Bardo

Bardo (noun): Tibetan Buddhism refers to Bardo as the state of the soul between its death and its rebirth.

I am reading a great book right now, Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore. I am really digging this book, not just because he is talking about my favorite subject, the soul, but because he references Greek mythology which I used to be obsessed with when I was younger. And like a breath of fresh air, he also has introduced me to many new concepts, such as alchemy for the soul, homeopathic treatment for certain emotions, and now Bardo.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead describes Bardo as that time in between incarnations, the period before birth into life. Moore says that "Bardo takes time; it can't be rushed. There's no point in premature birth."

Currently I know how to speak enough French to get by, but as I am uncovering in my day to day interactions, not enough to live fully; to express the nuances of my thoughts, to provide context to an otherwise short, definitive answer. In my previous time in France, my French has never slowed me down, and now that I am living in France, it seems to have done just that. I wonder if this is just a symptom of my own personal Bardo state?

In talking to my mother today, I mentioned how I will attempt to enroll in the arrondissement French course tomorrow. It is an "attempt" because the course began five months ago, so I would be requesting that they make an exception and allow me to jump in mid stream. And if this doesn't work then I will find a professional tutor (not the casual tutoring that my friends supply over wine). My mom's reply was "Good for you. I love how you always move forward." (ah, thanks Mom)

So perhaps a Bardo state is really just another term for the birth canal. And what choice does a baby really have, but to move forward? Eventually.