Bardo, as we call it!

I seriously need to post something tonight before I run short of words again.

So what do I have in mind?

Today I had a very interesting conversation with my two editors and with all the nodding I did, I seriously feel that I should pen it down, before I forget. While they were busy talking, I wished it was talk show broadcast-ed live and there was an audience. I am sure it would have generated a lot of discussion and would have been fun!

The talk was about death ( Ata Tashi just lost his grandfather and that was from where the relevancy came). I happened to walk in and then was the part of the conversation. As I sat there listening and agreeing that death is the ultimatum and the way a person dies shows his life in brief.

I have always heard that, " Good people are called by God earlier than the bad ones," and I have no idea how true it can be. But then it does make a point.

While we spoke, we drifted to the aspects of how religion prepares a person for death. H0w different beliefs and teachings give hope to the human minds about the judgement day. We had a difference of opinion there, where some believe in rebirth, my faith does not talk about it.

Aby sir quoted " Now when the bardo of dharmata dawns upon me, I will abandon all thoughts of fear and terror, I will recognize whatever appears as my projection and know it to be a vision of the bardo" the Tibetan book of living and dying.

Aby said that whenever he hears of death anyone known or unknown, he recites these prayers so that the souls of the dead finds a way.

The death of the two BDFC staff and the farmers was up next( Attacked by a swarm of bees and the car fell off on the Gelephu -Zhemgang highway).

The question is how was it different for a person who is lying sick and knows that he is going to die and for a group who dies in an accident or a flight crash. Well, it definitely means that one has to be prepared at all times.

But we came to a conclusion that all religions; be it Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Muslim or any sect, they all preach and prepare us to die.

I found it very interesting when Ata said, " I envy when people say they enjoy travelling." " I can never enjoy travelling ! " The whole time I think about reaching my destination rather than enjoying the travel and the scenery," he added. This was his concept about life too.

He said likewise we people worry about getting there and fail to see the beautiful things in life. How true, I thought! This are the very things that make up your life and lay down opportunities for you do some good deeds or Karma.

" A person who knows how his stay on earth, knows how to live it," he acclaimed.

Death seems to stir thoughts in our minds and unless it happens to someone close, I guess we cannot really feel the pinching.

As I kept nodding my head in approval, thoughts were flashing in my mind.I sat there reflecting on all my deeds and somehow felt lightened that my faith in Christ does not allow me to think that I will be reborn as cow or a human being. A simple confession and repentance will lift it all and then I go back to dust where I came from.