Bardo

Death is most often seen as the biological state at the end of physical existence when the body stops functioning. In a sacred sense, it is the state of consciousness that marks the end of earthly, material existence, followed by the afterlife. It is a matter of religion and tradition, and of personal beliefs, which determine one's view of the afterlife and how one imagines it. In recent years, I have been studying the Tibetan Book of the Dead to better understand what happens at the moment of death. The book explains in detail the practices and prayers to be performed at the time of death and in the transitional plane of existence (bardo) in the hope of successful liberation. In other words, the moment of death is the moment of letting go. First of all, the letting go of mortality and the catharsis that comes with it. If the spirit is not able to achieve liberation, it still has the opportunity in the bardo to let go of its earthly desires and anger, and thereby break free from the eternal cycle of existence (samsara). Thus, it can be stated that death is the moment at which the spirit's complete liberation is achieved through letting go. Letting go is an important and permanent factor of existence engaged with mortality. Birth is the first death. The infant lets go of the enclosed world of the safe womb and departs into the unknown external reality. That is to say, the self and the life it had before ceases or dies. The example could be continued with any stage of life, or with everyday, material factors. The Tibetan Book of the Dead provides guidance and practices for conscious preparation for death. Its concept of death aims to purify the spirit and polish the mind in the spirit of letting go. I believe that through art, the artist can experience the same moment while creating. Creation can help the artist when they need to let go of a long-held painful experience, it can enable them to step out of their comfort zone. It can enable spiritual liberation and victory in the battle with inner demons. To do this, however, the corrupt side of the self must die. The artistic use of death can become a useful tool in a process of self-liberation.