bardo

(ˈbɑːdəʊ ) noun (in Tibetan Buddhism) the state of the soul between its death and its rebirth. A state of transition.

i. The Bardo of Life

The bardo of this life refers to the period from birth to death. During this bardo, you accumulated karma through your actions, words, and thoughts.

Here are some A.I generated prompts to reflect on your life.

Personal Values What truly defines me and how steadfast have I been in upholding these values through life s challenges Kindness In what ways have I shown kindness that made a lasting impact on someone s life Gratitude Have I taken moments to genuinely feel and express gratitude for the small and significant blessings in my life Relationships Have I nurtured my relationships with the same care and attention I give to my personal ambitions Forgiveness How have I managed to forgive others and myself for past transgressions and what has this taught me about humanity Empathy Do I allow myself to deeply feel and understand the emotions and experiences of others Patience In moments of frustration have I found the patience to breathe listen and respond with calm Personal Growth How have my experiences and challenges shaped my journey of becoming who I am today Health Do I honor my body and mind as the sacred vessels that carry me through life Generosity When have I given freely without expecting anything in return and how did it transform me Honesty Have I faced the truths about myself and others even when they were uncomfortable Self awareness How deeply do I understand my own desires fears and motivations Integrity In moments of moral testing have I stayed true to my principles Courage When have I acted courageously even when fear threatened to hold me back Purpose Do I live each day with a sense of purpose that guides my actions and decisions Legacy What enduring legacy am I creating through my actions words and deeds Contentment Am I able to find contentment in the present moment rather than constantly yearning for more Spirituality How does my spiritual or philosophical perspective shape my understanding of life Mindfulness Do I practice mindfulness fully engaging with each moment as it comes Contribution How have I contributed to the betterment of my community and the world at large Joy What brings me pure unadulterated joy and do I seek it out often Acceptance Have I learned to accept myself and others flaws and all Justice In what ways do I stand up for justice and advocate for the marginalized Perspective Do I regularly step back to gain perspective on my life s bigger picture Simplicity How do I embrace simplicity focusing on what truly matters Communication Have I mastered the art of communicating my thoughts and feelings with clarity and compassion Respect Do I treat every individual with respect recognizing their inherent worth Independence How do I balance my independence with the interconnectedness of human relationships Support When have I been a pillar of support for someone in need Conflict Resolution How do I approach and resolve conflicts aiming for understanding and harmony Fairness Am I fair in my judgments and decisions even when it s difficult Appreciation Do I regularly express appreciation for the people and moments that enrich my life Consistency How consistent am I in aligning my actions with my values Love Have I shown love openly and abundantly to those who matter most to me Curiosity Do I maintain a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world and its mysteries Openness Am I open to new experiences and ideas even when they challenge my beliefs Discipline How disciplined am I in pursuing my goals and maintaining my principles Authenticity Do I live authentically embracing my true self without pretense Service How often do I serve others and what fulfillment do I find in it Humor Can I find humor and lightness even in the darkest times Peace Do I cultivate inner peace amidst the chaos of life Creativity How do I express my creativity and what does it reveal about my inner world Self care Do I prioritize self care recognizing it as essential for my well being Trust How have I built and maintained trust in my relationships Generational Impact What positive impact am I making on the next generation Responsibility Do I take responsibility for my actions and their ripple effects on others Freedom How free am I to make choices that align with my deepest values Fulfillment Do I feel a deep sense of fulfillment in my personal and professional life Joy of Others Do I genuinely rejoice in the happiness and successes of others Resourcefulness How resourceful am I in finding solutions to life s challenges Humane Do I treat all living beings with respect and compassion Flexibility How flexible am I in adapting to life s inevitable changes

Have I taken moments to genuinely feel and express gratitude for the small and significant blessings in my life How have my experiences and challenges shaped my journey of becoming who I am today Have I faced the truths about myself and others even when they were uncomfortable How deeply do I understand my own desires fears and motivations What enduring legacy am I creating through my actions words and deeds Am I able to find contentment in the present moment rather than constantly yearning for more What brings me pure unadulterated joy and do I seek it out often Have I learned to accept myself and others flaws and all Do I regularly step back to gain perspective on my life s bigger picture How do I balance my independence with the interconnectedness of human relationships Do I maintain a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world and its mysteries Am I open to new experiences and ideas even when they challenge my beliefs Can I find humor and lightness even in the darkest times How do I express my creativity and what does it reveal about my inner world Do I take responsibility for my actions and their ripple effects on others Do I feel a deep sense of fulfillment in my personal and professional life How flexible am I in adapting to life s inevitable changes

ii. The Bardo of Dreams

When you sleep, the mind is free from the physical body and senses. Dreams can reveal hidden truths about your consciousness.

