My latest for Fairer Disputations, on the strange world of tulpamancy. It’s a long read (so make a cup of tea!). Here’s a brief excerpt: I stumbled upon tulpamancy after years of studying some of the weirder corners of the Internet: places where bizarre self-diagnoses, fragile identities, and dangerous desires bring perfect strangers into community with one another. I’ve come to see these spaces as carefully sealed chambers for the management of belief and doubt, and many of the dynamics I’ve noticed there reappear in the world of tulpamancy.
In the meantime- I’m reading a book about Shinto (The Essence of Shinto: Japan’s Spiritual Heart) published 8 years ago, and so far the author Motohiso Yamakage seems to have been very wise about the human need for spiritualism in the global age. Here’s some chunks that felt very on point for those interested:
“As the social and environmental costs of materialism become more apparent, people are inclined once again to ask deeper questions. They have recently started feeling a strong desire for pursuing meaning, values, and ethics. This is clearly manifested in the recent booming interest in mysticism known as the New Age movement and the events created by the new occult religions. There is a serious danger that, in a climate of spiritual ignorance, such movements can assume a distorted or perverse form.”
“At the same time, established religious organizations are losing their spiritual influence and ability to respond to widespread spiritual hunger. It is because they tend merely to reflect modernity rather than engage critically with the modern world. The more abstract and "intellectual" they become, the more they become materialistic and worldly, and so lose their spiritual dimension. Therefore, with few choices left, people are readily led into the dangerous occult world. Many of the new occult religious groups cynically distort the inner teachings of the traditional religions. They give, or more often sell, instant spiritual teachings to anyone who requests them, whether or not they are truly open to or ready for spiritual advancement. This can have harmful and destabilizing effects on the individuals concerned and even on the teachings themselves.”
“We can say that the great influx of atheism and materialism into Japan had a serious influence on the Japanese mind, where the notion of Kami and spirit-soul (reikon) are increasingly disappearing. Human beings are seen as simply material things, and there is no concept of an afterlife or a sense of continuity in the dominant culture of modern Japan. This view of the world has steadily undermined rather than enhanced the humanist conceptions of freedom, responsibility, and dignity. When human beings become conscious of an afterlife, of a higher being or beings, or of the possibility of rebirth, they are more likely to think beyond their immediate material interests. But when assuming everything is finished with death, people might conclude that they can do anything as long as they are not violating man-made laws or as long as they are managing to escape punishment. Then their absolute goals are satisfying their short-term desires and the prolongation of life at all costs. Ultimately, such questions as "what does it really mean to be human?" or "what values should human beings pursue?" begin to disappear.”
This is absolutely fascinating, and well worth the time to read.
I had never heard of the term 'Tulpa', and had to check if it was real... For a moment I thought it was going to be an elaborate metaphor!
Got to admit, there have been times in my life I would have been susceptible to going down that path. A love of stories, folk tales, fantasy, and being a natural introvert. So much time spent in my head.
Ha ha, I thought that a "Greysexual" would be someone like me ----- too old to be arsed any more. Not so, apparently.
Fascinating! Bookmarking this to read later.
In the meantime- I’m reading a book about Shinto (The Essence of Shinto: Japan’s Spiritual Heart) published 8 years ago, and so far the author Motohiso Yamakage seems to have been very wise about the human need for spiritualism in the global age. Here’s some chunks that felt very on point for those interested:
“As the social and environmental costs of materialism become more apparent, people are inclined once again to ask deeper questions. They have recently started feeling a strong desire for pursuing meaning, values, and ethics. This is clearly manifested in the recent booming interest in mysticism known as the New Age movement and the events created by the new occult religions. There is a serious danger that, in a climate of spiritual ignorance, such movements can assume a distorted or perverse form.”
“At the same time, established religious organizations are losing their spiritual influence and ability to respond to widespread spiritual hunger. It is because they tend merely to reflect modernity rather than engage critically with the modern world. The more abstract and "intellectual" they become, the more they become materialistic and worldly, and so lose their spiritual dimension. Therefore, with few choices left, people are readily led into the dangerous occult world. Many of the new occult religious groups cynically distort the inner teachings of the traditional religions. They give, or more often sell, instant spiritual teachings to anyone who requests them, whether or not they are truly open to or ready for spiritual advancement. This can have harmful and destabilizing effects on the individuals concerned and even on the teachings themselves.”
“We can say that the great influx of atheism and materialism into Japan had a serious influence on the Japanese mind, where the notion of Kami and spirit-soul (reikon) are increasingly disappearing. Human beings are seen as simply material things, and there is no concept of an afterlife or a sense of continuity in the dominant culture of modern Japan. This view of the world has steadily undermined rather than enhanced the humanist conceptions of freedom, responsibility, and dignity. When human beings become conscious of an afterlife, of a higher being or beings, or of the possibility of rebirth, they are more likely to think beyond their immediate material interests. But when assuming everything is finished with death, people might conclude that they can do anything as long as they are not violating man-made laws or as long as they are managing to escape punishment. Then their absolute goals are satisfying their short-term desires and the prolongation of life at all costs. Ultimately, such questions as "what does it really mean to be human?" or "what values should human beings pursue?" begin to disappear.”
I wish you had said what "tulpamancy" is at the top. I had to google it.
More manifestation of the bicameral brain in (segmented) action?
These are incredibly lonely people. I just hope this doesn't turn into another social justice movement and devour more people.
AI may replace most of this, as people will have an embodied machine to talk to that talks back, and that they can have sex with, or whatever.
Such a fascinating species...
This is absolutely fascinating, and well worth the time to read.
I had never heard of the term 'Tulpa', and had to check if it was real... For a moment I thought it was going to be an elaborate metaphor!
Got to admit, there have been times in my life I would have been susceptible to going down that path. A love of stories, folk tales, fantasy, and being a natural introvert. So much time spent in my head.
I'm grateful for those who have kept me grounded.