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About “Buddhism for Vampires” | Buddhism for Vampires

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“Buddhism for vampires? That’s silly. Buddhism and vampires don’t have anything to do with each other—do they?” Surprisingly, vampires have played a significant role in Buddhism, in Asia, for centuries. They are not a Western invention. And, contemporary vampire fiction—“preternatural romance”—provides tools for presenting aspects of Buddhism that are otherwise difficult to communicate. There is extensive vampire lore within traditional Buddhism. I have summarized this in “The Tibetan Book of the Undead.” Apart from its intrinsic interest, this history makes it clear that one cannot dismiss “Buddhism for vampires” as inherently bogus. According to mainstream tradition, vampires have practiced Buddhism, and some have even attained Buddhahood. No one can say this is an illegitimate topic, or some kind of Western commercial distortion. One could combine Buddhism and vampires in a cheap gimmick—but I believe it is possible to explain Buddhism accurately in the language of the undead. In fa

“Buddhism for vampires ? That’s silly. Buddhism and vampires don’t have anything to do with each other—do they?” Surprisingly, vampires have played a significant role in Buddhism, in Asia, for centuries. They are not a Western invention. And, contemporary vampire fiction—“preternatural romance”—provides tools for presenting aspects of Buddhism that are otherwise difficult to communicate. Vampires in Buddhist history There is extensive vampire lore within traditional Buddhism. I have summarized this in “ The Tibetan Book of the Undead .” Apart from its intrinsic interest, this history makes it

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