Question asked by Eli Levine
Good even Pastors,
I have a question regarding the Bardo Thodol and it referring to beings being able to manifest as Sambhogakaya Buddhas if they're able to relax and recognize the correct lights from the Five Buddha Families. How is becoming a Sambhogakaya Buddha different from achieving Parinirvana?
Thank you so much for your excellent work!
Dear Eli Levine,
I have not received teachings on the Bardo Thodol or the various mediation techniques associated with the text. However from your explanation if a person is able to achieve the Sambhogakaya form, then they would necessarily have achieved the enlightened state of a Buddha. This is very much a possibility because Lama Tsongkhapa has stated that there are three periods in which one can practice and achieve enlightenment through the tantric path and they are our everyday waking state, the dream or sleeping state and lastly the bardo state.
From what you have mentioned to occur, i.e. to recognise the correct lights from the Five Buddha Families, this would necessarily involve an expert understanding of the bardo state, through intense study of the Bardo Thodol, and very in-depth and stable meditations, first concentration meditation and then meditation on the process of death (in order to recognise that you are in the bardo) and then finally extensive visualisation meditations to familiar yourself with the visions/lights that appear in the bardo (to recognise that the lights are from the Five Buddha Families). Following this it is possible to achieve the Sambhogakaya form but would take much effort on the part of the practitioner.
Lama Tsongkhapa, however, stated the best and effective way to gain enlightenment would be at the moment of death, arising in the illusory body and achieving enlightenment in that state rather than any other, including the bardo. This is achieved by practicing the completion stages of Highest Yoga Tantra in waking life. One of the reasons for this is that while you are in the bardo it is difficult to keep a very focus and balanced mind, and you are completely and utterly under the throes of karma and delusions. Therefore for what you have mentioned to occur would take a lot of effort and mental stabilisation achieved during life, which could be used in the bardo state after death. I hope this helps.