1

BAR DO'I DAM PA GYÜN KY'ER

T'AR LAM SÄL DRÖN SHUG SO

The Lamp Illumining the

Path to Liberation
A Daily Practice of the
Instructions on the Intermediate State
#, , 2?-/?-.!R/-3(R$-3-=?-]-3:A-{<, ,

form o f the spiritual master.

KYAB NE KÖN CHOG MA LÜ LA MA'I KUR

The objects of refuge, the Three Rare and precious Gems, are incarnate in their entirety in the physical

$?R=-2-:.J2?-?R- ,$?-eJ?- M<-$9A$?-/?, ,

CHIG DÜ MÖ GÜ DUNG SHUG DRAG PO YI

I pray to you with intense de voti on and yearning

SÖL WAN 'DEB SO T'UG JE NYUR ZIG NE +

!
so, of your compassi on, please swiftly turn your attention to me
:'JIG). A$CHEN
?-(J/-2BAR R:C-:5U'TRANG
<-.DO'I - -$?TUR=,SÖL
%-=?- ?LE2?KYAB ,

and protect me fro m the terrors o f the narrow passageway of the intermediate state.
:'DÜ?JE-LMI -A g$-RANG
?-3TAG -3%R/-NGÖN
<%- =TS'ÜL /, , TÄN
3-2 SUM

It is quite clear that everything compounded is also inherently impermanent,

J-2:WA'I
*KYE A-3,:TA'
-.J-:DE(A-2< $-(R.T'AG
= -,WAR
'CHI
-&,A%-, CHÖ
, CHING

and equ ally certain th at all birth ends in death

$DÖ.R?CHE - +-3MA'I
-2&?GYU :A- ?LÜ-GKYI
A-g$-3TAG
A- 2MI, ,T'UB

and that the i llusory phy sical form ca nnot, in any wise, be permanent—
2TSElJ-2WA'I
:A-,/CHÄN
-IA-$9LGYI
A$?-> A$-]SHIG
ZIG /
J, ,MA JE
-3-eLA

precious lord, my spiritual master, please look on me with loving kindness.

K-;A-5YI.TS'E
5TS'E -mR$?DZOG 28A:A- SHI'I
-: %-'JUNG ?-0-*NÜ3?PA, ,NYAM

When lif e comes to an end, the power of the four elements fades,
(=/-IA-3A-1/-9?-{R3?. -.KOM
MÄN GYI MI P'ÄN ZE
PA2, ,K'A 'DRIB
%-#-:DANG
medicines are no longer of any use and one loses one's appetite for food and drink.

?-?J3?-:V=-2:A- ?-=-22?-0-/, ,
LÜ SEM 'DRÄL WA'I DÜ LA BAB PA NA
When the time comes for body and mind to separate,

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5K-:.A:A-8J/-($?-V=-2<-LA/-IA-_R2?, ,

/3-;%-3A - R.-:(ACHAG
TS'E DI'I SHEN -2<-,$-(R
DRÄL WAR, JIN GYI LOB
.-=,
grant me your blessing so that I have no attachment to this life.
. .
NAM YANG MI DÖ 'CHI WAR T'AG CHÖ LA

so what a waste i t is
I can't stay forever and death is c ertain,
-$?R/-SÖN
.DA- %DUNG -<J-2DU
:A-:RE.R.WA'I
1-]R-;A?'DÖ, ,LO YI

:(A-2-=3- -=R%-2<-LA/-IA-_R2?, ,
<RANG R-<%.RANG
%-3$GO -$A?-2{GIR<-/KOR
- %NA ?-(J, ,TS'AB CHE
-52P'UNG

if I delude mysel f with imaginary hopes of living on and on!

_ O
'CHI WA LAM DU LONG WAR JIN GYI LOB =

,
Grant me your blessin g to bring deat h onto the path.
=LE?LUNG
- %-: TR'ÜG :A-! R2TOB
$?-0PA'I A?-<RANG
?-GKYI %- ?-:LÜ.A:DI'I
A, ,

May the anguish and suffering of the ending of life

A-3PA/-~A%-$-vJ-2.-$?%-$/?-GA,, ,
CHI DRIN NYING GA TE WA SANG NE KYI

where the five channel –knots at the crown, throat, heart, navel and secret–centre of this body of mine
:# R<-=R-s-;9A-l-:YId TSA
'KOR LO NGA
A$-0:A'JIG
.-:)'DÜD ?, ,T'Ü
-3 PA'I
be spontaneously paci fied.
are destroyed by of the power of the raging winds of karma
-$&R.ZUG
$NE/.CHÖ - $NGU -?<-8A-2SAR
_- -<%(RANG R$ ,WAR SHOG
<->SHI

