What Happens After Death? Lighting the Path For Your Departed Loved Ones
Have you ever wondered what happens after death? In Buddhism, all of us sentient beings are reborn within the six realms of existence over and over again unless one is enlightened. The six realms in order of highest to lowest realms are: god realm, demi-god realm, human realm, animal realm, hungry ghost realm, and hell realm. Before a being is reborn into a realm, they are in an intermediate state between realms. The intermediate state is also called the bardo, in Tibetan.
Thus, after a person passes away, it is crucial to make prayers and offerings for them during the 49 day period when they are in the bardo.
What happens in the Bardo?
When a person dies, the person is reborn into the bardo between lives, with a subtle body that can go instantly wherever it likes, such as move through solid objects in its journey to the next place of rebirth.
The bardo can last from a moment to seven days, depending on whether or not a suitable birthplace is found. If such a birthplace is not found, the being undergoes a “small death,” experiencing the eight stages of death very briefly. Here are the eight stages of death:
Earth element dissolves: sensation of sinking, appearance of mirages
Water element dissolves: body fluids dry greatly, appearance of smoke
Fire element dissolves: one is unable to smell, appearance of sparks within the smoke
Wind element dissolves: inhalation and exhalation ceases, appearance of a sputtering lamp about to go out
Eighty conceptions dissolve: appearance of burning butter lamp at first, then the empty space is filled with white light
Mind of white appearance: very clear appearance of red light
Mind of red increase: filled with thick black darkness, as if swooning unconsciously
Mind of black near-attainment: very clear space free of white, red and black appearances, then the mind of clear light of death.
After going through the eight stages of death, he or she is then reborn again into a second bardo state. This can happen for a total of seven births in the bardo (making a total of 49 days) during which time a place of rebirth must be and will be found.
The “small death” that occurs between intermediate states or just prior to taking rebirth is compared to experiencing the eight signs (from the mirage-like vision to the clear light) when going into deep sleep or when coming out of a dream. Similarly also, when entering a dream or when awakening from sleep, the eight signs of the reverse process are experienced.
Why do we pray for departed ones in the bardo?
In the bardo, a being’s rebirth is propelled by karma and is uncontrolled. In effect, the karma of the intermediate state being matches that of its future parents. The bardo being has the illusory appearance of its future parents copulating. It is drawn to this place by the force of attraction to the parent of the opposite sex, and it is this desire that causes the consciousness of the bardo being to enter the fertilised ovum. This happens at or near the time of conception; thus, the new life has begun.
However, due to karma, not every being will be reborn as a human. As mentioned, they may be reborn in lower or higher realms. This is why prayers and offerings are important while the departed being is in the bardo.
By dedicating merits to the departed being in the bardo, they will receive a part of the merits and be able to either gain a favourable rebirth towards a Pureland or a good human rebirth for further Dharma practice.
Chinese funeral rites are heavily influenced by the Buddhist concept of bardo, and so prayers for those in the bardo happen every seven days. Known as Zuoqi (做七), family members will make offerings and request the Sangha to perform transmigratory prayers (超渡) every seven days in the name of the deceased, until the 49 day cycle is complete.
In Tibetan communities, a families will request monks to recite meritorious sutras such as the Sutra of Great Liberation for the deceased family member. This is to aid the deceased to swiftly transmigrate to a new rebirth within the 49 day period.
What happens after the 49 days?
Conclusion
Whether it is during the 49 days which your loved one is in the bardo or after the 49 days in which they have taken a new rebirth, it is important to dedicate merits to them by making prayers and offerings. This will ensure that they have a favourable human rebirth in which they are able to practice the Dharma until enlightenment.
If you would like to dedicate merits to your departed loved ones, Ullambana Festival at Thekchen Choling Singapore is happening between 23 August to 7 September. There are various memorial tablets available for you to dedicate merits to your loved ones, even pets too. Our Sanghas will conduct daily recitations for them, dedicating merits that will support them greatly. Find out more about this on our website by clicking here.