| Revision as of 17:49, 18 January 2007 edit200.109.217.69 (talk) →Literature← Previous edit | Revision as of 02:42, 1 February 2008 edit undoGhostexorcist (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers17,272 edits another wiki site is not a viable source. Besides, that wiki says nothing at all, just an empty page.Next edit → | ||
| (31 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| A '''tulpa''' is, in ]an ], a being or object which is created through sheer ] alone. In other words, it is a materialized thought that has taken physical form (a ]). | A '''tulpa''' is, in ]an ], a being or object which is created through sheer ] alone. In other words, it is a materialized thought that has taken physical form (a ]).<ref>Eileen Campbell, J.H. Brennan and Fran Holt-Underwood, ''Body Mind & Spirit: A Dictionary of New Age Ideas, People, Places, and Terms'', Tuttle Pub, ISBN 0-8048-3010-X</ref> | ||
| The concept was brought to the West in the ] by ], who claimed to have created a tulpa in the image of a jolly, ]-like ] which later developed a life of its own and had to be destroyed. Many authors and artists have since used tulpas in their works, both in the context of fiction and in writing about mysticism. Horror author ], for example, envisioned his famous "]" killer to be nothing more than a myth gone terribly awry in his original story. | The concept was brought to the West in the ] by ]<ref>Source: http://rigint.blogspot.com/2006/07/planet-of-lost-children-part-one.html (accessed: Friday January 19, 2007)</ref>, who claimed to have created a tulpa in the image of a jolly, ]-like ] which later developed a life of its own and had to be destroyed. David-Neel has been cited by Wells (2006), follow website metalink in notes or references. | ||
| Many authors and artists have since used tulpas in their works, both in the context of fiction and in writing about mysticism. Horror author ], for example, envisioned his famous "]" killer to be nothing more than a myth gone terribly awry in his original story. | |||
| ==The Tulpa and Popular Culture== | ==The Tulpa and Popular Culture== | ||
| {{spoiler}} | |||
| ===Television=== | ===Television=== | ||
| * In the '']'' episode '']'' (6X13), the president of the homeowners' association for an exclusive gated community uses a tulpa to enforce the neighborhood rules; those who repeatedly violate the guidelines meet a grisly fate at its hands. | * In the '']'' episode '']'' (6X13), the president of the homeowners' association for an exclusive gated community uses a tulpa to enforce the neighborhood rules; those who repeatedly violate the guidelines meet a grisly fate at its hands. | ||
| * The '']'' episode ''Hell House'' (1.17) features a haunted house in which the resident malevolent spirit turns out to be a tulpa, created when the beliefs of thousands of website visitors are focused through a Tibetan ] painted on one wall of the house. | * The '']'' episode ''Hell House'' (1.17) features a haunted house in which the resident malevolent spirit turns out to be a tulpa, created when the beliefs of thousands of website visitors are focused through a Tibetan ] painted on one wall of the house. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 18: | ||
| *In '']'', the character ] (Shonen Bat) is revealed to have materialized thanks to the growing hysteria caused when ] claimed he attacked her. | *In '']'', the character ] (Shonen Bat) is revealed to have materialized thanks to the growing hysteria caused when ] claimed he attacked her. | ||
| *''The Tulpa'' is a ] ] | *''The Tulpa'' is a ] ].<ref></ref> | ||
| ===Literature=== | ===Literature=== | ||
| Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
| * In ''Nightingale's Lament'' by ], a tulpa in the image of John Taylor's client is sent after him at one point, tracking him by a hair the client left on his jacket; it disappears when the hair is destroyed. | * In ''Nightingale's Lament'' by ], a tulpa in the image of John Taylor's client is sent after him at one point, tracking him by a hair the client left on his jacket; it disappears when the hair is destroyed. | ||
| * In ''Every Which Way But Dead'' by ], 'Tulpa' is the focus word used to create a three-dimensional circle in |
* In ''Every Which Way But Dead'' by ], 'Tulpa' is the focus word used to create a three-dimensional circle in the main character, Rachel Morgan's imagination, and is used to hold an overflow of power. | ||
| * In ''American Gods'' by ], various deity-like beings are created through cultural belief, a certain society's perception of, say, Odin, creating a form of that god particular to that society. | * In ''American Gods'' by ], various deity-like beings are created through cultural belief, a certain society's perception of, say, Odin, creating a form of that god particular to that society. | ||
| * In ''It'' by ], the eponymous entity's various manifestations are given form and power by the belief of the townspeople. | * In '']'' by ], the eponymous entity's various manifestations are given form and power by the belief of the townspeople. | ||
| *In ''Outcast'' by ], the main character, Kyle, is confronted and pestered by a tulpa of his own creation, that convinces him that he is his lost twin brother. | *In ''Outcast'' by ], the main character, Kyle, is confronted and pestered by a tulpa of his own creation, that convinces him that he is his lost twin brother. | ||