YR$-:6B/- %-: $->J?-0-3A-$?=-.%-, ,

1P'OR-2:WA'I
A-3J-*ME
_3?NYAM
- (%-: LUNG A-=J/, ,ZE MI LEN
$-9?-3'CHUG
As the energy–wind of the digestive heat declines it becomes impossible to assimilate food;

SOG 'DZIN LUNG 'CHUG SHE PA MI SÄL DANG

as the energy–wind of the life–force fades the mind becomes dull;

3
,<-?J=-_%-:($-SA-3-(J-(%-:(R<, ,

_%-/?-*
T'UR SEL3?-0:A -g$?-?-%R
LUNG 'CHUG DRI->JMA R$ , CHUNG 'CHOR
?->CHE
as the downwar d–cl earing energy–wind dissolves one loses control over one's bladder and bowels—
I _ ( ,
LUNG NÜ NYAM PA'I TAG SU NGO SHE SHOG

let me recognise these signs of the degeneration of the ‘winds’.

J/- :GYU'I
IGYEN A- 5%-:LUNG -{R3-3A.2ZE-3A-KOM
$-9?'CHUG $2,,MI
, MI T'UB

When the energy–wind of circulation collapses you can no longer swallow food and drink,
+3-IGYIA-_-MA
$TAM 2eR./JÖ-.KA' A%$-. $UG
!:-8SHING ?- NA -, ,
- %T'UNG

talking become difficult an d you're short of breath.

H2 -LJ.- %-$A- ?-9.-: =-2 *R.-.!:, ,
KY'AB JE LUNG GI NÜ ZE 'GÜL KYÖ KA'

As the stren gth of th e pervasive energy–wind fails it becomes difficult to move.

.DEJ-5TS'E
K-:(A-2'CHI $-(R.T'AG
<-,=WAR -:IR.CHÖ
-3J.-L>'GYÖ
R$ , ME SHOG

At that time, certain of the reality of death, may I be without regret.

$DÖ.R?CHE
-2&LÜ .A-.%-0POR
?-L'DI?-:DANG R<-:'JUNG A?-2KYE
%-28SHI * J., ,

This material body o riginally took birth ou t of the four elements

3T'AR
,<-;YANG %-28A-$SHI
%-: 'JUNG &A$CHIG A$-,CHIG
-=-$&LA A3-:(T'IM
A, , 'CHI

and as these dissol ve back into one another, I will die.

A-/%NANG
KCH'I :A-g$?WA'I
-$?%-2SANG - $%-TAG
:(<-2NANG , , WA NAM
-i3?'CHAR

M ay I recognis e the outer, inner and secret signs of their arising

R->J?SHE
%NGO -]-(3-;A.-==-SYI/-0LA</->DRÄN
LA MA
R$ , PAR SHOG
and keep my mind firmly on my spiritual master.

?-#3?- <-,A3- ?-GA- ?-!R2?-9., ,

SA K'AM CHUR T'IM LÜ KYI NÜ TOB ZE
As the earth element dissolves into the element of water the power of the body is exhausted.

4
/%-$A-g$?-?->J?-0-LA%-8A%-kR%?, ,

$?%-g$?-3,R
NANG GI TAG%SU
- %-3A
SHE$PA
-o-v-2<-:(<, ,
JING SHING MONG

The inner sign of this is that the a wareness dulls and becomes unclear
SANG TAG T'ONG NANG MIG GYU TA BUR 'CHAR

and the secr et sign th at vi sual appearance becomes like a mirage.

(J<-;YANG
.DER -;J%$?LE
%-]-3-SLA/-=MA?-3DRÄN ->(R$MA, YENG SHOG

At that time may my attention not stray from the spiritual teacher.
?-3J-=ME-,LA
&CHU-#3K'AM A3-0T'IM A- , NA'I
?-#-PE:K'A , CHU

As the water element dissolves into the element of fire the moisture of the mouth and nose
%-9.-:,5J/-+J-{3-8A%- 5-2eR.-:$$?, ,
CHUNG ZE 'TEN TE KAM SHING MA JÖ 'GAG

diminishes and dries out to a degree and one can no longer speak
J?-02PA-: 'TSUB
>SHE 2-&A%CHING
-$?%-g$SANG
?- -2TAG , , WA TAR
-v<DU

and the awareness becomes confused, the secret sign of which is like smoke—
2BÄN
/- BÜN -=R%-:(LONG
/-=_%LANG R->J?->R$WA, NGO SHE SHOG
<-2-%='CHAR

may I recognise the arising of this mist–like appearance.

