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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.
Peaceful and Wrathful Deities of the Bardo
OriginTibet
Date18th century
DimensionsObject size: 46 5/8 x 34 in. (estimated)
Image size: 45 1/4 x 32 5/8 in.
Framed size: 57 3/4 x 44 1/4 x 2 1/4 in.
Image size: 45 1/4 x 32 5/8 in.
Framed size: 57 3/4 x 44 1/4 x 2 1/4 in.
MediumPigments on cloth
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin
Object numberC2006.66.17
Himalayan Art Resources Number505
Project Himalayan Arthttps://projecthimalayanart.rubinmuseum.org/essays/lukhang-murals/
DescriptionAt 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.
Not on view
19th century
dated by inscription, 1871
early 20th century
ca. 13th-14th century
ca. 13th-14th century
19th century
14th century
15th century
19th century