First stop, The Bardo
The train is waiting, the platform is full of silent etheral forms, people who seem familiar, all waiting. I'm standing there not knowing what to do. Its dark where I am but I can see the sunshine beyond the shadow cast by the grimy overall roof. The whole scene has an unreal cinemagraphic quality I will recognise later in life. I am in it, yet out of it, looking on. I am aware too of a monochrome effect as if it is a black and white continental art film and we are all waiting for the director to say, 'Action!'
What is going to happen? I sense that all the people on my platform are waiting for me. The person closest to me is grinning broadly and appears to be glad to see me. He isurging me to get on the train. He looks jolly and is wearing a Chairman Mao cap. he's waving his arms about and gesturing me on board. I slowly begin to realise that it is my father. Not only that but stranger still, he is displaying a warmth and affection that I never felt from him in all my life as his son.
'You've got your ticket, what are you waiting for?'
i'm wondering if its the right train. There's nothing else in the ghostly station except this tain and all the people on the platform looking at me. I consider that it might be worth while getting on the train if only to leave this cold, dark station which seems permanently set in a twilight world.
I don't know how long I've been on this station, waiting and waiting. I climb on the steps and into the train. The Guard checks my ticket and I'm allowed into the carriage. The ticket entitles me to life, and to begin the journey fromt he cold twilight city to the sunny seaside of my dreams. There is a sudden mad scramble as all the people on the platform rush to get on board. They're all excited to be with me now that my life journey has begun. I've been on this train for many decades now and I've got to know some of the other passengers pretty well. We're plunged into darkness as the train begins to move forward and I am born.
