In most areas of the world that are not culturally Buddhist, it is difficult to find the monks and right aids when one is dying. We asked Khentrul Rinpoche what ordinary people can do who do not live near a monastery and he suggested other than to practice very well in your life, you can also have the 6 jewels of liberation with you to use at the point of death.
We have gathered together all the items for this from six methods of liberation outlined in the Nyingma tradition but accepted across traditions through sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and wearing to be blessed in the 2024 Karl Ling Zhitro Liberation Upon Hearing in the Bardo Empowerment and Puja that Khentrul Rinpoche will bestow in California.
These objects are useful for those who are living, preparing for death, dying and dead to create the propensities in the karmic continuum for liberation.
- Liberation Upon Touching Death blanket and thin paper. (One of translucent paper to put directly on the right spots on the dead body, the yellow satin printed one to place over the paper. This insures the mantras are correctly placed.
- Liberation Upon Touch Sand from the Zhitro Mandala for the empowerment contained in a conch necklace to use beside when ever it is beneficial and also for phowa and death.
- Liberation Upon Hearing Mantra Player charges with USB (contains batteries)
- Liberation Upon Sight Booklet
- Liberation Upon Wearing Amulet of a Garuda that contains the Chakra of Liberation through Wearing from Karma Lingpa
- Liberation Upon Smelling incense powder
- Liberation Upon Taste pills
Guru Rinpoche assures us that one will at least be free from rebirth in the three lower realms of hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals.
This shroud contains the mantra-chakra described in Karma Lingpa’s “Bardo Thodrol Chenmo” (“Great Liberation through Hearing”) text. This mantra-chakra is known therefore as the Karling Shitro Takdrol (Karma Lingpa tradition “Liberation by Touch” Peaceful & Wrathful Deities Mantra-Chakra).
“This mantra-chakra is a field of experience of the fortunate.
It is extremely difficult to encounter this mantra-chakra,
And once encountered, it is difficult to intellectually comprehend.
Therefore, those who do encounter it should rejoice,
And wear it with trust!
At the time of death, this mantra-chakra should not be removed from the body,
And at the time of cremation it should not be removed from the corpse.”
- From ”The Great Liberation Upon Hearing” of Karma Lingpa.
This shroud should be placed on a dying person or as soon as possible after a person has passed away. It should be left covering the body and be buried or cremated together with the body. The mantras printed on this shroud are the mantras that “Self-Liberate the Aggregates (of Body and Mind)”