| *In ]’s ] graphic novel ‘] 1234’ (]) ] muses on a fictitious journey to ] where, with the help of ] priest, he creates a Tulpa, a |
*In ]’s ] graphic novel ‘] 1234’ (]) ] muses on a fictitious journey to ] where, with the help of ] priest, he creates a Tulpa, a “thoughtform”. After Richards names it ‘Victor’ the Tulpa takes on a life of its own, becoming Richards’ opposite number. This was an alternative, fantastical, origin for Richards’ arch enemy ] (aka Victor Von Doom). | ||
| *According to the book ''The Teachings of Don Juan Matus'', a Mexican shaman by the name of ], who had taught his student ], the books author, about the true nature of the physical universe and how intense concentration can summon, ], and even materialize objects out of thin air. It was said that ] was able to materialize a living squirrel on the palm of Don Juan's hand based on the latter's instruction. Many of his claims have been disputed by members of the ] profession. | *According to the book ''The Teachings of Don Juan Matus'', a Mexican shaman by the name of ], who had taught his student ], the books author, about the true nature of the physical universe and how intense concentration can summon, ], and even materialize objects out of thin air. It was said that ] was able to materialize a living squirrel on the palm of Don Juan's hand based on the latter's instruction.<ref>[http://www.swami-center.org/en/text/Juan_Matus.html The Teachings | ||
| of Don Juan Matus]</ref> Many of his claims have been disputed by members of the ] profession.<ref></ref> | |||
| * In ''Secrets & Mysteries of the World'' by ], chapter 7: Tulpas, explains brief story of old Tulpas and new Tulpas from England. | * In ''Secrets & Mysteries of the World'' by ], chapter 7: Tulpas, explains brief story of old Tulpas and new Tulpas from England. | ||
| * In '' |
* In ''The Mothman Prophecies'' by John A. Keel, the author alludes to several ghost and UFO sightings as likely being tulpas. | ||
| * In ''Las Ruinas Circulares'' by ], the hole tale is about the creation of a tulpa that become evil and dangerous. | |||
| * Smith, Russell James (2003). ''Tulpa''. Writers Advantage. ISBN-10: 0595274900 / ISBN-13:978-0595274901 (a work of fiction) | |||
| * In '']'' by ] and ], a tulpa is created. | |||
| *Alvin Schwartz, writer of Superman comics during the '40s and '50s, writes in his book, ''An Unlikely Prophet'' about a tulpa he meets, named Thongden. The tulpa educates Schwartz about his own tulpa, Superman. ISBN-10: 0965952126 and ISBN-13: 978-0965952125 | |||
| *Starting in July 1989, ] wrote a story arc for ] entitled "Tulpa", in which a Tibetian man creates entities to steal for him in order to repay a mob boss. | |||
| === |
===Games=== | ||
| *In the RPG (Role-Playing Game) '''Over the Edge''', Tulpas are used as background characters (NPC's). They |
*In the RPG (Role-Playing Game) '''Over the Edge''', Tulpas are used as background characters (NPC's). They also have natural enemies, sociopathic individuals called '''Sandmen''', who prey on them to create either "Nightmare" (a drug) or "Dreamweb" (gossamer webs that can capture dreams from people). Dreamweb are typically used to capture the nightmares of neurotic individuals, which are also sold as something like a drug. | ||
| *Although the word "Tulpa" is never used in the '''Changeling: the Dreaming''' RPG, creatures known as "Chimera" fulfill a role very similar to Tulpa. Chimera may be sentient or non-sentient entities made manifest in the mental alternate reality of "The Dreaming". They typically arise spontaneously due to the force of human thought and emotion, sometimes from the dreams of individuals but potentially as amalgams of all human thought. These beings are typically weakened by exposure to human doubt, but nevertheless some have the necessary strength and abilities to manifest as tangible entities in the mundane world of humans, at least for a time. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 50: | Line 63: | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| <References/> | |||
| * Eileen Campbell, J.H. Brennan and Fran Holt-Underwood, ''Body Mind & Spirit: A Dictionary of New Age Ideas, People, Places, and Terms'', Tuttle Pub, ISBN 0-8048-3010-X | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 02:42, 1 February 2008
A tulpa is, in Tibetan mysticism, a being or object which is created through sheer willpower alone. In other words, it is a materialized thought that has taken physical form (a thoughtform).
The concept was brought to the West in the 19th century by Alexandra David-Neel, who claimed to have created a tulpa in the image of a jolly, Friar Tuck-like monk which later developed a life of its own and had to be destroyed. David-Neel has been cited by Wells (2006), follow website metalink in notes or references.
Many authors and artists have since used tulpas in their works, both in the context of fiction and in writing about mysticism. Horror author Clive Barker, for example, envisioned his famous "Candy Man" killer to be nothing more than a myth gone terribly awry in his original story.
The Tulpa and Popular Culture
Television
- In the X-Files episode Arcadia (6X13), the president of the homeowners' association for an exclusive gated community uses a tulpa to enforce the neighborhood rules; those who repeatedly violate the guidelines meet a grisly fate at its hands.
