Theodore Illion: Darkness Over Tibet

[Benjamin]

Having watched a few video's on YT, I did a quick search for Illion and found this short (3:02) video from a year ago. This guy was on a trip in Germany and realised he had the opportunity of seeing Illion's grave site in Kuchl, about a 20 min drive south of Salzburg. He was aware of the photo on the internet but when he looked for it, it was gone. He found everything had all been removed. Germany apparently does this. I think a plot is bought for 25 years (?) and if noone keeps up with it (Illion had "no family"), it is removed and the bones placed in an ossuary beneath the church, in this case a Catholic church.

 

[Mari]

He found everything had all been removed. Germany apparently does this.

In Balkan is the same. I.e. in Bosnia and Croatia, the family/relatives have to pay a small fea for the grave(s) maintenance. The grave is considered as „abandoned“ if noone is paying for it for 10 years.
Then that grave is „leased“ to someone else.

 

[Voyageur]

Benjamin, of T. Burang, he also (apologies if missed) supposedly wrote The Tibetan Art of Healing. This was discussed here long ago, too.

 

[Benjamin]

Benjamin, of T. Burang, he also (apologies if missed) supposedly wrote The Tibetan Art of Healing. This was discussed here long ago, too.

I'm not sure of the context of your statement, but you're not wrong. Published in 1957 (English in 1974), he did write it under the name Theodore Burang (he dropped the 'Illion"). But he was never in Tibet. Who's healing is it? His info has to come from third party sources rather then first hand. He did communicate with Giuseppe Tucci who specialized in Tibetan culture and spoke Tibetan. He is also considered to be a founder of the field of Buddhist studies. He could be a source.

Then there are skeptics of his work:

“Burang, Theodor (i.e. Theodor Illion): Tibetan medicine. 170 S. Origo, Zurich 1957, third revised edition 1974; 4th revised edition n.d. - In several chapters on 'The cosmic essences', 'The double body', 'Tibetan medical works', 'Tibetan healing methods' and the like, the author describes himself as a scholar who knows Tibetan, but all his explanations remain vague, superficial, without exact details of where and why. The lack of any citations and bibliographical references or proofs is also worrying. Rather a perfect journalistic masterpiece that could have been written from multiple sources in Western books.”

“Burang, Theodor: The art of healing in the Far East. Healing methods and remedies. 168 S. Origo, Zurich 1975, several editions, e.g. 1981. Chapter-by-chapter description of the ancient Chinese, Tibetan and ancient Islamic healing systems and their healing possibilities. The author believes that the future medical world view must take these healing systems into account. As always with his publications, the 'facts' are not substantiated, there are no verifiable texts to support his claims, but if there are, then only references to secondary literature, which is also not exactly cited.”

"... In this respect, it is unbelievable in how many scientifically oriented papers and books Burang's (Illion's) publications on Tibetan Medicine are introduced and seriously quoted, in spite of the fact that he has never given a single line of published reference or renowned Tibetan doctor for his more than vague statements (Jürgen C. Aschoff (article 759))."

The idea that he may have written Tibetan Art of Healing from reading other sources mixed with religious sources as well as communications with more knowledgeable people is quite plausible, imo, claiming it's original work.

From Igor's paper:

In 1947, under the pseudonym Burang, he published his third book on Tibet in Salzburg, "Tibeter über das Abendland: Stimmen aus dem geheimnisvollen Tibet." ("Tibetans оf Europe: Voices from a Mysterious Tibet"), he published under the same pseudonym in Swiss newspapers, most often commenting on the political situation around Tibet. in 1951 Illion turned to the IRO (an international refugee organization) to have his status recognized as a refugee and stateless person, attaching to his application the following an autobiography:

"Actually a Tibetan (details below), he hoped for the possibility of returning to Tibet, but the Chinese Communist annexation in the summer of 1951 made his return to Tibet impossible. ..."

Later in his 'bio', Illion mentions using the name 'Burang' after 1945. It doesn't show up before that. So he starts to promote himself as being Tibetan or from Tibet as early as 1945.

