I went to see BARDO -  Tibetan Art of the Afterlife at the Rubin Museum of Art on a rainy Friday evening and really enjoyed the exhibition.   I suppose, since we’re all going to die eventually (hopefully not to soon) looking at the 6 states of consciousness or awareness had a meaning to me – as I expect, it could to many who view wonderful show.

.   Buddhists work to embrace impermanence throughout life. By familiarizing themselves with all forms of illusion during life, they can more easily overcome the death visions.

Bardo: Tibetan Art of the Afterlife will present about fifty works of art that illustrate the bardo experiences that confront one upon death. These works from throughout the Himalayan region include paintings and sculptures depicting peaceful and wrathful deities; initiation cards; illuminated manuscripts; a three-dimensional mandala inhabited by afterlife deities; and two shrine room models. Audio-visual devices will allow visitors to view Tibetan death-related ceremonies and rituals.

Every time I visit the Rubin Museum, which is fairly often these days, I’m puzzled by the names of deities and Buddhas that I can’t relate to or even translate into my daily existence – I think that the symbolism is both familiar and alien to me – but then something  popped into my head and it made more sense.

Here’s what I think it all means – at least – as much as I can contain now.

Buddhists believe we have several lives – and each is a manifestation of us – but in each life we are different yet alike – in other words, we are a different manifestation of the same essence and while the forms change – the essence is unchangeable – and beyond human understanding.   Every manifestation of the Buddha or Tara is another way to get to know them.

But why stop there?    Every day – and even in parts of our day – we are different people – we are all made up of many sides, some are seen more often and some are rarely or ever seen – aren’t these also “incarnations of us”.

What the Buddhist approach does  is enable us to contain all the different parts of us – into one container.

Now I understand how the Buddha can have so many aspects and names – they are all incarnations of the same principle – but different, as each incarnation is unique – just like each part of us – and each movement – has a uniqueness of it’s own.