David Silver returns to the Mindrolling Podcast for an exploration of the different states of bardo and the practices that help us better navigate them.
Resources from this episode: Support Becoming Nobody, a New Film About Ram Dass
The Bardo Guidebook
Raghu and David check out Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche’s, The Bardo Guidebook – a manual to the transition spaces between incarnations. They discuss the importance of the pause that exists in all moments of transition. Exploring how spiritual practices in life affect our experience of the bardos.
“One of the things that Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche says that what is important is to practice simple meditation. So that by the time the bardos come at you, you may be surprised, but you will quickly recognize it.” – David Silver
Listen to Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on Ep. 289 of the Mindrolling Podcast
Becoming Empty (20:10)
What does emptiness mean in the context of our spiritual practice? Raghu and David look at Ram Dass’s teachings around emptiness and “becoming nobody”. How does emptiness relate to the way we navigate the bardos?
“Emptiness is full of love of compassion. Aside from the letting go of the identity with ego, that is what emptiness is.” – Raghu Markus
Thoughts Before the Bardo (38:05)
David shares passages from the book, Japanese Death Poems. A collection of poems written in the Japanese tradition of jisei, poetry written by monks on their death beds.
“I give my name back as I step into this Eden of flowers.” – Inouye Inseki, Japanese Death Poems
The Psychedelic Experience (43:00)
Raghu and David share a discussion about psychedelics and the realms that they open us up to. They look at the hallmarks of the mystical experience that are made available through psychedelics.