Here's where, I think, Illion is getting "Burang" from:



Just inside the Tibetan border is a city called Burang (Purang) within the Burang (Purang) County. In his ("his"?) "autobiography" he claims to have been transported to Ladakh which is just to the north and not a part of Tibet. On the surface, it looks like the guy can't get his story straight.

I get the feeling that there's a mask to Illion. Like he's trying to convince people that he's someone he isn't.

I found this sentence yesterday by the Theosophist William Kingsland describing Blavatsky. I thought it was interesting because the same is said about Illion by several people.

This book is about Theoeophy and H. P. Blavatsky, who Kingsland syas was a very remarkable and complex person. He said she was a perpetual enigma to even those who know her well.

 

[Benjamin]

1976

• Tibetan Medicine on Cancer, Theodore Burang, pp. 52–61, An Introduction to Tibetan Medicine, Dawa Norbu, Tibetan Review Publishing House, Delhi, 1976

I just finished reading this and turning Illion's portion (chap. 7) into a pdf. This is a compilation specifically about Tibetan healing practices by a variety of authors. I think Illion's chapter is a republication from another book (Tibetan Healing?) because of this passage:

There is a strong indication that connection exists between the 'demonic poison' and the whole teaching of the fall of man and gradual corruption of the world, even though no specific reference is made to it in the Tibetan works mentioned in this book.

Anyway, I can't say that I was convinced by the way cancer is viewed by Tibetan healers. Don't get me wrong. He says some interesting stuff, like:

... I have not as yet found any information concerning lung cancer in Tibetan works, perhaps because it belongs to the forms of cancer hardly ever found in central Asia. It is well known that the sudden increase in lung cancer in the technologically advanced countries has led to campaigns against tobacco smoking. However, mice intensively exposed to tobacco smoke over long periods do not develop lung cancer, although they do develop skin cancer when smeared with carcinogenic substances. At first glance it also seems inexplicable, why, according to large-scale statistics, cigarette smokers are far more likely to develop lung cancer than pipe smokers. For researchers whose approach to the problem of cancer is similar to that of Tibetan men of learning, in that it takes account of psychological factors, the simple explanation is that the cigarette smoker is much more nervous than the pipe smoker and seems to be more subject to mental and emotional unrest. The conclusion of both Tibetan and psychosomatic medicine, is that states of stress and anxiety encourage and accelerate cancer.

On the subject of healing substances and diet requirements in cancer, an express warning is given against administering ‘sweet' and 'white' medicines or 'sweet' and 'white food or drink. The worst possible 'poison' in cancer is apparently refined white sugar.

Cancer patients are advised particularly to avoid sleeping during the day and excessive strain of any kind. In addition they should not 'ride on horseback', allow themselves to be carried away by any 'expression of anger', and on no account ‘cross over running water'. Those afflicted by cancer are also counselled to 'drink pure water from mountain streams', in other words to avoid tap water.

I discussed the matter of the last mentioned rule with a lamaist doctor sometime ago. I was prompted to do so because of the ideas of a central European forestry official who had drawn wide support for the theories on hydraulics and water in general and had stressed the influence of 'healthy' and 'diseased' water in the West. In the view of authentic Tibetan physicians, 'bad' drinking water, even when it is well filtered and chemically purified, is undoubtedly a cancer precipitating factor. This obviously implies an effect at the level of the subtle body.

... It was found in a large number of cases that, in the same environmental conditions and with the same methods of treatment, the more the mental disposition of the afflicted person was subject of psychological tension, the more malignant the cancer was.

Tibetan views concerning insufficient oxygen supply (in a sense, however, which extends beyond that which is purely measurable), coincide with the more recent results of Western research. Of interest also is the relationship between states of depression and tension and a marked reduction in the oxygen content of the blood, which has been confirmed by research in Canada according to information furnished by Professor T.G. Sleeswijk of Holland. All in all, the position of Tibetan medicine with regard to cancer i.e. the relationship between cancer, oxygen deficiency and psychological factors seems absolutely sound.

Indian and a general Asian healing, I can definitely agree with. Specifically Tibetan? From this, I don't see it. It's pretty short. 15-25 min. read?

