Spiritual contracts and debts: Analysis of contemporary case studies of karmic effects across lifetimes in Chinese folk religion exorcisms.
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The concept of karma has deep roots in Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Chinese folk religions. Ancient religious texts often link past-life karma to present-life circumstances, a theme widely explored in religious doctrines. However, modern academic literature lacks thorough case studies on how karma manifests in real-life spiritual practices, especially in incidents involving supernatural possession. These occurrences are still observed in contemporary religious settings, particularly within Chinese folk religions, where individuals believed to be possessed due to karmic debts seek help from spiritual healers or mediums. Despite their frequency, formal documentation and academic analysis of such events remain limited. This paper explores three main areas: the circumstances leading to spiritual possession and the karmic ties involved; the methods used by spiritual practitioners to uncover these karmic connections; and the comparison between these practices and the Buddhist doctrine of karma. Through qualitative research, the study analyzes exorcism videos, transcribes conversations, and interviews spiritual practitioners. The findings are compared with Buddhist scriptures and academic theories on karma. The research reveals notable overlaps between Mahayana Buddhist and Chinese folk beliefs, including shared terminology, rituals, and ideas of karmic restitution. However, there are clear deviations in practice. Mediums often cite non-Buddhist sources like the "Akashic Records" from Theosophy and the Chinese "Life and Death Book" to determine karmic causes, indicating a syncretic blend of global spiritual concepts. The integration of such elements, possibly facilitated by internet access, reflects evolving religious practices. Despite diverging from traditional Buddhist doctrine, these practices appear effective in resolving spiritual disturbances, suggesting that alternative interpretations of karma can still yield meaningful spiritual outcomes. The study highlights the dynamic nature of karma-related beliefs and their practical applications across different cultural and religious frameworks. Keywords: karma, exorcism, Chinese folk religions, Buddhism, contemporary
DOI: 10.17613/59pnx-02n49
Author: Ari, Ari
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W7161947901
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