Liberation through hearing in bardo (Buddhism)

According to Tibetan Buddhist teaching, in the period between the death of an individual and subsequent rebirth he experiences a series of six states known as [bardo]

. In the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the final three of these states, occurring during the 1st to 49th days after physical death, are related to [trikaya]

, the three bodies of Buddha. They are: [dharmakaya]

, or the bardo of the moment of death (absolute body awareness); [sambhogakaya]

, supreme reality (enjoyment body awareness); and [nirmanakaya]

, the bardo of becoming (emanation body awareness). In any of these phases it is possible to attain [nirvana]

(liberation) if the true nature of the mind is recognized. The Book of the Dead provides systematic teaching for instruction leading to liberation in the three phases. However, the majority are not sufficiently enlightened and pass through these phases to be born again in another incarnation, there to commence where they left off on the path to eventual liberation.