The Coolidge examiner., 1936-11-06

Washington, d. C.-WNU Service.
A NCIENT Greece had her ora
~ Gle of Delphi; Tibet has her
n Sungmas, men believed to
have similar powers. Sung
mas are, to the Tibetans, neither
sorcerers nor incarnations, but the
abodes of malignant spirits, or spi-
rits, of demonized heroes who, SUBJ
dued by sanity lamas or high in
carnations, have become the protec-
tors of religion.
These rowing demon spirits, obed-
lent to the spells cast over them,
are said to select either lama or
layman as their abode during the
lifetime of the person thus selected.
Distinct from incaranations, they
manifest themselves involuntarily as
well as voluntarily in their chosen
abodeS.
Any lamasery with a claim to
| importance has its oracle, though
some of the supposed Sungmas are
impostors who work themselves into
frenzy merely for pecuniary gain.
Every Sungma has his fee, the
amount depending on the importance
of his demon spirit, and the wealth
of the person who seeks the augury.
Sometimes as much as 1000 tankas
($100 or more) will be exacted.
| n
replies the Sungmas give to ques-
tions have true Delphic vagueness
and ambiguity. They confine them
selves mainly to advice concerning
the performance of .meritorious
deeds to counteract evil influences or
ward off calamities. The questions
and handed to the Sungma, who,
without looking at them, holds them
above his head and answer" them
with incredible rapidity.
Five Chief Ones In Lhasa.
Although there are many Sung
mas, genuine or pretending,
throughout Tibet, the five of real
| importance reside in LhaSa. One of
them, recognized as the state oracle,
Ma chung, is consulted by the Dalai
| Lama.
These oracles play an important
role in the selection of high incar-
nations, or in the search for the in
carnation of deceased Dalai Lama.
1t was several years ago at the
lamasery of Yungning in northwest
ern Yunnan that a staff writer of
the National Geographic Magazine
| learned of the existence of these
mysterious Sungmas. The abbot told
him that the famous Balung chu die,
one of the Sungmas of Lhasa, was
to perform in Yungning at the Feast
of the Lights on the day of commem-
oration of the death of Tsong K'apa,
founder of the Yellow lama church.
The human abode, or chu die, of
Sungma Balung chu die, was the
person of Chungtien lama, native
of the Tongwa (Tibetan) tribe, the
son of a TongWa bandit chief of
northwest Yunnan. This possessed"
lama, who had been residing in
Lhasa for several years, had stopped
at Yungning on his way to visit his
birthplace in Chungtien. He is said
to be the abode of the powerful
demon Chechin.
There are several Sungmas who
are supposed to be the chu die of
Chechin. Of these the most impor-
tant is a lama called Betin Konser
chu die from the name of Chechin' S
house on the market square of
Lhasa; and the second in rank is
the one the writer saw perform in
Yungning-Balung chu die, named
after another residence o. Chechin.
AS their names indicate, they are
considered houses" of Che chin.
Both Balung chu die and Betin
Konser chu die, before going into
trance; that is, before Chechin
takes possession Of them, don the
robes of Sungma-elaborat de-
corated embroidered garments often
made of gold brocade, the gift of
some devout worshiper. Thus ar
rayed, they take their seats in for
eign fashion-not cross-legged-on
ornate chairs, usually near the en-
trance within the main temple of
the lamasery.
Invoking the Spirit.
Some of the lamas in attendance
begin to chant the classic of Che
chin, beseeching the spirit to take
possession of his chu die; while some
ring bells or blow conch shells; and
others, carrying incense burners,
walk around the bowed figure of
the waiting Sungma, waiting the
fragrant smoke of juniper twigs as
offering to Chechin.
Such was the beginning of the
performance in which the writer had
the rare experience of watching
Sugma Balung chu die.
The Sungma sat motionless on the
throne in the somber chanting hall,
his face buried in his hands, breath
ing the fragrant juniper smoke,
while the deep, low tones of the
chanting lamas, punctuated by bell