The bardo—or the “in-between”—has come to describe the transitional state between death and rebirth, but its qualities also characterize the gap arising between any two states. In fact, we live in a continuous bardo, forever suspended between past and future, although we seldom recognize it. While the bardo may bring with it great uncertainty and discomfort, teachers and practitioners in the following essays guide us through the unique opportunity for awakening offers.
The Luminous Gap in Bardo by Francesca Freemantle
Something Strange is Happening by Duane Michals
The In-between State by Pema Chödrön
A Tree With a View by John House
Bardo of Lost Mammals by Andrew Schelling
Insomnia by Judith Simmer-Brown
The Opportunity of Uncertainty by Sogyal Rinpoche
My Brief Career Composing Spanish Music by William R. Stimson
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To learn more about bardo teachings, join Living and Dying: Navigating the Bardos, a Tricycle online course with author and Tibetan Buddhist teacher Andrew Holocek.