Bardo Song of Reminding Oneself

This text is a teaching by Padmasambhava, in which he reminds us how to liberate ourselves in the six different Bardo’s.

Tibetan buddhism refers to the six Bardo’s as transitional states; the bardo of this lifetime, the bardo of dreaming, the bardo of meditation, the bardo of dying, the bardo of dharmata, and the bardo of becoming. In each of the bardo’s there are clear instructions on what we should do while we are experiencing these states to attain liberation. The verses here are the concise instructions from the Secret Dakini Training Mother Tantra of the Great Perfection.

Bardo Song of Reminding Oneself

translated by Erik Pema Kunsang, melody: Tara Trinley Wangmo, vocals: Sascha Alexandra Aurora Sellberg & Rodrigo Reijers.

from the Secret Dakini Training Mother Tantra
of the Great Perfection

Ema!

Now that while the bardo of this lifetime is unfolding,

I will not be lazy since there is no time to waste.

Enter nondistraction’s path of hearing, thinking, training,

While it is just now I have the precious human form.

Since this free and favored form ought to have real meaning,

Emotion and samsara shall no longer hold the reign.

Ema!

Now that while the bardo of the dreamstate is unfolding,

I will not sleep like a corpse, so careless, ignorant.

Knowing everything is self-display, with recognition,

Capture dreams, conjure, transform, train lucid wakefulness.

Instead of lying fast asleep like animals are sleeping,

I will use the Dharma just as in the waking state.

Ema!

Now that while the meditation bardo is unfolding,

I will set aside every deluded wandering.

Free of clinging, settled within boundless nondistraction,

I’ll be stable in completion and development.

As I’m yielding projects to the single-minded training,

Delusion and unknowing shall no longer hold the reign.

Ema!

Now that while the bardo of the death-state is unfolding,

I will cast away attachment, clinging to all things.

Enter undistractedly the state of lucid teachings,

Suspending as a vast expanse this nonarising mind.

Leaving this material form, my mortal human body,

I will see it as illusion and impermanent.

Ema!

Now that while the bardo of dharmata is unfolding,

I will hold no fear or dread or panic for it all.

Recognizing everything to be the bardo’s nature,

Now the time has come for mastering the vital point.

Colors, sounds and rays shine forth, self-radiance of knowing,

May I never fear the peaceful-wrathful self-display.

Ema!

Now that while the bardo of becoming is unfolding,

I will keep the lasting goal one-pointedly in mind.

Reconnecting firmly with the flow of noble action,

I will shut the womb-doors and remember to turn back.

Since this is the time for fortitude and pure perception,

I will shun wrong views and train the guru’s union-form.

If I keep this senseless mind that never thinks of dying,

And continue striving for the pointless aims of life,

Won’t I be deluded when I leave here empty handed?

Since I know the sacred Dharma is just what I need,

Shouldn’t I be living by the Dharma right this moment,

Giving up activities that are just for this life?

These are the instructions which the gracious guru told me.

If I do not keep the guru’s teachings in my heart,

How can this be other than myself fooling myself?

Read more about this topic in this essay Erik Pema Kunsang wrote

12 Comments

John Baker says:

July 16, 2016 at 4:51 pm

Thank you! Really wonderful! So kind and generous.

We are currently teaching a course at the Westchester Buddhist Center on the bardos using Francesca Fremantle’s Luminous Emptiness, Ponlop Rinpoche’s Mind beyond Death, and Tsele Natsok Rangdrol’s Mirror of Mindfulness.
rodrigo reijers says:

July 16, 2016 at 4:57 pm

That is great! May it benefit all beings!
KATHERINE JENNINGS says:

July 17, 2016 at 11:15 pm

Wonderful. Thank you!!
Sean Lester says:

September 6, 2016 at 6:13 am

thank you for this beautiful singing of the intimate guru’s aural teachings.
Sean Lester says:

September 6, 2016 at 6:38 am

Is there any way you may be able to load this on the website for download> It is so inspiring. thank you.
John says:

September 23, 2016 at 12:26 am

Love this work!
Could y’all direct me to where this text is found. Is it one of the “mother tantras of the Khandro Nyingtik?
rodrigo reijers says:

September 23, 2016 at 11:06 am

Hello,

Thanks!
the source of this text is one of the original Dzogchen Tantras called “the Union of Sun and Moon”

kind regards,

Rodrigo
TD says:

October 20, 2017 at 9:20 am

Thank you for this wonderful translation in English , helpful for people who cannot read Tibetan Sutra .
Anonymous says:

May 27, 2018 at 9:22 pm

Hmhm. Nice. Thanks. Osho My Greatest Master has already Tought Me all these. Thank you So Much to you. Sending you all much of Osho Blessings!!
Patty Johnson says:

September 26, 2019 at 6:09 am

Thank you so very much. You are very kind to make this available. My class and I are enjoying many blessings from your gift of dharma.
With love and respect from Hawaii🙏
Jodie says:

April 13, 2020 at 1:57 am

So beautiful. Thankyou for such support
🌼🙏🌼
Mena says:

October 18, 2020 at 9:52 pm

Wonderful🙏👌🌷thank you