CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

PSYCHOLOGICAL COMMENTARY, by Dr. C. G. Jung

INTRODUCTORY FOREWORD by LāMa Anagarika Govinda

FOREWORD: The Science of Death, by Sir John Woodroffe

INTRODUCTION

I. The Importance of the Bardo Thödol

II. The Symbolism

III. The Esoteric Significance of the Forty—Nine Days of the Bardo

IV. The Esoteric Significance of the Five Elements

V. The Wisdom Teachings

VI. The Death Ceremonies

VII. The Bardo, or After—Death State

VIII. The Psychology of the Bardo Visions

IX. The Judgement

X. The Rebirth Doctrine

XI. The Cosmography

XII. The Fundamental Teachings Summarized

XIII. The Manuscript

XIV. The Origin of the Bardo Thödol

XV. The Translating and the Editing

BOOK I
THE CHIKHAI BARDO AND THE CHÖNYID BARDO

THE OBEISANCES

THE INTRODUCTION

The Transference of the Consciousness—Principle

The Reading of this Thödol

The Practical Application of this Thödol by the Officiant

PART I
THE BARDO OF THE MOMENTS OF DEATH

INSTRUCTIONS ON THE SYMPTOMS OF DEATH, OR THE FIRST STAGE OF THE CH1KHAI BARDO: THE PRIMARY CLEAR LIGHT SEEN AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH

INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE SECOND STAGE OF THE CHIKHAI BARDO: THE SECONDARY CLEAR LIGHT SEEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEATH

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 CHÖMYIDBARDO, WHEN THE KARMIC APPARITIONS AP PEAR

THE DAWNING OF THE PEACEFUL DEITIES, FROM THE FIRST TO THE SEVENTH DAY

The First Day

The Second Day

The Third Day

The Fourth Day

The Fifth Day

The Sixth Day

The Seventh Day

THE DAWNING OF THE WRATHFUL DEITIES, FROM THE EIGHTH TO THE FOURTEENTH DAY

Introduction

The Eighth Day

The Ninth Day

The Tenth Day

The Eleventh Day

The Twelfth Day

The Thirteenth Day

The Fourteenth Day

THE CONCLUSION, SHOWING THE FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE OF THE BARDO TEACHINGS

BOOK II
THE SIDPA BARDO

THE OBEISANCES

INTRODUCTORY VERSES

PART I
THE AFTER—DEATH WORLD

THE BARDO BODY: ITS BIRTH AND ITS SUPERNORMAL FACULTIES

CHARACTERISTICS OF EXISTENCE IN THE INTERMEDIATE STATE

THE JUDGEMENT

THE ALL—DETERMINING INFLUENCE OF THOUGHT

THE DAWNING OF THE LIGHTS OF THE SIX LOKAS

PART II THE PROCESS OF REBIRTH

THE CLOSING OF THE DOOR OF THE WOMB

Method of Preventing Entry into a Womb

The First Method of Closing the Womb—Door

The Second Method of Closing the Womb—Door

The Third Method of Closing the Womb—Door

The Fourth Method of Closing the Womb—Door

The Fifth Method of Closing the Womb—Door

THE CHOOSING OF THE WOMB—DOOR

The Premonitory Visions of the Place of Rebirth

The Protection against the Tormenting Furies

THE ALTERNATIVE CHOOSING: SUPERNORMAL BIRTH; OR WOMB—BIRTH

Supernormal Birth by Transference to a Paradise Realm Womb—Birth: the Return to the Human World

THE GENERAL CONCLUSION

THE APPENDIX

I. THE INVOCATION OF THE BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS

II. ‘THE PATH OF GOOD WISHES FOR SAVING FROM THE DANGEROUS NARROW PASSAGE—WAY OF THE BARDO

III. ‘THE ROOT VERSES OF THE SIX BARDOS’

IV. ‘THE PATH OF GOOD WISHES WHICH PROTECT—ETH FROM FEAR IN THE BARDO’

V. THE COLOPHON

ADDENDA

I. YOGA

II. TANTRICISM

III. MANTRAS, OR WORDS OF POWER

IV.THE GURU AND SHISHYA (OR CHELA) AND INITIATIONS

V. REALITY

VI. NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN BUDDHISM AND CHRISTIANITY

VII. THE MEDIEVAL CHRISTIAN JUDGEMENT

INDEX