I just found out a couple of days ago that someone very dear to my heart made their transition on December 23, 2009. I was stunned by the news and also saddened that I had not known sooner so that I could participate through prayer in their soul journey.
I turned to my copy of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche because I thought I recalled that it took several weeks for the soul to travel through all of the bardos before either liberation or rebirth.
I was so happy to find that, according to the Tibetans, it takes 49 days for the soul to travel through the bardo of becoming, which is the third bardo. This means I have until February 10, 2010 to send focused light and prayer to this dear one. (Of course prayer is helpful at anytime, but particularly important at this time).
In the bardo of becoming, the soul still has opportunity for liberation and freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth; and, if not liberation, an opportunity for an auspicious rebirth.
So, I am using the Tibetan phowa practice to support my friend on his journey. This means I am focusing on the light of the Christ Mind merging with this individualized soul; I am using the Christ Mind because this soul’s master was Christ Jesus. As I visualize the light of The Christ filling and engulfing him, I am also saying: You and the Mind of Christ Jesus are One.
I am also chanting and offering these chants to his soul for liberation and enlightenment.
According to the Tibetans, during this 49 day period, on the day of the week on which the person died, they re-experience their death. So, it is important to be there with prayer on this day for your loved one. My dear one died on a Wednesday so, on February 10, I will be holding a ceremony in a lovely outdoor location to support this death experience with light and love. I plan on doing some drumming, too, because drumming was very important to him.
Below is a video with a Tibetan chant for an enlightened mind. I offer this up for the liberation of my friend, Ken. (This video immediately rolls over into a lecture and I cannot cut that. So listening beyond the chant is up to you).
Ken, stay focused on the Light and remember:
"Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5)
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