AtDTDA:27/28 Nechung - The State Oracle of Tibet

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

We are given a taste of the roots of Buddhism in the section we passing 
through. I guess it depends on how you choose to look at it, but I see a 
lot of pantheism in Pynchon. I suspect that, again, his interest/embrace 
of pantheism comes, in part, because it offers up tons of stories to bounce 
off of, plagiarize outright and introduce into storylines for dramatic effect---
hey, how about that Adgy, some hotdog, eh? 

http://www.pantheism.net/uu/wpmuu.pdf

This section shows how a variety of Witchcraft---Shamanism [or is it the 
other way round? no matter] morphs into Buddhism and develops 
Compassion into a deity in the process. Here's a great example of how
close Tibetan Buddhism is to its Shamanic sources:


In his autobiography, Freedom in Exile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama writes:

"For hundreds of years now, it has been traditional for the Dalai Lama, 
and the Government, to consult Nechung during the New Year festivals. 
In addition, he might well be called upon at other times if either have 
specific queries. I myself have dealings with him several times a year 
This may sound far-fetched to twentieth-century western readers. 
Even some Tibetans, mostly those who consider themselves 
'progressive', have misgivings about my continued use of this ancient 
method of intelligence gathering. But I do so for the simple reason that 
as I look back over the many occasions when I have asked questions 
of the oracle, on each one of them time has proved that his answer 
was correct. This is not to say that I rely solely on the oracle's advice. 
I do not. I seek his opinion in the same way as I seek the opinion of 
my Cabinet and just as I seek the opinion of my own conscience. I 
consider the gods to be my 'upper house'. The Kashag constitutes 
my lower house. Like any other leader, I consult both before making 
a decision on affairs of state. And sometimes, in addition to Nechung's 
counsel, I also take into consideration certain prophecies.

http://www.tibet.com/Buddhism/nechung_hh.html

This was my very first hit on the official Tibetan Buddhism website.
http://www.tibet.com/Buddhism/index.html