Tibet
18th century
Tibet
18th century
At the moment of death, according to Buddhist belief, we have an opportunity to attain an enlightened state of mind. However, our own karma brings up various visions, including terrifying ones. If we do not recognize them as mere projections of our own mind, we cannot reach the enlightened state or a good rebirth.This painting depicts the deities described in a fourteenth-century text “The Peaceful and Wrathful Deities, The Profound Teachings of Self-liberated Wisdom Mind” and the famous “Liberation upon Hearing in the Intermediate State,” the treasure teachings (terma) discovered by the treasure revealer Karma Lingpa. These images illustrate a structured and vivid experience between death and rebirth when visions of light crystallizing into an appearance of the peaceful deities encourage the mind to realize their true nature and become free. If this opportunity is missed, then the visions of the wrathful deities appear, but at this stage it becomes more difficult to recognize their true nature. If the mind has at least a glimmer of such recognition, then the future birth would not be in the lower realms of existence. The teachings of the bardo allow practitioners to prepare and train their minds for this future eventuality. Often ritual specialists read these instructions to the deceased as the means of guiding them through this difficult process of transitioning to future existence.
A religious movement that originated in India around the fifth to seventh century with sacred writings and esoteric teachings and practices transmitted from teacher to student through initiation. These remain an important part of Hinduism and Buddhism today.
Teachings and precepts that offer practical and experiential guidance. In Buddhism instruction is primarily an oral tradition and is often targeted to the specific needs or disposition of a student or disciple.
The end of this life marked by the cessation of bodily functions followed by decay. According to Buddhism, after death consciousness transitions to an intermediate state known as the bardo before embarking on another life.
Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.
Rubin Museum
150 W. 17th St., NYC
Rubin Museum
150 W. 17th St., NYC
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