Watch the video below. What do you see?

This reveals something about you.

iii. The Bardo of Meditation

The period when a practitioner’s mind is fully immersed in a meditative state. In this bardo, when we are free from the illusions of daily life, the mind gains control over its experiences and perceptions.

Chill out. Breathe.

Concentrate on the animation below.

Take back control over your mind.

“climate change” - A.I Generated

iv. The Bardo of Death

Physical and mental processes of the body begin to dissolve at the onset of death. Your body has entirely ceased to function.

It is taught that a person’s state of mind during this crucial time can significantly influence their journey through the subsequent bardos and their next rebirth.

You are dead now.

But do not worry.

Energy cannot be destroyed.

v. The Bardo of Dharmata

(Sanskrit for “the nature of reality”)

After the process of physical death, when consciousness separates from the body, the pure, infinite expanse of reality is experienced.

The world is a mess of energy.

You are just energy.

So is music.

Listen to this song. Feel its energy.

Can you hear the world in it?

v. The Bardo of Dharmata

(Sanskrit for “the nature of reality”)

After the process of physical death, when consciousness separates from the body, the pure, infinite expanse of reality is experienced.

The world is a mess of energy.

You are just energy.

So is music.

Listen to this song. Feel its energy.

Can you hear the world in it?

I remember my life was a dream I wanna wake up now

vi. The Bardo of Becoming

Your karma impels you towards your next birth. It’s during this bardo that signs of future life start to appear, and consciousness eventually takes rebirth, according to one’s karma.

The only true death is boredom and stagnation.

Here are ten tasks designed to inspire introspection, connection, and creativity.

1 Whispering Secrets Find a quiet park Sit on a bench Whisper your secrets to a tree Imagine the tree whispering back its secrets to you 2 Invisible Sculpture Choose a place in your home Create an invisible sculpture in that space using only your imagination Describe it in detail in a journal entry including its shape color and the emotions it evokes 3 Wish Tree Write your deepest wishes on small pieces of paper Tie them to the branches of a tree in your yard or a public space Watch the wishes flutter in the wind 4 Sound Walk Take a walk around your neighborhood Focus entirely on the sounds you hear Write a poem using only the words inspired by those sounds 5 Mend Piece Gather broken items ceramics toys etc Use glue and thread to mend them Reflect on the process and how it mirrors the mending of emotional wounds 6 Morning Greeting Greet the morning sun every day for a week Speak to it as if it were an old friend Write down your conversations and feelings after each greeting 7 Sky Painting Lie on the ground and look at the sky Imagine you are painting it What colors and shapes would you use Sketch or describe your sky painting 8 Cut Cloth Take an old piece of clothing Cut it into small pieces Give a piece to each of your friends with a note about what they mean to you 9 Dream Diary For one week write down your dreams immediately after waking up Create a collage using images and words from those dreams 10 Invisible Music Compose a piece of music using only silence Imagine the notes and instruments in your mind Share the imagined experience with a friend by describing it in detail

bardo

(ˈbɑːdəʊ ) noun (in Tibetan Buddhism) the state of the soul between its death and its rebirth.

A state of transition.

You experience bardos throughout your day. A tiny gap following the end of one activity and preceding the start of another.

Bardos are spaces of potential creativity and innovation because they create breaks in familiar routines and patterns.

In that momentary space of freedom, the fresh perception of something new

may suddenly arise.

become again.

contributions.

bardo

“inkblots” by Carlos Cristales

“meditations” by Carlos Cristales

“portal to death” by Carlos Cristales

“wake up” by the sad house project

“prompts for rebirth” by Jacob Ortiz