- The Supernatural episode Hell House (1.17) features a haunted house in which the resident malevolent spirit turns out to be a tulpa, created when the beliefs of thousands of website visitors are focused through a Tibetan sigil painted on one wall of the house.
- In the So Weird episode PK (or Tulpa). Fi meets a little boy who is troublesome and it is caused because of a Tulpa he creates. He thinks it is an imaginary friend but Fi tells him it's some type of energy he created and helps him solve it.
- In Tears of Kali by Andreas Marschall, an entity becomes an evil murderer that can't be controlled.
- In Paranoia Agent, the character Lil' Slugger (Shonen Bat) is revealed to have materialized thanks to the growing hysteria caused when Tsukiko Sagi claimed he attacked her.
- The Tulpa is a Canadian short film.
Literature
- In Nightingale's Lament by Simon Green, a tulpa in the image of John Taylor's client is sent after him at one point, tracking him by a hair the client left on his jacket; it disappears when the hair is destroyed.
- In Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison, 'Tulpa' is the focus word used to create a three-dimensional circle in the main character, Rachel Morgan's imagination, and is used to hold an overflow of power.
- In American Gods by Neil Gaiman, various deity-like beings are created through cultural belief, a certain society's perception of, say, Odin, creating a form of that god particular to that society.
- In It by Stephen King, the eponymous entity's various manifestations are given form and power by the belief of the townspeople.
- In Outcast by Lynne Ewing, the main character, Kyle, is confronted and pestered by a tulpa of his own creation, that convinces him that he is his lost twin brother.
- In Grant Morrison’s Marvel graphic novel ‘Fantastic Four 1234’ (2002) Reed Richards muses on a fictitious journey to Tibet where, with the help of Bön priest, he creates a Tulpa, a “thoughtform”. After Richards names it ‘Victor’ the Tulpa takes on a life of its own, becoming Richards’ opposite number. This was an alternative, fantastical, origin for Richards’ arch enemy Dr Doom (aka Victor Von Doom).
- According to the book The Teachings of Don Juan Matus, a Mexican shaman by the name of Don Juan Matus, who had taught his student Carlos Castaneda, the books author, about the true nature of the physical universe and how intense concentration can summon, apport, and even materialize objects out of thin air. It was said that Carlos Castaneda was able to materialize a living squirrel on the palm of Don Juan's hand based on the latter's instruction. Many of his claims have been disputed by members of the anthropological profession.
- In Secrets & Mysteries of the World by Sylvia Browne , chapter 7: Tulpas, explains brief story of old Tulpas and new Tulpas from England.
- In The Mothman Prophecies by John A. Keel, the author alludes to several ghost and UFO sightings as likely being tulpas.
- In Las Ruinas Circulares by Jorge Luis Borges, the hole tale is about the creation of a tulpa that become evil and dangerous.
- Smith, Russell James (2003). Tulpa. Writers Advantage. ISBN-10: 0595274900 / ISBN-13:978-0595274901 (a work of fiction)
- In The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, a tulpa is created.
- Alvin Schwartz, writer of Superman comics during the '40s and '50s, writes in his book, An Unlikely Prophet about a tulpa he meets, named Thongden. The tulpa educates Schwartz about his own tulpa, Superman. ISBN-10: 0965952126 and ISBN-13: 978-0965952125
- Starting in July 1989, Alan Grant (writer) wrote a story arc for Batman entitled "Tulpa", in which a Tibetian man creates entities to steal for him in order to repay a mob boss.
Games
- In the RPG (Role-Playing Game) Over the Edge, Tulpas are used as background characters (NPC's). They also have natural enemies, sociopathic individuals called Sandmen, who prey on them to create either "Nightmare" (a drug) or "Dreamweb" (gossamer webs that can capture dreams from people). Dreamweb are typically used to capture the nightmares of neurotic individuals, which are also sold as something like a drug.
- Although the word "Tulpa" is never used in the Changeling: the Dreaming RPG, creatures known as "Chimera" fulfill a role very similar to Tulpa. Chimera may be sentient or non-sentient entities made manifest in the mental alternate reality of "The Dreaming". They typically arise spontaneously due to the force of human thought and emotion, sometimes from the dreams of individuals but potentially as amalgams of all human thought. These beings are typically weakened by exposure to human doubt, but nevertheless some have the necessary strength and abilities to manifest as tangible entities in the mundane world of humans, at least for a time.
See also
References
- Eileen Campbell, J.H. Brennan and Fran Holt-Underwood, Body Mind & Spirit: A Dictionary of New Age Ideas, People, Places, and Terms, Tuttle Pub, ISBN 0-8048-3010-X
- Source: http://rigint.blogspot.com/2006/07/planet-of-lost-children-part-one.html (accessed: Friday January 19, 2007)
- The Tulpa (2005)
- [http://www.swami-center.org/en/text/Juan_Matus.html The Teachings of Don Juan Matus]
- PEYOTE'S HALLUCINATIONS SPAWN REAL-LIFE ACADEMIC FEUD