3MEJ-#3K'AM -=-,A3LA
?- %LUNG -0?T'IM -SR.LÜ
- ?PE -(UJ,DRÖ
, CHE

W hen the fire element dissolves in to the element of air, the body becomes extremely hot,
/%-g$?-3A-%R-3A-NGO
NANG TAG MI 2
>J?-.MI -02R-: WANG
2%SHE =, , PO 'TRÜL

the inner sign of which is an inabili ty to recognize people's face and bewildered sense–faculties
$? %-g$?-YA/- -3J-HJ<-vI- -?J3TA?,BU, SEM
SANG TAG SIN BU ME KY'ER
and the secret sign is like fireflies.

<REJ?SÄL
-$?=RE-<MIJ?-3SÄL
A-$?'GYUR -%R->SHE
=-: <NGO ?J ->R$SHOG
,
May I recognise these experiences of alternating clarity and confusion.

5
_%-#3?-i3->J?-=-,A3-KA-.2$?-(., ,

LUNG K'AM NAM-3,R

/%-g$?-:O=-2:A SHE%LA
- %-T'IM-5S$CH'I
?-:(<, ,
UG CHE

W hen the air element dissolves into the element of consciousness, the outer breath stops,
1
NANG TAG 'TRÜL WA'I T'ONG NANG NA TS'OG 'CHAR

the i nner sign being the a ppearance of various visual hallucinations

$?.%-gTAG
SANG
R/-3J-:ME
$?- DRÖN 2<-v'BAR A$-0-$RIG?=PA, ,SÄL
<-<TAR

and the secret sign one's pure aw arenes s blazing like a lamp.
.DEJ- DÜ
?-9ZAB -:1R-'PO
2-=3LAM 2-S/WA ->R$ ,PAR
-0<DRÄN S SHOG

At that ins tant may I bring to mind the profound path of transference.
3->J?SHE
iNAM -3#:,A-KA'I
-/3NAM -,A3-5T'IM
#3.?K'AM S$?- TS'OG $ , 'GAG
$-:$DRUG

As consciousness dissolves in to the element of space the six modes of consciousness come to an end.
A-2R:WO'I
,CHI C-.!<KAR
-(-:CHA
<.- 'TUR
-22?DU
-0-.BAB , DANG
%-, PA

M ay I recognise the awareness compressed between

vTEJ-2WA'I
:A-.3MAR J/,- -GYEN
<-(-ICHA wR$-0:DU
A-2<DOG
, , PA'I BAR

the descending white element of the crow n

i3-0<->J?-0-: 3-0-%R->J?->R$o, SHE SHOG
NAM PAR SHE PA,'TUM PA NGO

and the rising red element of the navel.

#K'AM *A?GYEN
3?-$NYI -IJ/-:'TUR R?-0PA'I
<-:U'TRÖ :A- -GYU
nJ/-IKYEN
A?, , GYI

As these elements descend and mount,

<.RANG
%-$%?-.NANG
!<-=KAR
3-.3LAM
<-=3MAR &R3-:(<,
-/$-,LAM ,
NAG T'OM 'CHAR
of themselves, appearances of whiteness, redness and deepest black arise

$-$ 3-<%-28A/-gR$-0-2o.- -:$$ ,

DUG SUM RANG ZHIN TOG PA GYE CHU 'GAG
and the eighty awarenesses born of the three poisons come to a halt.

6
 %-3(J.-,R2-0:A-:R.-.-%R->J?->R$ ,

.!<-.3<-_%-?J
NANG CHE T'OB3PA'I
?-.2-3<-:6S 3?-0:A
'Ö DU NGO :,?, ,
SHE -SHOG

M ay I recogni se these as the radiance of ‘appearance’, ‘increase’ and ‘attainment’.

