Using the Book Bardo Stations

CDT294

Using the Book Bardo Stations

Bardo, Gaming, PWOS

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(1) CDs: 7.95

E.J. Gold discusses with Claude Needham and the core group how to use the book Bardo Stations - a blueprint or map of the Bardos. Specific viewpoints are offered to hold and examine as one reads the book and notates impressions on the "Notes" pages. The reader can start connecting up to the between-lives state and start breaking down the barrier put in place by organic life. Everything in life wants you to be responding to that which is of the body - basically survive, transform food to pooh. If you assign too much significance to this you will lose the ability to find the more important things. The Bardos are like many dimensions, alternative realities, that you thread your way through. Comparisons are drawn between the Bardos and situations arising in Bardo Safaris with suggestions on how to learn from these experiences.

Synopsis

The discussion explores the concept of "Bardo Stations," a book that serves as a structured guide to the between-lives state. Key themes include the allocation of personal energy and attention (using metaphors from RPG stat assignment), the dangers of masking deficiencies with artificial solutions, and the importance of focused exploration in personal and spiritual work. Examples from *Diablo II* illustrate concepts of resource management, efficiency, and strategic learning. The talk also discusses various ways to use *Bardo Stations* for structured self-exploration, including through different lenses such as emotion, intellect, movement, and dream work. The overarching idea is that personal growth, both in life and beyond, requires disciplined and intentional effort rather than passive acceptance of social or biological imperatives.

Summary

The talk revolves around *Bardo Stations*, a book meant to help individuals navigate the between-lives state in a structured way. The concept of stat allocation in RPGs is used as a metaphor for personal development, emphasizing that the way one assigns effort to social or frivolous pursuits can have long-term consequences on personal growth. It critiques the tendency to mask problems instead of solving them—such as using stamina potions in *Diablo II* rather than resolving the underlying issue of poor stat distribution.

The discussion extends into the inefficiencies found in cooperative group dynamics versus competitive environments, using examples from online *Diablo II* runs. A lack of goal-oriented focus is identified as a major cause of inefficiency, with emphasis on approaching tasks with deliberate intent—whether in gaming, work, or personal development.

The *Bardo Stations* book is described as a metaphorical waypoint system, similar to those in *Diablo II*, allowing for systematic exploration of different existential states. Various methods of engaging with the book are suggested, including tracking dreams, meditative inductions, and examining different sensory and cognitive responses within mapped spaces.

Spiritual evolution is described as a process of recurrent exposure and focus, which can erode the mental barriers preventing access to between-lives knowledge. The act of revisiting *Bardo Stations* from different perspectives—such as emotion, intellect, or personal experience—functions as a way to unlock deeper understanding, akin to learning the structure of a vast game world through multiple playthroughs.

Finally, the talk touches on cultural fixation with singular, final answers—whether in spiritual teachings or societal expectations—and argues for an ongoing, exploratory approach that acknowledges multiple valid perspectives.

Keywords & Key Phrases

  • Bardo Stations
  • Stat allocation
  • Frivolousness tax
  • Stamina masking
  • Learning opportunities in failure
  • Diablo II efficiency mechanics
  • Waypoint metaphors
  • Between-lives state
  • Focused intent in personal growth
  • Layered exploration of reality
  • Social directives vs. personal evolution
  • Maze brightness
  • Dream induction & lucid navigation
  • Biological imperatives vs. spiritual liberation
  • Drunkard’s walk model
  • Game-world mapping vs. existential mapping
  • Experiential perspectives in learning
  • Psychedelics vs. barbiturates as metaphors
  • Spiritual war of focus
  • Breaking habitual fixations
  • Multi-level engagement with reality
  • Cultural narratives on enlightenment

Graphic Prompt

Illustrate a surrealist landscape where ancient stone waypoints, glowing with enigmatic symbols, are scattered along a winding path that merges into multiple parallel realities. Some waypoints resemble arcane monoliths, while others resemble floating portals with cascading light. The scene should blend elements of a lucid dream, showing obscure ethereal figures navigating these pathways, hinting at different modes of spiritual exploration. The environment feels both immersive and vast, resembling a cosmic RPG overlaid with multiple dimensions. Use a color palette of deep blues, iridescent purples, and a golden-white glow emanating from the central path junction.