduction 1
I The Importance of the Bardo Thödol 1
II The Symbolism 2
III The Esoteric Significance of the Forty-Nine Days of the Bardo 6
IV The Esoteric Significance of the Five Elements 8
V The Wisdom Teachings 10
VI The Death Ceremonies 18
VII The Bardo, or After-Death State 28
VIII The Psychology of the Bardo Visions 31
IX The Judgement 35
X The Rebirth Doctrine 39
XI The Cosmography 61
XII The Fundamental Teachings Summarized 66
XIII The Manuscript 68
XIV The Origin of the Bardo Thödol 73
XV The Translating and the Editing 78
Book 1 The Chikhai Bardo and the Chönyid Bardo
The Obeisances 85
The Introduction 85
The Transference of the Consciousness-Principle 85
The Reading of this Thödol 87
The Practical Application of this Thödol by the Officiant 88
Part I The Bardo of the Moments of Death
Instructions on the Symptoms of Death, or the First Stage of the Chikhai Bardo: the Primary Clear Light Seen at the Moment of Death 89
Instructions Concerning the Second Stage of the Chikhai Bardo: the Secondary Clear Light Seen Immediately After Death 97
Part II The Bardo of the Experiencing of Reality
Introductory Instructions Concerning the Experiencing of Reality During the Third Stage of the Bardo, Called the Chönyid Bardo, When the Karmic Apparitions Appear 101
The Dawning of the Peaceful Deities, From the First to the Seventh Day 104
The First Day 105
The Second Day 108
The Third Day 110
The Fourth Day 112
The Fifth Day 115
The Sixth Day 118
The Seventh Day 126
The Dawning of the Wrathful Deities, From the Eighth to the Fourteenth Day 131
Introduction 131
The Eighth Day 136
The Ninth Day 138
The Tenth Day 138
The Eleventh Day 139
The Twelfth Day 140
The Thirteenth Day 141
The Fourteenth Day 143
The Conclusion, Showing the Fundamental Importance of the Bardo Teachings 151
Book II The Sidpa Bardo
The Obeisances 155
Introductory Verses 155
Part I The After-Death World
The Bardo Body: Its Birth and Its Super: Normal Faculties 155
Characteristics of Existence in the Intermediate State 160
The Judgement 165
The All-Determining Influence of Thought 169
The Dawning of the Lights of the Six Lokas 173
Part II The Process of Rebirth
The Closing of the Door of the Womb 175
Method of Preventing Entry into a Womb 176
The First Method of Closing the Womb-Door 176
The Second Method of Closing the Womb-Door 177
The Third Method of Closing the Womb-Door 178
The Fourth Method of Closing the Womb-Door 180
The Fifth Method of Closing the Womb-Door 181
The Choosing of the Womb-Door 183
The Premonitory Visions of the Place of Rebirth 183
The Protection against the Tormenting Furies 185
The Alternative Choosing: Supernormal Birth; or Womb-Birth 188
Supernormal Birth by Transference to a Paradise Realm 189
Womb-Birth: the Return to the Human World 190
The General Conclusion 193
The Appendix
I The Invocation of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas 197
II 'The Path of Good Wishes For Saving From the Dangerous Narrow Passage-Way of the Bardo1 199
III The Root Verses of the Six Bardos' 202
IV 'The Path of Good Wishes Which Protecteth From Fear in the Bardo' 205
V The Colophon 209
Addenda
I Yoga 211
II Tantricism 213
III Mantras, or Words of Power 220
IV The Guru and Shistlya (Or Chela) and Initiations 222
V Reality 224
VI Northern and Southern Buddhism and Christianity 232
VII The Medieval Christian Judgement 238
Index 243