KAR MAR LUNG SEM U MAR 'DZOM PA'I 'TÜ

The red and white en ergies and mind gathering into the central channel,
$.R.-/?-.$-0:A-2.J-$>J$?-~A%{-0R-*PO
DÖ NE DAG PA'I DE SHEG NYING
A., NYI
,

may I recognise the primordially pure essence of buddhahood,

zLHE J.-$SHI
.-3ME 8A-?;YIA-:'ÖR.-$SÄL -(R?-GKYI
?=CHÖ A- , KU
,

the dharmakaya, radiance of the unmodified primordial ground,

<%-=-3%R/- 3-:(<-2-%R->J?->R$ ,
RANG LA NGÖN SUM 'CHAR WA NGO SHE SHOG
as it directly present s itself to me.

.J-*A.2-2|R3-IA-!R2?-8/-3-PR=-/, ,
/%-. $-(.-/?-(R?-*A.-2<-.R-:(<, ,
= ?

! 1$

DE NYI GOM GYI TOB SHÄN MA DRÖL NA

If, due to weak meditation, I am not liberated by the ultimate nature,

7
?-?J3?-V=-2:A- -:R.-9J<-$ 3-IA?, ,
 %-3(J.-,R2-0:A-:R.-.-%R->J?->R$ ,
NANG UG CHE NE CHÖ NYI BAR DO 'CHAR

when my internal breath ceases the intermediate state of absolute reality manifests.

separ ating
R%-#3?-#J%?-0-<%- %-;A/->J?->R$ ,
LÜ SEM DREL WA'I DRA 'Ö ZER SUM GYI
As they fill the entire universe, may I recognise the sounds, radiance and light rays of my body and mind

:):-:R.-,A$-=J-,A$-U/-:R.-=3-.%-, ,
TONG K'AM K'ENG PA RANG NANG YIN SHE SHOG

as nothing but my own personal experience.

'JA 'Ö T'IG LE T'IG TR'ÄN 'Ö LAM DANG
May I not fear the radiant path of spheres and smaller discs of rainbow light,

8SHIA-.%DANG
-OR-2R-zTR'O
-5S$?WO
-&A-:LHA , , CHI 'CHAR WA
(<-2TS'OG
the hosts of peaceful and wrathful deities that are experienced

8
(R?-*A.-<%- -2&?-=-3A- $-0<, ,

<%-<A
CHÖ $ -(R?RANG
NYI -*A.-;JDRA R->J?->R
->J?-%CHE LA$ MI,TRAG PA

and the inher ent sound of ultimate thusness,

1
RANG RIG CHÖ NYI YE SHE NGO SHE SHOG

but recognise them as my own pure presence, the primordial awareness of reality itself.
=-+TEJ-=?LE-*NYÖN
$GÄL R/- A2-0DRIB PR=MA
?-31-PE -/, DRÖL
, NA

Supposing, however, that I am not liberated by this because of karma and emotional defilement,
YSIA.PA-0-2BAR R-:S)'JIG
<-.DO A$?PA'I
-0:A- DRA A-.%?-,DANG
-28SHI ,

may I recognise the four fearsome sounds of the intermediate state of becoming,
3MA-%J?NGE
-g$?TAG -;-%:A-YA
- $DRUG $;%NGA'I 3, , SA SUM
-?-$ YANG
as illusions wi hout the least reality.
the s ix indetermi nate signs a nd three terrifying precipices
,3 ?-&.-2.J/-3J.-+-3<->J?-0<->R$ ,
T'AM CHE DEN ME GYU MAR SHE PAR SHOG

.J?-$ %?-$.3?-0:A-$/.-=-%J?-0-fJ., ,
>SHIA-2WA
-%?R->J?NGO ~A%-/LA?MA
-]-3-SHE -S/,NYING
, NE DRÄN

Recognising the face of death, let me earnestly bring to mind my spiritual teacher
DE SUNG DAM PA'I NE LA NGES PA NYE

and acquire true confidence as to the essential meaning of his instruction.

-:#R<'KOR
3MA-.$DAG -2:.A-WA'I R-3A-:5GOS=-2MI<,'TSÖL
3%=-|NGÄL , WAR
Let me no t seek some foul samsaric womb
E
R-:R.-'ÖG. A-8KYI
0PE MO A%- SHING
-:1R-2<DU
->!R$'PO+, WAR SHOG
but transfer my consciousness directly to the pure land of Lotus Light.

