What Is the Bardo? The Tibetan Book of the Dead Explained

The short answer: The Bardo, from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, refers to the intermediate state between death and rebirth — a period of 49 days during which the consciousness navigates various experiences before being reborn. The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thödol) provides guidance for both the dying person and those guiding them through this transition, and has profoundly influenced modern Western death care and the hospice movement.

What Is the Bardo?

In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the bardo (Tibetan: བར་དོ་, pronounced bar-do) literally means "intermediate state" or "transitional state." It refers most commonly to the period between death and rebirth, though the tradition actually describes multiple bardos — intermediate states that occur in life as well, including the bardo of dreaming and the bardo of meditation.

The bardo after death is understood as a period lasting up to 49 days, during which the consciousness of the deceased experiences a series of visions — initially clear light, then peaceful deities, then wrathful deities — representing opportunities for liberation. The teachings suggest that how one navigates these experiences determines the nature of the next rebirth.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thödol)

The Bardo Thödol (often translated as "Liberation through Hearing in the Intermediate State") is attributed to Padmasambhava, the legendary 8th-century Buddhist master who introduced Buddhism to Tibet, and was discovered as a terma (treasure text) by Karma Lingpa in the 14th century. It was translated into English in 1927 by Walter Evans-Wentz (under the title "The Tibetan Book of the Dead") and again more definitively by Chogyam Trungpa and Francesca Fremantle in 1975.

The text functions as a guide — traditionally read aloud to or near the dying and recently deceased person — walking them through the bardo experiences and encouraging recognition of the nature of mind as the source of all visions. The underlying instruction is: whatever terrifying or alluring experiences arise, recognize them as projections of your own mind, remain undistracted, and move toward liberation rather than being drawn into rebirth by fear or desire.

The Three Bardos After Death

1. The Bardo of Dying (Chikhai Bardo)

At the moment of death, the dissolution of the elements produces a profound experience of clear light — the luminous, empty nature of mind revealed directly. This is considered the first opportunity for liberation: if recognized, the consciousness is freed. Most beings, conditioned by habitual thinking and fear, do not recognize the clear light and pass through.

2. The Bardo of Dharmata (Chonyid Bardo)

Following the clear light, the consciousness experiences a sequence of visions: first peaceful deities radiating brilliant light (representing wisdom energies of the mind), then wrathful deities. Each is accompanied by a duller, more comfortable light representing the six realms of rebirth. The teaching is to embrace the brilliant lights (wisdom) and not flee into the dull lights (habitual patterns).

3. The Bardo of Becoming (Sidpa Bardo)

If liberation has not occurred, the consciousness enters the Bardo of Becoming, where it begins to be drawn toward rebirth according to karmic imprints. This period involves experiences that may feel like winds, confusion, and searching for a new body. The duration of this bardo varies.

The Bardo and Modern Death Care

The Tibetan Book of the Dead has had significant influence on Western end-of-life care and death psychology:

• Stanislaw Grof and Joan Halifax drew on the bardo structure in developing psychedelic therapy for dying patients (the "LSD Psychotherapy" research of the 1960s–70s) and in Halifax's subsequent work at the Upaya Zen Center's Being with Dying program.
• Elisabeth Kübler-Ross was influenced by Tibetan death teachings, which reinforced her own clinical observations about the transformative potential of the dying process.
• The concept of the bardo — an active period of transition after death — informs how many modern death doulas and hospice workers approach the period immediately after death: as a sacred transition time worthy of presence, prayer, and intentional support rather than immediate removal of the body.
• Many families who are not Buddhist nevertheless find the bardo framework meaningful for the 49-day period of acute grief following a death — creating rituals, prayers, or dedications on each day of the seven weeks.

Practical Application at the Bedside

For families who wish to honor Buddhist or bardo-informed traditions at death:

• Allow the body to remain undisturbed for as long as possible after death — ideally 3+ days — as the consciousness is understood to be leaving gradually
• Speak to the deceased calmly and clearly: remind them of their own nature, their teachers, the clarity of mind beneath all experience
• Read from the Bardo Thödol or pray according to the practitioner's tradition
• Light candles, burn incense, ring bells — sensory signals that may reach the consciousness in transition
• Continue prayers and dedications through the 49-day period, especially on each seventh day

A death doula with knowledge of Tibetan Buddhist practice can support these rituals for Buddhist families or for families drawn to this framework regardless of religious identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the bardo in Tibetan Buddhism?

The bardo is the intermediate state between death and rebirth in Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It refers to a period of up to 49 days during which the consciousness navigates a series of visionary experiences — opportunities for liberation — before being drawn into a new rebirth.

What is the Tibetan Book of the Dead?

The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thödol) is a 14th-century Tibetan Buddhist text traditionally read aloud to the dying and recently deceased, guiding them through the bardo experiences. It was translated into English in 1927 and has profoundly influenced Western death psychology and hospice philosophy.

How long does the bardo last after death?

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the full bardo period after death lasts up to 49 days — comprising three phases: the bardo of dying (chikhai bardo), the bardo of dharmata (chonyid bardo), and the bardo of becoming (sidpa bardo). The 49th day is traditionally observed with prayer and ritual.

How has the Tibetan Book of the Dead influenced modern hospice care?

Tibetan death teachings influenced the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, psychedelic therapy researchers (Grof, Halifax), and the development of contemplative care approaches in hospice. The bardo concept has shaped how many hospice workers approach the time immediately after death — as a sacred transition period rather than a logistical task.

Can a death doula help with Buddhist end-of-life rituals?

Yes. Death doulas with knowledge of Tibetan Buddhist practice can support families in honoring bardo traditions — including facilitating extended time with the body after death, guiding prayer and reading, and supporting the 49-day mourning period. Search for practitioners with Buddhist or contemplative training on the Renidy platform.

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