The Six Root Verses of the Six Bardos

Khenpo Sherab Sangpo offered teachings on The Six Root Verses of the Six Bardos. These verses are some of the most famous sections of The Great Liberation Through Hearing in the Bardo (Bardo Tödrol Chenmo), a treasure text revealed by the fourteenth century tertön Karma Lingpa. This text offers instructions on each of the six intermediate states (bardo) and helps us to live a better life while preparing for death and beyond.

 

1. Bardo of Life
2. Bardo of Dream
3. Bardo of Meditation
4. Bardo of Death
5. Bardo of Dharmatā
6. Bardo of Becoming

 

Study Resources on Karma Lingpa and The Six Root Verses of the Six Bardos

See the bardo terminology on Rigpa Wiki to help you understand some of the terms used by Khenpo Sherab Sangpo in his video teachings or the glossaries of the books listed below.

There are a number of translations into English of The Great Liberation Through Hearing in the Bardo (Bardo Tödrol Chenmo). These books have sometimes been given the title of The Tibetan Book of the Dead or variations of it. This is a partial list chosen because of the inclusion of helpful study materials—such as notes, glossaries, and detailed thangka images—which make studying and practicing this treasure text easier for English speakers.

 

• Six Bardos & Phowa Meditation Videos with Khenpo Sherab Sangpo – YouTube Playlist with all videos on this topic
• Six Bardos: Life, Death, After-Death and Rebirth – YouTube Playlist with the 2022 May Retreat videos
• The Six Root Verses of the Six Bardos – PDF of teaching text
• Bardo Terminology – Rigpa Wiki
• Karma Lingpa – Lotsawa House
• Six Root Verses of the Six Bardos – Lotsawa House
• Karma Lingpa – Himalayan Art Resources
• Karma Lingpa – Rigpa Wiki

 

Study Resources on Dying and the Bardos

• Dying and the Bardos – Lotsawa House
• Brief Introduction to the Bardos – Patrül Rinpoché – Lotsawa House
• A Complete Set of Instructions for the Bardos – Longchen Rabjam – Lotsawa House
• The Essential Journey of Life and Death (Volumes 1 and 2) – Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
• Dying with Confidence: A Tibetan Buddhist Guide to Preparing for Death – Anyen Rinpoche with Tulku Thondup
• Peaceful Death Joyful Rebirth – Tulku Thondup
• Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death – Roshi Joan Halifax

 

Study Resources on Bardo Tödrol Chenmo

• Natural Liberation: Padmasambhava’s Teachings on the Six Bardos – Commentary by Gyatrul Rinpoche
• Self-Liberation Through Seeing with Naked Awareness – Translation by John Myrdhin Reynolds
• The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation – Gyurme Dorje, Graham Coleman, and Thupten Jinpa with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• The Tibetan Book of the Dead and Luminous Emptiness: Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead – Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa
• The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Liberation Through Understanding in the Between – Robert A.F. Thurman with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Awakening Upon Dying – Chogyal Namkhai Norbu with Elio Guarisco and Nancy Simmons