_ 2<-.:- $.3?- 0- o/- H<- ,<- =3- $?=- 1/-28$?-?

BAR DO'I DAM PA GYN KY'ER

T'AR LAM SL DRN SHUG SO
The Lamp Illumining the
Path to Liberation
A Daily Practice of the
Instructions on the Intermediate State






2
_ *2?- /?- .!/-3($- 3- =?- ]- 3:- {<
KYAB NE KN CHOG MA L LA MA'I KUR
The objects of refuge, the Three Rare and precious Gems, are incarnate in their entirety in the physical form of the
spiritual master.
$&$- 2#?-3?- $?-$.%->$?-S$-0- ;?
CHIG D M G DUNG SHUG DRAG PO YI
To you I pray with intense devotion and yearning
$?=- 2- :.2?- ?- ,$?-e?- M<- $9$?- /?
SL WAN 'DEB SO T'UG JE NYUR ZIG NE
of your compassion, please swiftly turn your attention to me
:)$?- (/-2<-.:-:U%-=?-*2?- +-$?=
'J IG CHEN BAR DO'I 'TRANG LE KYAB TU SL
and grant me protection from the terrors of the narrow passageway of the intermediate state.
:.?- L?- 3-g$-<%-5=-3%/- ?3- 2!/
'D J E MI TAG RANG TS'L NGN SUM TN
It is quite clear that everything compounded is also inherently impermanent,
*-2:-3,:-.- :(-2<-,$-(.- &%-
KYE WA'I TA' DE 'CHI WAR T'AG CH CHING
and equally certain that all birth ends in death
$.?- 2&?- +-3:- =?-G-g$-3- ,2
D CHE GYU MA'I L KYI TAG MI T'UB
and that the illusory physical form cannot, in any wise, be permanent
2l-2:- ,/- I- $9$?- >$- ]- 3- e
TSE WA'I CHN GYI ZIG SHIG LA MA J E
my lordly spiritual teacher, pleaselook upon me with loving kindness.
5- ;-5.-m$?-:L%- 28:-/?- 0- *3?
TS'E YI TS'E DZOG 'J UNG SHI'I N PA NYAM
When life comes to an end, the power of the four elements fades,
(/- I- 3- 1/- 9?- {3?- .%- #- :P2
MN GYI MI P'N ZE KOM DANG K'A 'DRIB
medicines are no longer of any use and one loses one's appetite for food and drink.
=?- ?3?-:V=-2:- .?- =- 22?- 0- /
L SEM 'DRL WA'I D LA BAB PA NA
When the time comes for body and mind to separate,
5- :.:-8/- ($?- V=- 2<- L/- I- _2?
TS'E DI'I SHEN CHAG DRL WAR J IN GYI LOB
gGrant me your blessing that I be without attachment to this life.

3
/3- ;%- 3- #.- :(-2<-,$-(.- =
NAM YANG MI D 'CHI WAR T'AG CH LA
I can't stay forever; death is certain.
.- .%- $?/- .- <-2:- :..-]- ;?
DA DUNG SN DU RE WA'I 'D LO YI
If I confuse myself with imaginary hopes that I will live on and on,
<%- 3$-<%-$?- 2{<-/-1%- 52?- (
RANG GO RANG GI KOR NA P'UNG TS'AB CHE
what a disaster!
:(- 2- =3- .- =%- 2<- L/-I- _2?
'CHI WA LAM DU LONG WAR J IN GYI LOB
Grant me your blessing that death be brought onto the path.
=?- _%- :O$?-0:- !2?- G?- <%- =?-:.:
LE LUNG TR'G PA'I TOB KYI RANG L DI'I
May the anguish and suffering of the ending of the life,
,-3P/-~ %- $- v-2-$?%-$/?-G
CHI DRIN NYING GA TE WA SANG NE KYI
where the five channelknots at the crown, throat, heart, navel and secretcentre of this body of mine
:#<- =- s- ;- l- :..- :)$-0:- 3,?
'KOR LO NGA YI TSA 'D 'J IG PA'I T'
are destroyed by of the power of the winds of karma,
$/.- $&.-9$- d-<%-?<-8-2<->$
NE CH ZUG NGU RANG SAR SHI WAR SHOG
be spontaneously pacified.
1-2:- 3-*3?-_%- :($- 9?- 3- =/
P'O WA'I ME NYAM LUNG 'CHUG ZE MI LEN
As the energy of the digestive heat wanes, it becomes impossible to assimilate food;
Y$- :6/- _%-:($- >?-0-3- $?=- .%-
SOG 'DZIN LUNG 'CHUG SHE PA MI SL DANG
as the energy of the lifeforce dissolves, the mind becomes dull;
,<- ?=- _%-:($- S-3-(- (%- :(<
T'UR SEL LUNG 'CHUG DRI MA CHE CHUNG 'CHOR
as the downwardclearing energy fades, one loses control over one's bladder and bowels
_%- /?- *3?- 0:- g$?- ?- %- >?- >$
LUNG N NYAM PA'I TAG SU NGO SHE SHOG
let me recognise these signs of the degeneration of the energywinds.


