Seeing, Touching, Holding and Swallowing Tibetan Buddhist Texts

Abstract

Cathy Cantwell surveys Tibetan ritual practices with books to show that ritualized interactions with sacred books express and reinforce Tibetan Buddhist identity and veneration of the Dharma. They also serve pragmatic medical ends. Her detailed discussion concludes by drawing comparisons and contrasts with the use of iconic books in other cultures, including the observation that Tibetan texts become more sacred through their ritual use.