Spells are written to be used, of course, so it’s interesting to look at an actual book of spells that was owned by a Buddhist monk – one of our 9th or 10th century Dunhuang manuscripts, IOL Tib J 401. They all had their spell techniques – and if they were to win the hearts and minds of ordinary people, the Buddhists would need spells too. Buddhist monks faced competition from the Brahmins in India, from the Bön and Shen in Tibet, and from the Daoists in China. And ordinary people have turned to the monks for help with their everyday needs, whether serious calamities like illness, the complications of childbirth and spirit possession, or the questions that are answered by astrology and divination. Buddhist monks have traditionally lived apart from, yet among lay people, who support their way of life. (See Peter Skilling’s article.)Īnd there’s nothing mysterious, dubious or underhand about it. Mantras are found in the texts of the Sarvāstivadin sect and in the paritta texts of the Theravadins. Indeed, the recitation of verses against disease or evil spirits goes right back to the beginnings of Buddhism. Spells were being cast by Buddhists long before the tantras appeared. (The story, from Daoxuan’s Further Lives of Eminent Monks, is retold in Richard McBride’s article.)Īnd let’s not think that this only applies to tantric Buddhism. But Bodhiruci stopped the monk and explained that all Indian monks learn these skills. Once, when a Chinese monk spotted Bodhiruci casting a spell to make the water in a well boil, the monk started to pay special homage to him. There’s a story about Bodhiruci – an Indian monk who taught for many years in China – that nicely illustrates this.
No, Indian, Chinese, Japanese monks have all mixed potions, cast spells and exorcised demons. Let’s not make the mistake of thinking that this only applies to Tibetan Buddhism, through some insidious influence of shamanism (whatever that is). But magic? Well, it seems that throughout most of the history of Buddhism the answer to the first question has been yes, and to the second usually why not? In fact, the Buddhist canon contains enough spells to rival the repertoire of Merlin, Saruman and Harry Potter put together. Can monks do magic? Should they? We often picture monks (or at least the ideal of the monk) firmly in the setting of the monastery, either seeking enlightenment through study and meditation, or carrying out in the affairs of the monastery.