 

[Voyageur]

I'm not sure of the context of your statement, but you're not wrong.

Sorry, missed entering the forum link (14 years ago).

But he was never in Tibet. Who's healing is it? His info has to come from third party sources rather then first hand. He did communicate with Giuseppe Tucci who specialized in Tibetan culture and spoke Tibetan. He is also considered to be a founder of the field of Buddhist studies. He could be a source.

I get the feeling that there's a mask to Illion. Like he's trying to convince people that he's someone he isn't.

Could indeed be.

There is also a JSOR paper (limited access) HISTORIOGRAPHY ON TIBETAN SCIENCE OF BUDDHIST MEDICINE (C. 600 A.D. – C. 1200 A.D.) that has a Burang reference (scholar mentioned, Kenneth Saunders):

 

[Benjamin]

Sorry, Voyageur. I didn't even know there was a thread on Tibetan Art of Healing. Looks like I doubled up on the same section you typed out!

This is interesting. It might be a lead, or not. In the short video (2:28), Dr. Andyran Terentyev says that the traditional medicines in the Buddhist areas of Russia had their roots in Tibetan medicine. He mentions that some of the ingredients were not the same as in Tibet but the theory probably was. At that time, it was practised exclusively by monks because it was a part of the Buddhist religion.

History of Tibetan Medicine in the [Former] Soviet Union, Inner Mongolia and China​

Tibetan medicine first came to the Trans-Baikal Siberian Mongol region of Buryatia at the end of the seventeenth century. There were two main traditions, the Khorinsk and Selenga. The Khorinsk tradition came from the monastic medical college of Labrang Tashikyil in the northeastern Tibetan province of Amdo. It followed only Tibetan texts, and its main centers were Sholotu Datsan at Atsagat, and Egetuiski, Aginski and Tsugulski Datsans. The Selenga tradition came from Mongolia, followed both Mongolian and Tibetan texts and, like the Mongolian tradition, had a slight influence from Chinese medicine. Its main centers were Gusino-ozorski, Tsongulski, Sanaga and Yangarzhinski Datsans.

The Caspian Mongol region of Kalmykia, the Siberian Buddhist Turkic area of Tuva, and Inner Mongolia, now incorporated into the People’s Republic of China, also had monastic colleges for Tibetan medicine in their Buddhist monasteries. In Kalmykia, one of the main such colleges was at Emchin Khurul, with many branches at the other monasteries.

In Tuva, the main monastic medical college was at Chadanski Khure. There was a well-developed local tradition of shamanistic herbal medicine in Tuva as well. This system was not mixed, however, with the Tibetan Buddhist one in the monasteries, but co-existed outside.

Tibetan medicine flourished in Imperial Russia in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Pyotr Badmaev, for instance, a Buryat doctor from Aginski Datsan, was the personal physician of the last Czar of Russia, Nikolai II, as well as of Rasputin. For this reason, Badmaev was officially out of favor until 1985. Czar Nikolai II was the czar who had the Leningrad Datsan, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, built in St Petersburg.

These medical colleges in Buryatia, Kalmykia, Tuva, and Mongolia were destroyed, along with the Buddhist monasteries in general, during the Stalin era of the late 1930’s. In Inner Mongolia there was also great decline, especially during the Cultural Revolution in the late 1960’s.

In the early eighteenth century, a Tibetan monastic medical college was founded as part of the Yonghegong monastery in Beijing. The Tibetan medical tradition was also found among the Oirat Mongols of East Turkistan, but more research must be done about all of this.

I know Tuva is too far east, but did Illion travel to a Buddhist monastery at the western edges of Siberia?

 

[Benjamin]

After a think I came up with an idea. In the years before 1931, maybe Illion attended or grew up near a Tibetan Buddhist monastery/school further into Siberia? It might explain why he knows Tibetan and has a working knowledge of Buddhist temple life in Secret and Darkness. Fast forward to 1936 when he travelled to the western edges of Siberia. Maybe he was trying to go further west (back home?) but couldn't and had to turn back?

Wiki's. Grain-o-salt.

