Dance of the Judgement of the Dead (Raksha Mangcham)
This is based on the Bardo thoedrol (book of the Dead), a text hidden by Guru rinpoche and rediscovered later by Karma Lingpa (14th century).
When all beings die, they wander in th eBardo (‘Intermediate State’) waiting to be led by the love of the Buddhas into the pure fields where no suffering exists. However, when the Buddhas who assume bith their peaceful and terrifying forms appear to greet them, the men who during their lifetime had no fervent adoration for the Buddhist Doctrine, do not recognize them as Buddhas and are frightened. As the men do not recognize the Buddhas and think they are enemies, they cannot be conducted into the paradise. The Buddhas, however through their various manifestations do not stay indifferent and perform good deeds unto the beings until the cycle of rebirth is complete.
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