The Tibetan Chod rite : problems of interpretation

Abstract

This thesis was a pilot study into the various forms of dissociative phenomena manifested in the Tibetan Chod rite. The study examined some of the problems involved in interpreting the Chod rite from within and without its cultural context.This study consisted of a general description, history, and ontology of the Tibetan Chod rite; an overview of the methodological and theoretical problems of interpreting the cultural data of dissociative states based on the works of Palmer, Bourguignon, and Silverman; and an interpretation of the Chod rite from the standpoints of Barde psychology, schizophrenia (based an Silverman's five-stage cognitive model), and Laing'e view of dissociation as a significant learning experience.