Question asked by A
Hello,
Could u tell me what buddhism thinks of tarot cards. I saw online people selling zen osho tarot cards and some hinduism tarot cards as well as angel tarot cards. Can the cards give an idea or answers about certain questions. Can we find answers in tarot if we study the tarot cards properly. They say there are energy in cards and when we think of question while shuffling cards we get answers provided
Dear A,
You have asked a very interesting question. Tarot cards and other sorts of cards can be used for a variety of purposes. Some people use them simply to help organise their thoughts and develop strategies to help deal with life situations, a bit like a psychological tool. Others use the cards as a way to divine the answers to questions and know the future. What you are talking about belongs to the second of these reasons.
People who have a form of clairvoyance or have developed a form of clairvoyance can use the cards for these purposes. But the majority of people who read the cards actually unintentionally rely on unseen beings. This is because the cards act as a sort of portal for these unseen beings, who can communicate and help the reader tell the future to some degree of accuracy. However, in doing so the person invites the energies and influences of these unseen beings into their lives. These unseen beings can be spirits, nature spirits, local deities, etc.
In Buddhism, we believe that since these beings are not enlightened that they are bound by their emotions and thoughts, etc. Sometimes if the card reader angers or offends them then they can retaliate. Alternatively, if the unseen being is malevolent, the card reader can be afflicted from spirit disturbances. This is not to say that all of these unseen beings are negative. On the contrary, there are many positive and beneficial ones as well. The spirit realm is just like the human realm, there are many sorts of spirits with differing abilities and qualities.
As these spirits are not enlightened, they do not have full clairvoyance, therefore how much they can see into the future is also not full-proof. Their clairvoyance has a limit, therefore the answers they provide are not always correct in the end.
So, though there is nothing inherently wrong or negative with the use of tarot cards, there are dangers with using them. But this is the same with anything in samsara. I hope this helps. Thank you.