3.R<-/- ?-.%-i3-0-.J- /- , ,
DOR NA DÜ DANG NAM PA DE KÜN TU
In short, throughout all time,

9
&A-S$-]R- -3%-0R?-1%-:I<-2?, ,

l-2:A -]-3-ARLO-o/.LJ
CHI DRAG <-3J.-=,
NA MANG ,
PÖ P'UNG 'GYUR WE

drawi ng together all my many ideas of what should be done,

TSA WA'I LA MA OR GYÄN YER ME LA

insepara bl e from the root lama, The Lotu s–Born Lord of Uddiyana,
A$,-43TSAM
{KE.-&CHIG -;J%?-]MA
-;%-3YANG R-$+YENG
R.->R$LO, TÖ SHOG

let me place my entire trust in him without wavering even for an instant.
:A- $T'UG
]LA-3MA'I -<%-?J3RANG
?-{.%DANG ?-$*A?SEM
-3J.NYI
-:SJ?ME, ,'DRE

My mind and the mind of the spiritual master united as one,

%-<A$RIG
<RANG -(,R?-CHÖ
:A-$+KU'I
/-YA.TEN
-9A/SI-/?-G%-, ,
ZIN NE KYANG
a nd my awareness firmly established in the permanent realm of the dharmakaya,

(R/-=3- $?-e( J:A- 3=-0:A-3#:-3*3-IA, ,

?J3?-&/-L%- 2-3(R$-=-:$R.-0<->R$ ,

3 # (

$ !

MÖN LAM T'UG JE'I TRÜL PA'I KA' NYAM GYI

10
&A-S$-]R- -3%-0R?-1%-:I<-2?, ,
may I lead sentient beings—as many as space is vast—to the supreme state of buddhahood

&J?-0:%-, :(A-#-2<-.R:A-$.3?-%$-$?R=-:.J2?-%R- .R -.-:I<-2-3.<R -2 ?-./R -92-&A$-.$R?-8J?, .0/R -0-R g-3PA/-hR-e-J .%-, A/-PR=-~A%-0R-

SEM CHEN JANG CHUB CHOG L A 'GÖ PAR SHOG

(
{ $ -<%-PR=-IA?-l-5B$-:.A-*A.-2!.R - J,

I 5means
by A-
. of the emanation
* s%of my compa>ssionate aspiration. ? -

$*A?-GA?-2 =-%<R -:VA- % -0- -5S$?

# , 3

:.A-;%-o/-.-]R<-:)$-0-8A$-3J.-/, :(A-#<-$.3?-%$-;A$-$J-=-=?-+J-<%-=-1/-0-3A-:L%-2?, .J?-/-o/-HJ<-.-L-K<A -$?R=-:.J2?- R/-=3-

sta te of since
Thus, the mit
omwas
ent claimed
of death that
in thae fo rm but
brief of a profound
p rayer waand
s need ed, in resinstruction
complete p onse to thof
e reintroduction
quest of lordstoTthe
amdintermediate
in Dorje and
Mindröl Nyingpo, these root verses were composed by 'Drigungpa Nats'og Rangdröl.

A- =- -L?-0-;A/, :. *A.-5B$- %- <-2 R3?-0?-2 ?A -GA-$R-.!:-/, A<-,R?-PR=-(J/-3R:C-%R- R.-$ R=-:.J2?-?R$?-.%-, H.-0<-2.$-$A?

L?-0:A-2<-.R:C- A-.R/-S/-0:-A 3J-=R%-.-J =-8A2-+-2v?-/?-$R-gR$?-=/R -0<-36.-:5=-=R,, ,,
In fact, however, one cannot really benefit unless one regularly establishes the instructions on death in one's mind
and extracts the spirit of the words used to express them, so, in order to help you recite it daily, I have made it into a
prayer of aspiration. However, if you find training in this brief version difficult, please at least carefully examine the
pointing out instructions and prayers contained in the general teachings of the Bardo T'ödröl Chenmo—‘The Great
Liberation by Hearing’—and, more especially, my own text, the Bardo'i Chidön Dränpa'i Melong, or ‘Basic
Principals of the Intermediate State: The Mirror of Mindfulness’, and, having understood them, put them into
practice.

11
 This text was translated by Mike Dickman for the
Drikung Dzogchen Translation Project (DDTP)
and may be subject to revision at a later date.

May the dākinīs and dharmapālas forgive any errors or omissions.

May this translation benefit all sentient beings.

© 2013 Drikung Dzogchen Translation Project

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