Does the matter matter? : on purpose, mantras and substances in the Ba ri be'u bum

Petr Jandáček

doi:10.5817/Rel2025-41627

Does the matter matter? : on purpose, mantras and substances in the Ba ri be'u bum

Roč.33,č.2(2025)

Petr Jandáček

https://doi.org/10.5817/Rel2025-41627

Trvalý odkaz (handle):
http://hdl.handle.net/11222.digilib/digilib.83222

PDF (angličtina)

Abstrakt

This article examines Tibetan private practical rituals through the lens of materiality, understood as tangibility. While recent scholarship has investigated Tibetan collections of such rituals — often labelled as 'magic' — most analyses remain primarily descriptive and qualitative. To address this gap, the study adopts a quantitative perspective, focusing on tangible and intangible components of rituals, conceived as vehicles for achieving their purpose. After introducing relevant terminology and historical context, the structure and purpose-based categorisation of the analysed rituals are outlined. The analysis draws on 54 rituals from the renowned "spellbook" Ba ri be'u bum, attributed to Rinchen Drak (Rin chen grags), also known as Bari Lotsāwa (1040–1112). Findings indicate that tangibility is predominant — though not exclusive — while intangible components are significant. Rituals aimed at swift, practical results favour tangible elements, whereas those involving preternatural beings, such as for wealth or weather control, show a more balanced tangible-to-intangible ratio.

Klíčová slova:
Tibet; materiality; magic; grimoire; be'u bum; Bari Lotsāwa

Stránky:
219–254

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