Symbolic Dimemsions of Tibetan Food Offerings: Management of Misfortune

This article deals with the construction of meaning of cultural tradition of food offering (sacrificial object, gtor ma to the deities amongst the Bonpos and the Tibetan Buddhists. The analysis of this particular Tibetan cultural practice appears to be an ascribed intrinsic power which evolves as an end product of a ritualistic long process. The Tibetan case study suggests that the sacrificial objects gtor ma welcome some of their indigenous deities (peaceful and wrathful protectors and their associates) and also drive away evil action on all the sentient beings during ceremonies, festivities and day-to-day activities to make their cultural tradition alive and meaningful. lt is argued that, the spiritual power objectified in Tibetan food offerings gtor ma can be designated as ＂spiritual nutrient＂ that disseminate differential power vested in its material properties to appease the hierarchically ordered sentient beings who belong to Bonpos and Buddhist conceptual realms of wheel of existence. Tibetan food offerings gtor ma are neither sacred nor secular. These challenge the supposed relationships between human and non-human entities, in other way, the unification of individuals with other worlds.

並列關鍵字

＂State＂ protection ceremony ； indigenous cultural tradition ； cultural practice ； spiritual nutrient

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