The Practice

Having done the meditation on the bardos through the practice of dying, again and again, next one can train at the level of Dzogchen with the following practice. If you have not trained in this way first for at least three months, first train using the link here. As you need the foundation and familiarization of the practice before adding this next step.

The practice is the same as before, to die, and die often. Lie down in your bed and die. Lie down in the soft grass in the park and die again, and again, and again, until you really are familiar with this pattern. To do this, imagine yourself going through these five bardos described above. Below is a link to a guided meditation that takes you on a journey through these bardos. Use it until you have the journey memorized.

Do many sessions a day. Do a session in the AM before the sun comes up. Two sessions between breakfast and lunch. After lunch rest. Do a session before you go to bed.

For daily life: Do this practice once a day for three months to really allow it to sink in. You really need to practice this every day continuously for months.

However, now adding to this practice: As you enter the bardo, be aware the moment you feel the elements absorbing, know that you are dying. Recognize this pattern of dying and the feeling of it. Recognize you are dying and turn towards death. 

As the earth element absorbs, your last movement should be to ask to be put into the position to die in, such as the meditation posture or sleeping Buddha position (right side down.) You want to remember the 16th Karmapa’s last words, “Nothing happens, there is no death. There is only change, constant change of the moving.” 

While practicing dying, practice these two points. 

1. Be okay with dying. 

2. Be clear there is no death. 

You are simply going through the next step, nothing happens. If you are capable, keep your eye on the dancing stillness. Intentionally go through the dying process while noticing the dancing stillness, and noticing that there is no thing that moves. Don’t worry about your skill level. Just see how the moving will never be still, and all your experiences are part of the moving – “comes and goes.”  

When the six consciousnesses dissolve into the bliss of all the dharmata, the first bardo experience is pure awareness—neither moving nor still.

In the infinite openness of the awareness of the first bardo, as that passes, the second bardo arises—the “dancing stillness,” awareness aware of itself. At that point, you remember who and what you used to be. Don’t believe a word of it. Don’t take it too seriously. You have to let go here.

At the same time, also be aware of the stillness in which the moving dances without anything moving whatsoever. While keeping your eye on this dancing stillness, use your Pure Land mantra, and enjoy the illusory “story” of the Pure Land of your choosing. Experience the pure land of your choice. There, you can create a story—how it is, what you do there. You can have a little fun with the practice while keeping an eye on the dancing stillness: how the movement moves, how the stillness does not, and how they are one and the same.