The Bardo Project

Nalandabodhi sangha members are invited to attend a planning meeting for a new initiative called The Bardo Project, to develop a team of dedicated Center-based sangha members who will be trained in the practice of aiding the dying and deceased through the bardo experience.  If you are interested but unable to attend this first meeting, please contact Stuart Horn.

PROPOSAL FOR THE CREATION OF A BARDO SUPPORT TEAM

The purpose:  This project is to develop a team of dedicated Center-based sangha members who will be trained in the practice of aiding the dying and deceased through the bardo experience. Their primary function is to provide spiritual support to the dying sangha member through the dying and bardo experience. The team will gather information concerning the legal ramifications for time after death before the body has to be removed. It will also have information available on how to treat the body once death has happened. If the dying person has prepared a dying and death directive, the team’s purpose is to provide support to carry out that directive. The team will also provide support to those in the sangha or family who wish to have a memorial service. If requested by the family or sangha members, the team will act as a resource for the post mortem process, including support during the period after death (preparing the body if requested, helping to plan for cremation, remains, burial, etc.)

The goal:  Once the team is identified, specific training will be required such as developing the appropriate state of mind to attend to the dying, chanting liturgies, and working with the deceased during the bardo process. This will require a very good understanding of what to expect during the dying process as well as the study of textual material on the bardo stages. It will require knowledge of what is to be spoken to the deceased during the different stages of the bardo passage.

The team also will serve as a resource for the sangha in providing the appropriate liturgies and practices to support the process of dying and bardo transition, providing explanations and clarification as to their purpose and significance. In addition, the team will provide information and discussion sessions with sangha members who wish to study the mental states during the dying process and understand the bardo transitions.

This team will not be equivalent to a hospice unit, nor provide medical support. It will not provide support services for the family or dying (such as transportation, shopping, etc.) as this is the work of other groups within the sangha

Phase One, solicit and select members for the development team: Those who are committed to the goals and vision of the project and are prepared to commit to the preparation and goals of this project.

Phase Two, planning stage:  Develop a detailed explanation of the responsibilities and goals of the team, and the roles and responsibilities of team members, to create effective communication and accountability. It will also develop a calendar of the stages of development of the project. By the end of this phase those who wish to continue will commit to the training, practices, and work of the team.

Phase Three, Training and gathering of resources:  An actual training program will take place and members will begin to train to become active members of the team. While some resources already are available and have been gathered and prepared in a way that integrates them into the practices during the dying and bardo process, other resources, once identified, will need to be created. For this phase, we will seek the support of lamas,  mitras, and possibly translators.