4
I/- I:-_%- :($- 9?- {3-3.- 3- ,2
GYEN GYU'I LUNG 'CHUG ZE KOM MI MI T'UB
When the rising energy deteriorates, one can no longer swallow food and drink,
$+3- I- 5-2e.- .!:- 8%-.2$?- $- ,%-
TAM GYI MA J KA' SHING UG NA T'UNG
talking become difficult, and one is short of breath.
H2-L.- _%- $- /?- 9.- :$=- 2*.-.!:
KY'AB J E LUNG GI N ZE 'GL KY KA'
As the strength of the pervasive energy fails, it becomes difficult to move
.- 5- :(- 2<- ,$- (.-:I.-3.- >$
DE TS'E 'CHI WAR T'AG CH 'GY ME SHOG
tt that time, certain of the reality of death, may I be without regret.
$.?- 2&?- =?- :.-.%-0<- :L%- 28?-2*.
D CHE L 'DI DANG POR 'J UNG SHI KYE
This material body originally took birth out of the four elements,
3,<- ;%- :L%- 28- $&$- =- $&$-,3-:(
T'AR YANG 'J UNG SHI CHIG LA CHIG T'IM 'CHI
and, as they dissolve back into each other, I will die.
K-/%-$?%-2:- g$?- $%- :(<- 2- i3?
CH'I NANG SANG WA'I TAG NANG 'CHAR WA NAM
May I recognise the outer, inner and secret signs of their arising,
%- >?- ]- 3- ;.- =- S/- 0<- >$
NGO SHE LA MA YI LA DRN PAR SHOG
and keep my mind on my spiritual teacher.
?- #3?- (<-,3-=?- G- /?- !2?-9.
SA K'AM CHUR T'IM L KYI N TOB ZE
As the earth element dissolves into the element of water, the power of the body is exhausted.
/%- $-g$?-?- >?- 0- L%-8%- k%?
NANG GI TAG SU SHE PA J ING SHING MONG
The inner sign of this is that the awareness dulls and becomes unclear,
$?%- g$?- 3,%- $%- 3$-o- v- 2<-:(<
SANG TAG T'ONG NANG MIG GYU TA BUR 'CHAR
and the secret sign that visual appearance becomes like a mirage.
.<-;%-]-3-S/-=?-3-;%?- >$
DER YANG LA MA DRN LE MA YENG SHOG
At that time, may my attention not stray from the spiritual teacher.


5
(- #3?- 3-=-,3- 0?- #- $:- (
CHU K'AM ME LA T'IM PE K'A NA'I CHU
As the water element dissolves into the element of fire, the moisture of the mouth and nose
&%- 9.- :,/-+-{3-8%- 5-2e.- :$$?
CHUNG ZE 'TEN TE KAM SHING MA J 'GAG
diminishes and dries out to a degree, and one can no longer speak,
>?- 0- :52-&%- $?%- g$?- .- 2- v<
SHE PA 'TSUB CHING SANG TAG DU WA TAR
one's awareness becomes confused and the secret sign is like smoke
2/-2/- =%- =%- :(<- 2- %- >?- >$
BN BN LANG LONG 'CHAR WA NGO SHE SHOG
may I recognise the arising of this mistlike appearance.
3- #3?- _%- =- ,3- 0?- =%- S.-(
ME K'AM LUNG LA T'IM PE LUNG DR CHE
When the fire element dissolves into the element of air, there is a sensation of overpowering heat,
/%- g$?- 3- %- 3- >?-.2%-0- :U=
NANG TAG MI NGO MI SHE WANG PO 'TRL
the inner sign of which is no longer recognising people and bewildered sensefaculties,
$?%- g$?- Y/- 2- 3- H<- v- 2- ?3?
SANG TAG SIN BU ME KY'ER TA BU SEM
and the secret sign like fireflies.
<?- $?=- <?- 3- $?=- :I<- %- >?- >$
RE SL RE MI SL 'GYUR NGO SHE SHOG
may I recognise this experience of alternating clarity and confusion.
_%- #3?- i3- >?- =- ,3- K- .2$?- (.
LUNG K'AM NAM SHE LA T'IM CH'I UG CHE
When the air element dissolves into the element of consciousness, the outer breath stops,
/%- g$?- :O=- 2:3,%- $%- $-5$?- :(<
NANG TAG 'TRL WA'I T'ONG NANG NA TS'OG 'CHAR
the inner sign being the appearance of various visual hallucinations
$?%- g$?- 1/- 3-:2<-v<-<$-0-$?=
SANG TAG DRN ME 'BAR TAR RIG PA SL
and the secret sign one's pure awareness blazing like a lamp.
.- .?-92-=3-:1- 2- S/- 0<- >$
DE D ZAB LAM 'PO WA DRN PAR SHOG
At that instant may I bring to mind the profound path of transference.


