This Master’s thesis explores the intersection of ritual, belief, and social structure in the Yungdrung Bön tradition as practiced in Tsho (common name: Ringmo), a village in Dolpo, Nepal. Combining anthropological fieldwork with religious and philosophical analysis, it provides a detailed examination of death rituals, their meanings, and their roles in the community.
The research, conducted through interviews and participant observation during field visits between 2017 and 2018, contextualizes these practices within broader academic discussions of Tibetan, Buddhist, and Bön studies. Drawing from theories such as Arnold van Gennep’s rites of passage and Émile Durkheim’s social constructs of religion, the thesis bridges theoretical frameworks with ethnographic findings. It offers a nuanced view of how death is perceived not as an end but as a transition, with rituals designed to guide the deceased through the intermediate state (bardo) toward rebirth or ultimate liberation.
Tsho’s community life is deeply intertwined with Yungdrung Bön, a religious tradition that informs not only spiritual practices but also social cohesion. Family altars and dedicated prayer rooms (chos khangs) anchor daily rituals and seasonal ceremonies, creating a living connection between the villagers and their deities, ancestors, and protectors. In this thesis, funeral practices, including cremation and rites such as zhi khro, are examined in detail, showcasing their philosophical underpinnings and communal significance.
The study also sheds light on how external influences, such as tourism, economic shifts, and migration, interact with traditional practices. Economic reliance on the harvest and trade of Yartsagunbu, a highly valued caterpillar fungus, has significantly transformed livelihoods and social dynamics in the village. Despite these changes, the rituals retain their core purpose, reflecting a balance between tradition and adaptability.
By combining a focus on ritual analysis with an exploration of social change, this thesis highlights the resilience and evolution of cultural practices in Tsho. It contributes to a deeper understanding of how the Yungdrung Bön tradition integrates beliefs about death with the practical realities of communal life, offering a compelling study of the interplay between the sacred and the everyday.
1. Introduction
1.1. Research field and background
1.2. Definition of the research question and setting
2. The village of Tsho
2.1. Geographical and historical notes
2.2. Population and occupation
2.3. Social Structure
2.4. Religious life in the community
2.5. Thasung Tsholing Monastery
3. Remarks on the research
3.1. Field studies
3.2. Methods and Preparation
3.3. Informants
3.3.1. Monastic informants
3.3.2. Lay informants
4. Essential philosophical characteristics of the concepts of dying and death
4.1. Local protector spirits and sacred places
4.2. Human action as cause and result
4.3. Concepts of soul, mind, and consciousness
4.4. The intermediate states, the final liberation, and the process of dying
5. Dealing with death in Tsho
5.1. Practices after death in community
5.1.1. The first three days and the funeral ceremony
5.1.2. Local particularities of the cremation sites
5.1.3. Keeping the bodily remains
5.1.4. Aspects of the seven weeks after death
5.2. Offering objects as transformative elements
5.3. Intentions and effects of the rituals
6. Perspectives of change and transition
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This master's thesis investigates the death rites and death beliefs within the community of Tsho in Dolpo, Nepal, which officially follows the Yungdrung Bön tradition. The work aims to understand how the community deals with death, how these rituals are structured, and how they relate to both local customs and broader philosophical concepts of the Bön religion to support the deceased's path and aid the survivors in the mourning process.
- The socio-cultural context of the village of Tsho and its religious integration.
- The practical performance of death rituals, including cremation and the subsequent forty-nine-day period.
- The philosophical underpinnings of Yungdrung Bön regarding death, bardo (intermediate state), and liberation.
- The role of monks and lay informants in maintaining religious traditions under changing socio-economic conditions.
Excerpt from the Book
5.1.1. The first three days and the funeral ceremony
In Tsho, as soon as the inevitability of the approaching death of a weakened person is evident, the dying person's family members stay with the person and summon at least one monk of the local monastery to be with them. As the kitchen is the centre of a household's everyday life, they mostly stay there, and thus the passing gets the main attention. I experienced such a situation in 2017, when on a day at the end of May, the grandmother of my host family's neighbours passed away. On that day, something seemed to be unusual because already in the morning, we saw the neighbour walking to the monastery and heard that he was about to invite Geshe Sherab Gocha to the house, but there was no ritual scheduled.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the motivation and research focus on death rituals in the Yungdrung Bön tradition in Dolpo.
2. The village of Tsho: Provides a geographical and socio-economic overview of Tsho, including its religious life and monastery.
3. Remarks on the research: Outlines the methodological approach, including field studies and the role of key monastic and lay informants.
4. Essential philosophical characteristics of the concepts of dying and death: Discusses Bön concepts of protector spirits, karma, consciousness, and the intermediate states.
5. Dealing with death in Tsho: Details the practical ritual procedures following a death, including cremation and offerings.
6. Perspectives of change and transition: Analyzes how economic and social shifts impact traditional practices and intergenerational perspectives.
7. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, highlighting death as a transitional phase framed by rituals that connect communal support with Bön beliefs.
Keywords
Yungdrung Bön, Dolpo, Tsho, Death Rites, Funeral Ceremony, Bardo, Cremation, Rituals, Karma, Consciousness, Monastery, Field Research, Anthropology of Religion, Cultural Change, Mourning Process
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basic focus of this thesis?
This thesis examines the death rites and death-related beliefs of the community of Tsho in Dolpo, Nepal, specifically within the religious context of the Yungdrung Bön tradition.
What are the central thematic areas?
Key themes include the description of ritual practices, the role of local monastic and lay actors, the philosophical foundation of death in Bön doctrine, and the impact of socio-economic change on these traditions.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to contextualize the death rituals performed in Tsho by analyzing them through the lens of local practice and Bön philosophy, thereby showing how they facilitate the transition of the deceased and the mourning of survivors.
Which scientific method is used?
The research is based on an ethnographic approach, utilizing long-term field studies, participant observation, and qualitative interviews with both monastic and lay informants.
What is covered in the main section of the work?
The main part details the community context, the theological frameworks of death (karma, bardo, soul), and the concrete execution of funeral rituals, including cremation and rites performed during the forty-nine days after death.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Yungdrung Bön, Dolpo, death rites, bardo, community rituals, and anthropology of religion.
How do recent economic changes affect the death rituals in Tsho?
Economic shifts, such as the Yartsagunbu harvest and increased tourism, have created new social dynamics and time constraints, leading to intergenerational differences in how religious duties are prioritized and performed.
What is the function of the "byang bu" in the funeral ceremony?
The byang bu is a ritual card featuring a drawing of the deceased, which serves as a symbolic representative of the person and a focal point for the monk's recitations to guide the consciousness through the stages of bardo.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Amrei Vogel (Autor:in), 2021, Death Rites and Death Beliefs of a Village Bön Tradition in Dolpo, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1552887
