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Reflections on RasÄåyana, Bcud Len and Related Practices in Nyingma (Rnying Ma) Tantric Ritual

| Posted in: India history

Journal name: History of Science in South Asia
Original article title:
The journal “History of Science in South Asia� (HSSA) publishes high-quality research on the history of science, focusing on South Asia but also welcoming studies on broader cultural influences. It adopts a broad definition of “science� and encourages theoretical discussions and offers open access. Although initially supported by the Sayahna Foundation, it is now aided by the University of Alberta and Érudit.

Original source:

This page is merely a summary which is automatically generated hence you should visit the source to read the original article which includes the author, publication date, notes and references.

Author(s):

Cathy Cantwell
University of Oxford


History of Science in South Asia:

(Individual submissions go through peer-review)

Full text available for:

Year: Special Issue | Doi: 10.18732/hssa.v5i2.17

Copyright (license): Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.


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Summary of article contents:

The Tibetan term, bcud len, 'imbibing the essence juice', is considered an equivalent for the Sanskrit term, °ù²¹²õÄå²â²¹²Ô²¹. But in Tibetan Buddhist ritual manuals, both terms occur, apparently with slightly different connotations. Practices classified as bcud len are frequently relatively short, and seem primarily designed for the use of individual yogis, usually as a subsidiary practice to complement their main tantric meditation. The production of bcud len pills which are said to sustain, rejuvenate and extend the life of the body, or even to bring immortality, is often an integral part of the practice. The term, °ù²¹²õÄå²â²¹²Ô²¹, is used in Tibetan transliteration (ra sÄå ya na), not as a title or classification for a specific ritual practice or recipe for pills, but rather to refer to the processes of alchemical transformation of substances within complex ritual 'medicinal accomplishment' (sman sgrub) performances which are generally communal. In this case too, pills are produced, of the broader 'sacred elixir dharma medicine' (dam rdzas bdud rtsi chos sman) type. This paper will consider a range of the practices, and of substances used in the sacred medicinal compounds.

Other India history Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: �Reflections on Rasayana, Bcud Len and Related Practices in Nyingma (Rnying Ma) Tantric Ritual�. Further sources in the context of India history might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Mantra, Guru, Mandala, Vajrayana, Siddhi, Samaya, Nyingma, Rasayana, Deity, Nyangral, Four medical tantras, Impure food, Pure food, Tantric practice, Sanskrit term, Inner tantra, Essential ingredient, Canada.

Concepts being referred in other categories, contexts and sources.

Tantric ritual, Skull bowl, Medicinal pill, Pure and impure, Vital essence, Five poisons, Root Mantra, Inner offering.

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