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The Six Bardos: A Journey of Consciousness, May 9, 10, 11, 13 Based on the root text and commentary, this retreat explores the six "gaps" in consciousness (bardos) and provide liberation instructions to help us to recognize our Nature of Mind in each bardo. These instructions are intended to be integrated into daily activities and meditation to prepare especially for the transition of death to achieve liberation. The goal of this retreat is to ensure we do not "return empty-handed" from this life but rather take every opportunity to achieve recognition during these critical transitional moments.
Root Text: The Root Verses of the Six Bardos by Karma Lingpa (www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/karma-lingpa/root-verses-six-bardos)
Commentary: The Mirror of Mindfulness by Tsele Natsok Rangdröl
Revealed by tertön Karma Lingpa (c. 1326–1386), The Root Verses of the Six Bardos is the heart essence of the Bardo Tödrol Chenmo (Great Liberation Through Hearing) from the cycle Zabchö Shitro Gongpa Rangdrol (Profound Dharma of Self-Liberation through the Intention of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities) attributed to Padmasambhava.
Course Highlights:
• Transmission: Bestowing of the Zhitro Lung (Oral Transmission).
• Pointing-Out: A brief introduction to Rigpa Ngo-sprod (Seeing with Naked Awareness) during the Bardo of Meditation session.
• Method: Lama will explain the root verses through the practical commentary of The Mirror of Mindfulness.
• Translation: Christoph Klonk will translate the teachings from Tibetan to English.
There will be time for questions and answers.
Schedule:
May 9 Sat. kl. 14-17, 18-21;
May 10 Sun. 9-12, 14-17;
May 11 Mon. 18-21;
(Note: May 12 Public Talk at Folkuniversitetet in a separate event)
May 13 Wed.18-21.
Venue: Ratnashri Meditation Center: Friggavägen 11, Lidingö
Fee: 1 000 kr including a veg. meal on Sat. and Sun, OR 250 kr for each individual 3-hour session.
(Alternatively, 2 000 kr for the entire program May 9-17.)
Registration: Email to [email protected]; and deposit fee to Plusgiro:1287806-2 before the event or pay on site.
Lama Thubten Nima's entire program in Stockholm May 9-17 can be found at https://ratnashri.se/20260509.pdf.
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The Six States of Recognition
1. Bardo of This Life: Abandon laziness and distraction; engage in hearing, contemplating, and meditating; develop all appearances and mind as the path; and actualize the three kayas.
2. Bardo of Dream: Abandon the "corpse-like sleep of ignorance"; settle the mind in its natural state without distraction; recognize dreams; and train in clear light and transformation.
3. Bardo of Meditation: Abandon distraction, deluded thoughts, and grasping; maintain stability in the creation and completion stages of meditation; recognize the nature of mind by resting in undistracted, non-grasping awareness.
4. Bardo of Dying: Abandon attachment, clinging, and grasping; recognize impermanence and enter undistractedly into a state of clearing understanding of oral instructions; practice transferring awareness (phowa) single-pointedly to merge with the Clear Light of the unborn mind in the expanse of space—the Ground Luminosity.
5. Bardo of Dharmata: Abandon fear of frightening appearances; recognize all radiant lights and deities as the self-manifestation of our pristine awareness arise directly from the Ground Luminosity.
6. Bardo of Becoming: Abandon the impulse to enter a womb; hold one-pointed virtuous bodhicitta intention and pure perception, recognize the potential to block any unwholesome births and steer toward a beneficial rebirth.
Failure to integrate these instructions is considered a form of self-betrayal; the goal is to avoid "returning empty-handed" by achieving recognition in these transitional moments.
The Tertön Karma Lingpa was an incarnation of Chokro Lüi Gyaltsen, a direct disciple of Guru Padmasambhava. At age fifteen, he revealed the Zabchö Shitro Gongpa Rangdrol cycle from Mount Gampodar. It includes liberation instructions through hearing, sight (including peaceful and wrathful deities), touch, taste, smelling, and meditation. He also revealed texts that provide pointing-out instructions for recognizing the nature of the mind, and the signs of death.
Lama Thubten Nima (Gape Lama), born in 1965, is a prominent master in the Drikung Kagyu lineage. As a close disciple of H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, he served as a primary source and consultant for Rinpoche's official biography, The Lama of Many Lifetimes.
Given his family’s long association with Gar Monastery prior to the Cultural Revolution, he traveled there to receive refuge ordination from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. He later received full monastic ordination and the Bodhisattva vow from the great siddha Karma Norbu. After being admitted to Gar Monastery, he trained in the ritual practices of the Old and New School tantras. He received training at Lho Lungkar Monastery, focusing on The Eight Heruka Sadhanas, The Embodiment of the Masters’ Realization, Vajrakilaya and the Essence of Great Bliss. He served as both Chant Master and Disciplinarian at Gar Monastery before receiving advanced teachings from several legendary masters. These included Dzogchen Trekchöd and Thögal from Khenpo Munsel Rinpoche, as well as the Kilaya cycle of teachings from Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok. At Drikung Thil, he studied the Fivefold Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa under Drubpon Tendzin Nyima. He also studied Gong Chig (Single Intention) and the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva with Drikung Khenpo Namzig. H.E. Garchen Rinpoche appointed him Vajra Master and tasked him with reorganizing monastic discipline across the region. After a 25-year decline in practice, Gape Lama successfully reestablished traditions at Lho Miyel, Khargo, and Tseri Monasteries, where he restored the Drubchen practice of Yamantaka. He also served as a teacher at Tamgo Monastery and instructed the nuns at the Gargon Nunnery Meditation Center. In 2000, Gape Lama traveled to India for the complete Drikung Kagyu empowerments. After traveling through Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan, he moved to the United States to complete a Yamantaka retreat with H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. He served as the Resident Retreat Master and Chant Master for the Garchen Institute in Arizona. He is the founder and Resident Lama of the Drikung Rinchen Choling Dharma center in Los Angeles. At the request of H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, he serves as the religious ritual master for all Gar Buddhist Dharma centers in the West.
Organized by Ratnashri Meditation Center
Web: https://www.ratnashri.se
For inquiries, write to [email protected]
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Event Venue
Ratnashri Meditation Center, Sweden, Friggavägen 11, SE-181 32 Lidingö, Sverige, Lidingö, Sweden
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