From:Preparing for Death and Helping the Dying by Sangye Khadro
The six consciousnesses (seeing, hearing, smell, taste, touch and mental consciousness) dissolve over the first four stages of the death process, and the eighty instinctive conceptions dissolve in the fifth stage, following which one experiences a white vision. In the sixth stage, the white vision dissolves and a red vision appears. In the seventh stage, the red vision dissolves and a vision of darkness appears. The white, red and dark visions constitute the subtle level of consciousness. Finally, in the eighth stage, the dark vision dissolves and the very subtle mind of clear light becomes manifest. This is the most subtle and pure level of our mind, or consciousness. Experienced meditators are able to use this clear light mind
Summary from Various sources:
1st - 4th stages - Physical Death
Earth, Water,Fire, Wind (Mirage, Smoke, Sparks, Dying Flame)
4th Stage -Physical Death - the ten winds move to heart (dharmaweb.org)
Stage of Subtle Energy
5th white light - eighty conceptions winds in right and left - then enter central channel at top of head (dharmaweb.org) (conceptuality disappears)
6th - red light - winds in right and left channels below heart enter central channel atbase of spine (dharmaweb.org) (heightened subtle mind)
7th - darkness - upper and lower winds at gather at heart (still red light); then with thick darkness; winds enter drop at heart (darkness) (dharmaweb.org) (unconcious)
8th - clear - mind of black near- all winds dissolve into very clear vacuity free attainment the very subtle life bearing wind in the indestructible drop at the heart (the mind of the clear light of death)(dharmaweb.org) (clear emptiness)
When the clear light vision ceases, the consciousness leaves the body and passes through the other seven stages of dissolution (black near-attainment, red increase etc.) in reverse order. As soon as this reverse process begins the person is reborn into an intermediate state between lives, with a subtle body that can go instantly wherever it likes, move through solid objects etc., in its journey to the next place of rebirth. (dharmaweb.org)
The intermediate state can last from a moment to seven days, depending on whether or not a suitable birthplace is found. If one is not found the being undergoes a "small death", experiencing the eight signs of death as previously described (but very briefly). He/she then again experiences the eight signs of the reverse process and is reborn in a second intermediate state. This can happen for a total of seven births in the intermediate state (making a total of forty-nine days) during which a place of rebirth must be found (dharmaweb.org)
and excellent table from www.amitabhahospice.org
The six consciousnesses (seeing, hearing, smell, taste, touch and mental consciousness) dissolve over the first four stages of the death process, and the eighty instinctive conceptions dissolve in the fifth stage, following which one experiences a white vision. In the sixth stage, the white vision dissolves and a red vision appears. In the seventh stage, the red vision dissolves and a vision of darkness appears. The white, red and dark visions constitute the subtle level of consciousness. Finally, in the eighth stage, the dark vision dissolves and the very subtle mind of clear light becomes manifest. This is the most subtle and pure level of our mind, or consciousness. Experienced meditators are able to use this clear light mind
Summary from Various sources:
1st - 4th stages - Physical Death
Earth, Water,Fire, Wind (Mirage, Smoke, Sparks, Dying Flame)
4th Stage -Physical Death - the ten winds move to heart (dharmaweb.org)
Stage of Subtle Energy
5th white light - eighty conceptions winds in right and left - then enter central channel at top of head (dharmaweb.org) (conceptuality disappears)
6th - red light - winds in right and left channels below heart enter central channel atbase of spine (dharmaweb.org) (heightened subtle mind)
7th - darkness - upper and lower winds at gather at heart (still red light); then with thick darkness; winds enter drop at heart (darkness) (dharmaweb.org) (unconcious)
8th - clear - mind of black near- all winds dissolve into very clear vacuity free attainment the very subtle life bearing wind in the indestructible drop at the heart (the mind of the clear light of death)(dharmaweb.org) (clear emptiness)
When the clear light vision ceases, the consciousness leaves the body and passes through the other seven stages of dissolution (black near-attainment, red increase etc.) in reverse order. As soon as this reverse process begins the person is reborn into an intermediate state between lives, with a subtle body that can go instantly wherever it likes, move through solid objects etc., in its journey to the next place of rebirth. (dharmaweb.org)
The intermediate state can last from a moment to seven days, depending on whether or not a suitable birthplace is found. If one is not found the being undergoes a "small death", experiencing the eight signs of death as previously described (but very briefly). He/she then again experiences the eight signs of the reverse process and is reborn in a second intermediate state. This can happen for a total of seven births in the intermediate state (making a total of forty-nine days) during which a place of rebirth must be found (dharmaweb.org)
and excellent table from www.amitabhahospice.org
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