Dealing with Threats to Health and Welfare
World of Worldly Gods May 6, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780197669860.003.0004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Residents of Goleng village, Bhutan (Golengpas) |
| Key findings | Argues that the weak presence of Buddhism and the scarcity of healthcare services in Goleng village have left Bon rituals unchallenged and relevant. Concludes that beliefs in fluctuating five life elements, a shamanic worldview of sharing the world with nonhumans, and placatory rituals performed mainly by Bonpos make Bon central to how Golengpas deal with everyday anxieties and misfortunes. |
Abstract
Abstract This chapter focuses on family and individual concerns and examines the ways in which people deal with threats to everyday life, health, and welfare posed by a range of supernatural entities. It demonstrates that it is not only the weak Buddhist presence but also the dearth of healthcare services in the village that have left the utility of Bon rituals unchallenged and ever relevant to the villagers. The chapter concludes that the ubiquity of the idea of fluctuating five life elements, the shamanic worldview of sharing this world with nonhumans, and the rituals concerning the placation of the supernatural beings, predominantly the domain of Bonpos, reveal that Bon is central to Golengpas’ ways of dealing with life’s everyday anxieties and misfortunes.