Ritual refashioned: Buddhism, Lingbao and the adaptation of vows (yuan 願)

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article examines the influence of the early third century ce Foshuo pusa benye jing 佛說菩薩本業經 (T no. 281), translated by Zhi Qian 支謙 (fl. 222–252), on a formative scripture in the Daoist Lingbao 靈寶 (Numinous Treasure) tradition in the early fifth century ce, Taishang dongxuan xiaomo zhihui benyuan dajie shangpin jing 太上洞玄消魔智慧本願大戒上品經 (DZ no. 343). It does so by exploring the adaptation of a series of ‘vows’ (Ch. 願 yuan, Sk. praṇidhāna) from this Buddhist text and their reformulation to meet the needs of a growing Daoist community. The Daoist adaptation of these praṇidhāna demonstrates a deliberate refashioning of Buddhist practice to meet communal Daoist concerns, including conceptions of family; social and ritual praxis; the expansion of the Lingbao movement, as well as relations between Lingbao practitioners and contemporary secular authorities. Rather than a clumsy corruption of a Buddhist text, this article argues that this Lingbao scripture adeptly inserts Daoist concepts into a competing religious framework, and cleverly utilizes them to provide guidance to a growing community network of practitioners.