How Tibetan Wisdom Illuminates Every Moment
What happens when we die?
That’s one of the most haunting questions a human can ask. But in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, it’s not just about what happens after death—it’s also about how we live right now.
Welcome to the Bardo Teachings—a bold, compassionate map of consciousness that spans life, death, and everything in between.
What Does “Bardo” Mean?
The word Bardo (Tibetan: bar do) literally means “in-between state.” It’s often associated with the moment of death, but it actually refers to any transitional state—not just the gap between life and death, but between thoughts, between breaths, between identities.
According to Tibetan wisdom, there are six bardos, and three of them occur during this very life. Liberation isn’t postponed to the afterlife. The opportunity is always now.
The Six Bardos: A Quick Glimpse
- Kyenay Bardo – the Bardo of Life (our current experience)
- Milam Bardo – the Bardo of Dreaming
- Samten Bardo – the Bardo of Meditation
- Chikhai Bardo – the Bardo of the Moment of Death
- Chönyid Bardo – the Bardo of the Luminosity of True Nature
- Sidpa Bardo – the Bardo of Becoming (the phase before rebirth)
Each bardo is a mirror, reflecting the mind’s true nature—or its confusion. The idea isn’t to escape these states, but to wake up within them.
Let’s Get Practical: The Bardo of Daily Life
You're stuck in traffic. Or refreshing your inbox for the tenth time. Or rehashing an argument from three days ago.
These are bardos—moments of suspended identity, where the ego flickers and grasps for solid ground.
What if, instead of reacting on autopilot, you paused and said, “I’m in a bardo.”
You’d remember: This is a moment of potential awakening.
And that’s the genius of the Bardo teachings: they reframe uncertainty as opportunity.
Death Isn’t the End. It’s a Mirror.
In the Chikhai Bardo, the moment of physical death, Tibetan texts like the Bardo Thödol (popularly known as The Tibetan Book of the Dead) describe the mind encountering brilliant light—the pure nature of awareness itself.
For the awakened, recognizing this light brings liberation. For the unprepared, it’s overwhelming, and the ego scrambles to take form again, tumbling into rebirth.
But here's the twist: this same light flashes in every moment of stillness—every time you drop your story, your labels, your struggle.
In this sense, life is a rehearsal for death—and death is just another chance to wake up.
A Modern Bardo Encounter
Imagine you're going through a breakup. Or you’ve just left a job. Or lost someone you love.
You’re in limbo. Time feels strange. Identity feels blurry.
That’s a bardo.
You can numb out—or lean in.
- Notice the emotions arising.
- Feel the tightness of ego scrambling for ground.
- Breathe.
- Ask: What is this trying to teach me about impermanence? About my clinging?
Suddenly, the pain becomes a portal. The darkness isn’t an enemy. It’s a teacher wearing shadows.
Liberation Is Always One Recognition Away
The Bardo teachings are not morbid. They’re profoundly hopeful. They remind us that we’re never stuck, even when everything seems lost. Every gap, every transition, every ending—holds a secret exit: awareness itself.
Whether it’s the flicker between thoughts or the final breath of this life, the invitation is the same:
Recognize your true nature. Let go. Wake up.
Final Thought: Live Like You're in a Bardo (Because You Are)
You don’t have to wait for death to study the Bardo. You’re in it right now—reading these words, watching thoughts rise and fall, sensing time stretch and contract.
The great Tibetan masters urge us to live with urgency, curiosity, and compassion—as if every moment could be our last, or our first.
Because in the realm of the bardos, every moment is both.