Magic as a Buddhist Technology for Liberation

When you hear the word “Buddhism”, you might think of meditation, mindfulness and serenity. 

You should also be thinking about magic. 

Modern Buddhist discourse often speaks of magic as an embarrassing vestige that Buddhism should discard. It is spoken of as “superstition”, “just cultural”, and “not really Buddhism”. In this talk, we will make the opposite case: magic is one way Buddhists compassionately intervene in causes and conditions to liberate beings. 

Grounded in Buddhist doctrine and exploring expressions of magical rituals and methods across various Buddhist cultures, this session will explore how magic is an essential application of compassion. On the practical side, participants will receive the oral transmission of the Ganapati Hridaya Dharani Sutra, a Buddhist invocation of a magical emanation of Avalokitesvara himself. This is a simple yet powerful practice that creates blessings for self and others. 

Magic is not an extraneous add-on to Buddhism; it is part…