Bardo Group
Support and resources for the general public and buddhists alike:
The Bardo Group hosts a monthly Death Cafe 2pm every second Saturday of alternate months (Feb, April, June, August, October, December) at the Kagyu Samye Dzong in Cape Town. All welcome.
In addition, the following resources are available for download:
When I go – booklet to clarify last wishes, published by the Bardo Group
Conversation Starter kit – booklet to clarify last wishes, published by The Conversation Project
Guidelines for Buddhist death and dying – document collated by the Bardo Group for the Western Cape Department of Health
Preparing for Uncertainly – document collated by the Bardo Group for its Cape Town sangha, in the time of COVID19
Our vision is to reduce the suffering which often accompanies death and thoughts of dying, and instead embrace it as the ultimate opportunity for clarity, closure and liberation.
Our mission is to achieve this by:
Providing opportunity for the contemplation of death, and preparation for dying,
Providing support and service for the dead.
Our activities include:
1. Promoting awareness of death through education
Our annual educational events, or “Bardo Day”, range from interactive workshops to panel discussions with experts, and are open to the public. Each year a different theme is highlighted and these have included:
Beliefs & practices around death and dying from the different perspectives of the 6 major religions in South Africa: African Traditional, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim.
Phowa – Transference of Consciousness; and Bardo teachings from the Tibetan Book of the Dead
How the coma state resembles the last moments of life and how we can communicate with and be with a person in this state
Death preparedness: What occurs at the moment of death; Supporting the dying; What you can do to put your life in order; Wills and Wishes; Living Wills; Organ Donation; Laying of Mandalas; Handling the body.
Death of animals
A Sustainable Funerary Industry: how can we decarbonise one of the 50 most greenhouse gas producing industries in the world
2. Providing services which assist the process of dying,
3. Assisting the deceased on their journey after death,
4. Increasing awareness about the non-harmful disposal of bodily remains,
5. Advocating for a sustainable funerary industry,
6. Raising funds to build a clean-energy air-conditioned Amitabha Buddha Shrine-room.
WHAT IS THE BARDO GROUP?
In 2003, Rokpa Bardo, affectionately known as the “Bardo Group” was initiated by members of the Cape Town Kagyu Samye Dzong. The prime motivation of the three founder members — Esmé Gardiner, Sandra De Villiers–Soltynski and Ezelle Theunissen — was to assist the dying and the dead, to learn about the spiritual and practical processes of death, and to provide a service of assistance and education to others, particularly members of the Sangha. As longstanding Lifeline and Hospice volunteers, they noticed how much of the support towards death and dying at that time focused on bereavement and grief, and not that much on the actual reflection of and preparation for one’s own death, or support for the person as they die and immediately thereafter.
Since then the Bardo Group, who are all volunteers, have organised educational events, held vigils for the dead, assisted with vigils, funerals and memorial services and performed prayers and pujas for the ill, dying and the dead.
In addition the Bardo Group initiated the Amitabha Shrineroom fund, produce Bardo kits and publish booklets, namely:
1) When I go: what I want my family to know* ~ to assist with death planning, and
2) When a Buddhist Dies: Instructions and Prayers* ~ under the guidance of the late Akong Tulku Rinpoche.
Both booklets form part of the Bardo kit.
The Bardo Group meet and facilitate a monthly Bardo Study Group. These meetings are open to all members of the Cape Town Samye Dzong.
Bardo Study Group is on pause and will resume in due course.
In addition, we host a bi-monthly Death Café (www.deathcafe.com) which members of the public are welcome to attend.
ACTIVITIES FOR THE DYING AND THE DEAD
The following are offered as a service to paid-up members of the Cape Town Samye Dzong.
Prayers for the seriously ill
Anyone can request names be posted on the Bardo boards in both shrine rooms where teachings and prayers will be dedicated to them for 2 months. This option may be renewed.
After-death bedside support
During or after death, an experienced Buddhist practitioner can travel to the bedside and say the initial prayers. This practitioner may also be requested to play the Bardo Thodol*; shroud** the body; place the mandalas* on the body and the coffin; advise the family about other options, rituals and prayers.
Special vigils, pujas and funerals can also be arranged.
Note: *Part of the Bardo Kit, which includes a full description for their use.
**A pure cotton shroud, hand-dyed in saffron, is an optional extra.
Prayers for the dead
· The name of the deceased (plus date of death) will be posted on the Bardo board in both shrine rooms where teachings and prayers will be dedicated to them for a period of 49 days.
· Amitabha or Chenrezig Puja can be performed within 3 ½ days after death and dedicated to the deceased.
· A 6 or 12-hour vigil can be held at the Kagyu Centre, as soon as possible after the death, and in the presence of either the coffin containing the deceased’s body, or a photograph. Candles are lit and members of the Sangha perform the Chenrezig puja (chant) continuously for 6 or 12 hours. Family and friends are encouraged to attend and bring flowers. Following the vigil, the coffin (and body) is returned to the mortuary until the funeral.
Funeral or Memorial Service
This option comprises support and guidance with arranging a funeral or memorial service. The costs for catering, hire of chairs, sound equipment, etc. are not included.
Aquamation, burial or cremation should not be undertaken until at least 3 ½ days after death.
Costs
There is no charge for these services for paid-up members of the Cape Town Sangha, although dana is appreciated.
Bardo kits and saffron shrouds are available for purchase in the Kagyu Centre Shop.
Suggested donations for non-members:
Bedside support – R500 plus travel costs
Vigils – R1 000
Memorial service – R1 250
All income derived from sales or donations, goes towards the Amithaba Buddha Shrineroom fund.
Donations can be made to:
Rokpa Trust
ABSA Claremont 632005
Account no: 922 4851 341
Reference: your name
Contact details
Same as the Samye Dzong
Emergency and After Hours:
Pam: +27 78 619 8346
Ezelle: +27 83 302 2730 (whatsapp only)