Long before the final breath, Tibetan Book of the Dead teachings encourage cultivating a mind that won’t be caught flat-footed when the Bardo—the intermediate state between death and rebirth—arrives. A few key practices stand out:

• Shamatha and Vipashyana: Steadying the mind through calm-abiding (shamatha) and then turning it inward with insight meditation (vipashyana) lays the groundwork. It’s like training a wild horse: once the mind settles, glimpses of its true nature become possible.
• Deity Yoga and Guru Yoga: Visualizing oneself as a buddha or yidam and merging with one’s lama or lineage guru creates strong “permission” energies for recognizing peaceful and wrathful Bardo deities. Modern retreat centers from Dharamshala to California still offer these guided practices.
• Phowa (Consciousness Transference): Often described as the “last breath practice,” phowa projects awareness out the crown of the head to a pure realm. In 2024, the Dalai Lama offered an online phowa workshop, reminding practitioners that even digital communities can link arms across time and space.
• Mantra Recitation: Repeating seed syllables—OM MANI PADME HUM or the syllable AH—acts like a mental lighthouse, guiding consciousness through turbulent post-mortem experiences.
• Chöd (Cutting Through Attachment): By visualizing the self offered to appease inner demons, this dramatic ritual plucks at ego-clinging roots. It’s said to be especially helpful for navigating fearsome Bardo visions.
• Dzogchen Trekchö and Tögal: These advanced methods train the mind to rest in its own luminous clarity. When the chips are down, that direct recognition can turn hallucinations into reflections of one’s mind.
• Tonglen (Giving and Taking): Swapping one’s own comfort for others’ suffering hones compassion—an essential compass for any rebirth journey.

Practicing these methods well before death guts the surprise element of the Bardo and primes awareness to stay lucid amid the unknown. Consider weaving them into daily sessions or weekend retreats. In a culture that craves control, this age-old roadmap shows that by befriending impermanence and mind’s nature, the ultimate passage need not be a leap in the dark.