Tuva: "Tuva is one of the few places in the world where the original form of shamanism is preserved as part of the traditional culture of Tuva. Shamanism presupposes the existence of good and evil spirits inhabiting mountains, forests and water, as well as the heavens and the underworld. The mediator between man and the spirits is the shaman. It is believed that with the help of spirits the shaman is able to cure patients and predict the future.

In Tuva, shamanism peacefully coexists with Buddhism. Buddhism is associated with many folk rituals, calendar holidays, and folk medicines in Tuva."

Buryatia: "Traditionally, Buryats adhered to belief systems that were based on the deification of nature, belief in spirits, and the possibility of their magic influence on the surroundings. They were led by shamans, who systematized tribal beliefs and cults. From the second half of the 17th century, beliefs and cults in the shamanic form were displaced by Buddhism, which became widespread in ethnic Buryatia. By the end of the 19th century, the majority of Buryats were part of the Buddhist tradition." ... "Tibetan Buddhism and Orthodox Christianity are the most widespread religions in the republic."

Kalmykia: "Kalmykia is the only polity within Europe where the Dharmic religion of Buddhism is the predominant religion whose sole main form is Tibetan Buddhism of Gelug and Kagyu lineages." ... "Tibetan Buddhism is the traditional and most popular religion among the Kalmyks, while ethnic Russians in the country practice predominantly Russian Orthodoxy. A minority of Kalmyks practice pre-Buddhist shamanism or Tengrism (a contemporary revival of the Turkic and Mongolic shamanic religions)." ... "The republic of Kalmykia is home of the Kalmyks, a people of Oirat Mongolian origin who are mainly of Tibetan Buddhist faith."

 

[Benjamin]

Being that the highest concentration of "Ilyin" records on Ancestry by far come from Samara, I thought I might look into the religious history of the region to see what I could find.

Samarias will reveal the secrets and mysticism of Tibet​

3 January 2012 17:57

January 18 at 15:00 in the Alabin Museum will be the opening of the exhibition project “Tibet Volga region: connections, history, modernity”.

For the first time in Samara there will be associations of unique exhibitions. The concept of the project combines three expositions.

International art project "Step fulfilling desires" will acquaint visitors to the exhibition with special Buddhist monuments that contribute to the preservation of peace and prosperity. In the photos you can see the stupas of Tibet, Nepal, India and Europe, which today actively support ancient culture.

Exposure "Tibetan Buddhism in the Samara Territory: History and Modernity" will tell about the unfamiliar page of the history of the region associated with the appearance of the Yameranian Oirat-Kalmons on the territory of the Volga region at the end of the XVII [18th] - XVIII [19th] centuries. The history and religious beliefs of the Volga Kalmyks are represented by unique exhibits from the SOKM funds. P.V. Alabina: statues of the Buddhas and Bodhisattva, a lid from the ritual bowl - drips found during land works in various parts of the Samara province and in Samara in the XIX [19th] and XX [20th] centuries. The exhibition will also show the vestments of the Tibetan monk and national Kalmyk costumes.

"The Mysteries and Mysticism of Little Tibet" – photo exhibition of the artist-designer Yana Teleshchuk (Ulyanovsk), which presents a series of plot and landscape photography from her pilgrimage journey of 2010 to one of the most mysterious corners of the globe - the high-mountain ancient Ladakh, also called Little Tibet. In ancient times, it was through these places that Buddhism from Northern India penetrated into Central Asia, China and Tibet, from where it was brought in the XVII [17th] century by Kalmyks in the Volga region.

Apparently, some of the artifacts were found underneath streets when repairs were being done.

Interesting that Illion says he was "transported to" Ladakh (Little Tibet). (Aaaahhh, this is so confusing.)

The Kalmyks practiced the form of Tibetan Buddhism known as Gelugpa (Virtuous Way) or the Yellow Hat sect. Mentioned in my previous post, Kalmykia is a region in Russia that does not correspond with Samara Oblast at all which is why I had disregarded it. I still don't think the region is itself relevant but the people could be. Ilyin, Samara, Tibetan Buddhism. Could Samara Oblast be considered 'near the western edges of Siberia'?