Response 1: Tibetan Buddhists’ Rituals
A) In your own words, summarize the activities (individual rites) practiced, including when and
by whom it is performed.
B) How does this ritual correspond to the Buddhist beliefs of reincarnation
C) How does this ritual correspond to the Four Noble Truths?
First ritual
When someone will pass away soon, a high lama, monk, nun or lay practitioner goes near the
bedside and starts reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead in the ear of that person. The reading
continues for forty nine days following the demise. The goal of this ritual is to guide the person
who is dead. Guiding is done in order to help the deceased have a good reincarnation. In
addition, reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead helps to alleviate the person’s suffering.
Second Ritual
Another ritual is phowa. A person practices phowa by taking his consciousness and
putting it somewhere else. He imagines that the Buddha Amitabha, someone who reached
enlightenment, is located above the crown, a spot positioned at the top of the head. He also sees
himself as dakini, a female deity of wisdom. The goal is to make his consciousness reach the
heart of the Buddha by moving it through the crown. Afterwards, he pulls it back. If one does the
phowa on behalf of a deceased or someone who is nearing the end of his life, he sees them as a
dakini. However, it is important to note that the consciousness stays in Buddha’s heart.
Phowa is linked to reincarnation because it helps to have a higher rebirth. Furthermore,
since the ritual is similar to meditation, it can be seen as a way to cultivate detachment.
Third Ritual
This ritual is done when a person is almost going to pass away. In order to make sure the
consciousness goes through the crown, a person pulls a hair from the crown. This ritual is
associated to reincarnation since it is easier to reincarnate if the consciousness is not lost. If it is
located at a place where it is not supposed to be, there is suffering.
A) In your own words, summarize the activities (individual rites) practiced, including when and
by whom it is performed.
B) How does this ritual correspond to the Buddhist beliefs of reincarnation
C) How does this ritual correspond to the Four Noble Truths?
First ritual
When someone will pass away soon, a high lama, monk, nun or lay practitioner goes near the
bedside and starts reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead in the ear of that person. The reading
continues for forty nine days following the demise. The goal of this ritual is to guide the person
who is dead. Guiding is done in order to help the deceased have a good reincarnation. In
addition, reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead helps to alleviate the person’s suffering.
Second Ritual
Another ritual is phowa. A person practices phowa by taking his consciousness and
putting it somewhere else. He imagines that the Buddha Amitabha, someone who reached
enlightenment, is located above the crown, a spot positioned at the top of the head. He also sees
himself as dakini, a female deity of wisdom. The goal is to make his consciousness reach the
heart of the Buddha by moving it through the crown. Afterwards, he pulls it back. If one does the
phowa on behalf of a deceased or someone who is nearing the end of his life, he sees them as a
dakini. However, it is important to note that the consciousness stays in Buddha’s heart.
Phowa is linked to reincarnation because it helps to have a higher rebirth. Furthermore,
since the ritual is similar to meditation, it can be seen as a way to cultivate detachment.
Third Ritual
This ritual is done when a person is almost going to pass away. In order to make sure the
consciousness goes through the crown, a person pulls a hair from the crown. This ritual is
associated to reincarnation since it is easier to reincarnate if the consciousness is not lost. If it is
located at a place where it is not supposed to be, there is suffering.
