I just returned from the movie 'The exorcism of emily rose' which inspires this question: how does your belief system interpret possessions and exorcisms?
Buddhism doesn't tend to concern the extraphysical realms very much. They are simply another aspect of the conditioned world. I'll ask my aunt and get back to you though. Blessings Sebbi
buddhism is meant to be a philosophy, not a religion, and therefore does not answer many questions about the 'supernatural'. but i also know that 'possession' and exorcism is mainly a western christian idea, specifically catholic, and most other religions dont address this issue since it's somewhat ridiculous
I see Buddhism being anything but a philosophy. I see it as being existential, that one has to try to find answers for oneself, not accept ready made answers, such as philosophy or organised religion provides. If one is to see how one's own mind works why would one want to program it with labels of one's own beliefs? As far as exorcisms and spirits go perhaps the Buddhist mind sees all manifestations as of the mind so is less likely to be influenced by outside forces? I'm sure (?) that spirits do exist in the Buddhist world but the Buddhist has a different inner anchor so he may be more prone to question his own feelings and mind rather than listen to evil voices.
philosophy doesn't give you answers it teaches you to think for yourself. the great chinese philosopher confucius would not allow you to learn with him you did not think for yourself. he once said something to the effect of "i will give you one corner, but if you cannot complete the square for yourself, you do not belong here" besides, if buddhism isnt a philosophy (which it is for me) or a religion (which it is for my japanese friends) then what is it?
possessions can be interpretted as manifestations of a single or collective mind, past and present lives included.
It all depends on what you consider religion. There is a difference between religion and religioness. Are you interested in studying the scriptures and ritual or in meditation? Is your Buddhism existential like Zen? But as it pertains to posession, since some Buddhists believe in a Paradise and a hell, and the supernatural, they probably believe in possession, like: http://www.ywamthai.org/office/buddhism.htm http://www.himalayan-mercantile.com/rituals/BookSpirPo-Dtl.html (a book on possession) http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-ADM/salgado.htm http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2001/7-8/50-52_dhamis.shtml http://www.journeysmyanmar.com/nat_workship.htm http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/43.htm http://www.sacred-texts.com/etc/omw/omw68.htm (the story of Mara) http://www.tbsn.org/english2/article.php?id=1107 http://www.capital.net/com/phuston/Taiwanmediums.html I'm sure there's many more links available.
i see. i guess it doesn't apply to me then because i don't believe in a heaven or a hell. but it would make sense for people who do hold those beliefs. you're quite knowledgable
Not at all - I just googled. My own feelsings I haven't really exposed. They're more of a Christian bent. So basically I do believe in ghosts, spirits, angels, demons, etc. When it comes to Buddhism there is enough diversity that it encompases many societies, so you have Japanese, Thai, Chinese, et. al., type of demons and spirit possession. One book I read had a meditator presented by a demon who turned into a cowardly spirit because the meditator "refused" to believe i what he was seeing. It is hard to speak about possession to people who have never experienced such phenomena (I have) and who just refuse to believe because that may mean that there is a "God". My own existential experience just shows them for what they are and so I tend to chuckle at their naivete. But I can tell you stories that would put the hairs on the back of your head on end... Possession? I've been possessed, but not to the dramatic affect as are in the movies. A good movie to rent, for Japanese style Ghost stories, is "The Two Sisters." "The Grudge" was a poor remake of Ju-On. It's interesting to see superstition in movies where Buddhism is espoused. I'm still seeking "The 5 Ghosts" by Jackie Chan. btw, telling a Buddhist that he is knowledgeable may be considered derogatory. We're supposed to fore go all knowledge that isn't existential.