6
i3->?- /3- 3#:- #3?- ,3- 5$?-S$- :$$
NAM SHE NAM KA'I K'AM T'IM TS'OG DRUG 'GAG
As consciousness dissolves into the element of space, the six modes of consciousness come to an end.
,- 2:-.!<-(-:,<- .- 22?- 0- .%-
CHI WO'I KAR CHA 'TUR DU BAB PA DANG
May I recognise the condensed awareness between
v-2:-.3<-(-I/- .- w$-0:-2<
TE WA'I MAR CHA GYEN DU DOG PA'I BAR
the descending white element of the crown
i3-0<->?-0-:,3- 0- %- >?- >$
NAM PAR SHE PA 'TUM PA NGO SHE SHOG
and the rising red element of the navel.
#3?- $*?-I/- :,<- :U?- 0:- o-n/-I?
K'AM NYI GYEN 'TUR 'TR PA'I GYU KYEN GYI
As these elements descend and mount,
<%- $%-.!<-=3-.3<-=3-/$-,3-:(<
RANG NANG KAR LAM MAR LAM NAG T'OM 'CHAR
of themselves, appearances of whiteness, redness and deepest black arise
.$- $?3-<%-28/- g$-0-2o.-&- :$$
DUG SUM RANG ZHIN TOG PA GYE CHU 'GAG
and the eighty awarenesses born of the three poisons come to a halt.
$%- 3(.- ,2-0:- :.- .- %- >?- >$
NANG CHE T'OB PA'I ' DU NGO SHE SHOG
May I recognise these as the radiance of appearance, increase and attainment.
.!<- .3<- _%- ?3?-.2- 3<- :63?-0:- :,?
KAR MAR LUNG SEM U MAR 'DZOM PA'I 'T
The red and white mind and energies gathering in the central channel,
$..-/?-.$-0:-2.- $>$?- ~%-0- *.
D NE DAG PA'I DE SHEG NYING PO NYI
may I recognise the primordially pure essence of buddhahood,
z.-3.- $8- ;- :.-$?=-(?- G- {
LHE ME SHI YI ' SL CH KYI KU
the dharmakaya, radiance of the unmodified primordial ground,
<%- =- 3%/-?3- :(<- 2- %- >?- >$
RANG LA NGN SUM 'CHAR WA NGO SHE SHOG
as it directly presents itself to me.


7
.- *.- 2|3-I- !2?- 8/- 3- P=- /
DE NYI GOM GYI TOB SHN MA DRL NA
If, due weak meditation, one not liberated by the true nature,
/%- .2$- (.- /?- (?-*.-2<-.- ><
NANG UG CHE NE CH NYI BAR DO SHAR
when one's internal breath ceases, the intermediate state of absolute reality dawns.
=?- ?3?-,=- 2:- 1- :.-9<- $!3- I?
L SEM T'EL WA'I DRA ' ZER SUM GYI
May I recognise the sounds, radiance and light rays of my body and mind that fill all of space
!%- #3?- #%?- 0- <%- $%-;/- >?- >$
TONG K'AM K'ENG PA RANG NANG YIN SHE SHOG
as nothing but my own personal experience.
:):- :.- ,$-=- ,$-U/-:.- =3- .%-
'J A ' T'IG LE T'IG TR'N ' LAM DANG
May I not fear the radiant path of spheres and smaller discs of rainbow light,
8- .%- O- 2-z-5$?- &<- :(<- 2
SHI DANG TR'O WO LHA TS'OG CHIR 'CHAR WA
the hosts of peaceful and wrathful deities that arise
(?- *.- <%- 1- 2&?- =- 3- 0$- 0<
CH NYI RANG DRA CHE LA MI TRAG PA
and the inherent sound of ultimate thusness,
<%- <$-(?-*.- ;->?-%->?- >$
RANG RIG CH NYI YE SHE NGO SHE SHOG
but recognise them as my own pure presence, primordial awareness of reality itself.
$=- +-=?-*/- 12-0?-3-P=- /
GL TE LE NYN DRIB PE MA DRL NA
Supposing, however, that, because of karma and emotional defilement, I am not liberated by this,
Y.- 0- 2<- .- :)$?-0?-1-28- .%-
SI PA BAR DO 'J IG PE DRA SHI DANG
may I recognise the four fearsome sounds of the intermediate state of becoming,
3- %?- g$?- S$- ;- %:- $;%- ?- $?3
MA NGE TAG DRUG YA NGA'I YANG SA SUM
the six indeterminate signs and three terrifying precipices
,3?- &.- 2./- 3.- +-3<->?- 0<- >$
T'AM CHE DEN ME GYU MAR SHE PAR SHOG
as illusions without the least reality.


