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Showing results for tags 'Bardol Thodal'.
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Regarding the death bed scene in this episode, I was wondering if any one else was aware of the following: Certain sects of Buddhism (most predominantly Tibetan forms of Buddism) believe that enlightenment and freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth can be attained through the process of dying. So, there is a practice, wherein, a buddhist priest or guide will assist a person in their path from life into death and beyond. The beyond part is called the Bardo. It is a state of consciousness after death, wherein, you have the opportunity to become enlightened (if you didn't already do so before passing into death or while passing into death), OR, if unable to achieve enlightenment, you can at least try to choose for yourself the most suitable "next life" or "rebirth" for acheiving enlightenment. There is a repetative series of instructions for the dying or dead person that is recited for them by the buddhist priest/guide before, during, and after death. The instruction is spoken/whispered quietly and calmly in the dying or dead persons ear. These instructions are found in what is commonly refered to as the Tibetan Book of the Death, or the actual name, Bardo Thodal. In this episode, Frank - using his own experiences in life - sort of takes the role of the buddhist priest/guide, and passes on his experience to the dying man. I always thought it was sort of fitting that Frank took this role, because he was certainly a person that, to a degree, had learned that "life is suffering" (a foundational Buddhist teaching), freed himdrlg from the captivity of the Group's control of him, and his life was not owned by anyone or anything. Scott