The wisdom arrow of the divine enchantress: Kurukullā, desire, and non-dual passion in Vajrayāna Buddhism and psychodynamic thought

Thesis

Kurukullā (Skt. kurukullā, Tib. ku ru ku lle, rig byed ma, dbang gyi lha mo) is a female meditational deity in Tibetan Buddhism associated with non-dual wisdom and ritual activity of subjugation through enchantment and enthrallment (Skt. vaśīkaraṇa; Tib. dbang du bya ba, dbang po'i las, dbang du byed pa, dbang ba). Amorous in appearance, Kurukullā represents gnosis (Skt. jñāna; Tib. ye shes) and the paradoxical and volatile quality of desire in her dynamic image.

This thesis examines the Vajrayāna practices of Kurukullā to explore how her praxes specialise in achieving gnosis and the Buddhist realisation of enlightenment by transforming desire. Understanding the psychological dimensions of her deity yoga (Skt. devatāyoga; Tib. lha'i rnal 'byor) that operate on the Vajrayāna theory of transforming the passion of desire into wisdom to reach enlightenment is the central axis of this exploration.

For this purpose, a comprehensive analysis of Kurukullā practice, the Vajrayāna exegesis of wisdom, and mental states related to the afflictive emotion of desire is surveyed. This examination is supported by a detailed presentation of Freudian psychodynamics that complements the Vajrayāna account of the mind to elaborate on the interrelation between Vajrayāna and psychodynamics. To understand and contextualise Kurukullā's role within the Vajrayāna tradition and the psychological dimensions of her practice, Kurukullā's genealogy, iconography, affiliation with Tārā, and her root Tantric text called Ārya-Tārā-Kurukullā Kalpa (Skt. āryatārākurukullākalpa, Tib. 'phags ma sgrol ma ku ru kulle'i rtog pa) are analysed. Vaśīkaraṇa, the central ritual activity of Kurukullā, is discussed within the ritual categorisations of the four enlightened activities (Skt. caturkarman; Tib. phrin las rnam bzhi) and attainments called siddhis (Skt. siddhi; Tib. dngos grub) to demonstrate how Kurukullā practice presents a unique pathway to transform desire and use vaśīkaraṇa as a dynamic ritual expression of manifesting her enlightened qualities of wisdom, compassion, and boundless love.

Authors: Yener, GA

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-zryvbemvx
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: psychoanalytic theory; tantric Buddhism; tantric psychology; psychology of religion; Kurukullā; Buddhist psychology; Tibetan Buddhism; Vajrayāna
• Subjects: Buddhism--Rituals; Tantric Buddhism; Psychoanalytic interpretation; Women in Tantric Buddhism; Buddhism--Psychology