8
>- 2- %->?-]-3-~%-/?-S/
SHI WA NGO SHE LA MA NYING NE DRN
Recognising the face of death, let me earnestly bring to mind my spiritual teacher,
.?- $?%?- $.3?- 0:- $/.- =- %?- 0- f.
DE SUNG DAM PA'I NE LA NGES PA NYE
and establish true confidence as to the essential meaning of his instruction.
3- .$- :#<-2:- 3%=- |- 3- :5=- 2<
MA DAG 'KOR WA'I NGL GO MI 'TSL WAR
let me not seek some foul samsaric womb,
0E- :.-G- 8%-.- :1-2<->$
PE MO ' KYI SHING DU 'PO WAR SHOG
but transfer my consciousness directly to the pure land of Lotus Light.
3.<- /- .?- .%- i3- 0- .- !/- +
DOR NA D DANG NAM PA DE KN TU
In short, throughout all time,
&-S$-]-$-3%-0?- 1%-:I<- 2?
CHI DRAG LO NA MANG P P'UNG 'GYUR WE
drawing together all my many ideas of what should be done,
l-2:- ]- 3- A- o/.L<- 3.-=
TSA WA'I LA MA OR GYN YER ME LA
inseparable from the root lama, The LotusBorn Lord of Uddiyana,
{.-&$- 43- ;%- 3- ;%?-]- $+.- >$
KE CHIG TSAM YANG MA YENG LO T SHOG
let me place my entire trust in him without wavering, even for an instant.
]- 3- ,$?- .%- <%- ?3?- $*?- 3.-:S?
LA MA'I T'UG DANG RANG SEM NYI ME 'DRE
My mind and the mind of the spiritual teacher merged as one,
<%- <$-(?-{:- $+/- Y.-9/- /?- G%-
RANG RIG CH KU'I TEN SI ZIN NE KYANG
though my awareness remains firmly in the permanent realm of the dharmakaya,
(/- =3- ,$?- e:- 3=-0:-3#:-3*3-I
MN LAM T'UG J E'I TRL PA'I KA' NYAM GYI
may I lead sentient beingsas many as space is vastto the supreme state of buddhahood
?3?- &/- L%- (2-3($- =- :$.- 0<- >$
SEM CHEN JANG CHUB CHOG LA 'G PAR SHOG
by means of the emanations of my compassionate aspiration.

9
&?-0-:(-#-2<-. :-$.3?-%$-$? =-:.2?-%-3.- .-:I<- 2- 3. <-2#?- 92- &$- .$?-8? .0/-0-g-3P/-h-e-.%- (/-P=- ~%- 0-$*?-G?-
2{=- %<-:V -$%- 0- $-5$?-<%-P=- I?- l- 5$- :.-*.-2!.-!
Thus, since it was claimed that a brief but profound instruction of introduction to the intermediate state of the
moment of death in the form of a prayer was needed, in response to the request of lords Tamdin Dorje and Mindrl
Nyingpo, these root verses were composed by 'Drigungpa Nats'og Rangdrl.
:.-;%-o/-.-]<- :)$-0-8 $-3.-/ :(-#<-$.3?-%$-;$- $-=-=?-+-<%-=-1/-0-3-:L%- 2? .?-/-o/-H<-.-L-K<- $?=- :.2?-(/- =3- I-
5=-.-L?-0-;/- = :.-*.-5 $-*%-%<-2#3?-0?-2>?-G- .!:- / ,<-,?-P=- ( /-3:-%-3.-$?=- :.2?-?$?-.%- H.-0<-2.$-$ ?-L?-0:-
2<-.:-,-./- S/- 0:-3-=%- .-=-82-+-2v?-/?-$-g$?-=/- 0<- 36.- :5=- =
In fact, however, one cannot really benefit unless one regularly establishes the instructions on death in one's mind
and extracts the spirit of the words used to express them, so, in order to help you recite it daily, I have made it into a
prayer of aspiration. However, if you find training in this brief version difficult, please at least carefully examine the
pointing out instructions and prayers contained in the general teachings of the Bardo T'drl ChenmoThe Great
Liberation by Hearingand, more especially, my own text, the Bardo'i Chidn Drnpa'i Melong, or Basic
Principals of the Intermediate State: The Mirror of Mindfulness, and, having understood them, put them into
practice.

This text was translated by Mike Dickman for the
Drikung Dzogchen Translation Project (DDTP)
and may be subject to revision at a later date.

May the dkins and dharmaplas forgive any errors or omissions.

May this translation benefit all sentient beings.




2007 Drikung Dzogchen Translation Project