Current Events > What do you think about the concept of Tulpas?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Greater than imaginary friends but not seen as a dissociative disorder.

I think it's a creature from Cassette Beasts

Do you think a Tulpa is actually real? Do you think it's a harmful coping mechanism? Based on the community, it skews younger, which might indicate it's just a way for teens to have an imaginary friend without feeling "insecure" about their "maturity." I've seen some use the idea to make a friend, some even go as far as marrying their Tulpa. I've seen varying studies on the subject, many saying it's a positive experience, but self-admittedly, they mention their population might be heavily biased as it's not an easy population to get an unbiased sample out of.

To what extent is a Tulpa real? Is it as real as the oreo I'm eating, or is it as real as my dreams of winning the lottery?

The concept is pretty interesting. Ive read enough creepypastas about them to stay clear of trying to manifest one, tho.

I think that there's nothing wrong with fantasizing, but you have to realize that it's just a fantasy.
Tulpas are dangerous, you shouldn't be trying to live in an imagination.

Pretty cool concept I watched a movie related to them but I knew what they were and guessed the twist about halfway through.

PiOverlord posted...

Greater than imaginary friends but not seen as a dissociative disorder.

So uh, why isnt the second part true?

Turbam posted...

I think that there's nothing wrong with fantasizing, but you have to realize that it's just a fantasy.
Tulpas are dangerous, you shouldn't be trying to live in an imagination.

Tbh, reading about Tulpas is interesting because I used to be hardcore with the rules I had for myself and others when we played in our imaginary worlds. One of my biggest rules as a kid was that you aren't "pretending" or "acting" as that would indicate it's not real, or it's just a game. I frequently had disagreements, one resulting in my death in my imaginary world, and I took it all seriously.

Almost feels like it was Tulpa-lite... but at the end of the day, I consciously knew it was all imaginary; just didn't want to spoil the fun. In my mind, if I treat it as fake, then it's hard to justify why I wouldn't be an omnipotent force in my world, and where's the fun in that?

I like the concept.

in American Gods by Neil Gaiman, the gods are basically tulpas, and with enough people believing in them, people from all over the world were able to bring their god(s) to the US over the years (this means there can be multiple versions of the same "god" all over the world).

and their dwindling amount of believers leads to their influence weakening.

also, different abstract concepts like Technology are personified into tulpa-like beings.

boxoto posted...

I like the concept.

in American Gods by Neil Gaiman, the gods are basically tulpas, and with enough people believing in them, people from all over the world were able to bring their god(s) to the US over the years (this means there can be multiple versions of the same "god" all over the world).

and their dwindling amount of believers leads to their influence weakening.

also, different abstract concepts like Technology are personified into tulpa-like beings.

Its a concept as old as time.

Read Small Gods by Terry Pratchett if you are looking for another good (relatively->) modern book, though in a different genre.

thanks for the recommendation.

the only Terry Pratchett book that I read was Good Omens, and I really liked it.