Tantric Buddhist Cures for Diseases

Abstract

This short paper examines cures for diseases prescribed in Tantric Buddhis literature, mainly based upon the Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgraha (hereafter STTS), the principal scripture of Yogatantras, and its related texts. The features of the cures prescribed in the text examined are as follows: (1) the techniques of the possession (āveśa in Sanskrit) are applied to the cures; (2) rays of light (or shining deities) are involved in the techniques of possession which are applied to the cures; and (3) the rituals of gazing (dṛṣṭi in Sanskrit), which are closely related to rays of light emitted from the eyes of the practitioner, are also applied to the cure. Possession occupies the core of the various ritual practices prescribed in the STTS. The important role of possession is also seen in the cures for diseases in the STTS and the related literature.