TANTRIC BUDDHISM (INCLUDING CHINA AND JAPAN)check of the statements in the "mirror of deeds" or the scrolls; then the
Dharmaraja summarizes the case and passes judgement. Not all cases are simple
and straightforward, with sinners receiving punishment and the virtuous reward.
Many of the cases ponder the vicissitudes of the strange and contradictory exis-
tential situations with which all of us are daily faced. These bring out the some-
times discrepant results of our actions and our intent, and engage the
contradictions between those things that we must do to insure worldly success
and religious salvation. The following cases may serve as examples:
Karma-dbang-'dzin (I, A: 203 ff.)I had a strong desire to practice religion, but my parents made me do
worldly things, and I was unable to. Having gone to do worldly work,
when I had had two children a terrible disease struck our land. I had not
accumulated merit and the two children together with my husband died.
For their funerals, I made as much merit as I could, but because my
brothers liked having their brides live at home, my first birthplace was
cut off, and I had no place to which I could return. They said I was of
evil caste and could go wandering. My brothers also listened to evil
gossip about me, and I had to wander in other lands. Searching left and
right of the southern road, I stayed, and I had nothing to give to achieve
virtuous strength. I gave a little service to the Buddha and a bit of
charity to beggars. Otherwise, I gave things and did service for mm;i-
pas. I gave nothing to them for saying the Mal).is, but I took the Mal).i-
vows. I had no confidence in my views, but I prayed for a connection to
hermits. To male and female preceptors, I established whatever connec-
tion I could with each; by giving each a cup of rtsam-pa, I asked
instruction in meditation from a mm:zi-pa ... and asked to do service for
those performing rituals and rites of abstinence. Please ask those
friends who are making terrible sounds not to send me (to hell) ... "
The white god confirms her story, and casts a measure of white
stones into the scale of justice. The black ghost, however, relates that
she was a calamitous mother and wife who killed her children, and had
done nothing whatever of virtue. He gives her a half measure of black
stones. The monkey-headed demon weighs them and the white stones
are found heavier, recommending a good rebirth. The ox-headed demon
brings the mirror of deeds and places it before the Dharmaraja, who
says, "What you said about doing virtue when you were in the human
realm is true ... What you said about not having sin is untrue. When
you were sent as a bride, you already had a bastard child. You feared it
would be improper for the wife of a great rich man, and you destroyed
it. Isn't killing one's own child a heinous sin ...? There is no other
place for you to go but hell. But because you regretted this and, with
your body did obeisances anri circumambulations, with your speech