Spirit of sentient beings in Buddhism

[Rakshasa]

In Taoism there is the concept of Jing-Qi-Shen (Essence-Vital Energy - Spirit), where Shen is the spirit that animates a corpse to make a living sentient being. I think this Shen is not the same as Soul which is supposed to be permanent entity which transmigrates (as in Hinduism).

Does this concept of Shen/Spirit find any place in Buddhism? People say that someone with penetrating sharp eyes has a strong spirit. This does make intuitive sense to me.

If there is a concept of Spirit in Buddhism what it is called and what is the theory? Dharmata? Prana?

Of course in some sects of Taoism, there is just not one spirit within a human body but many like "Po", "Li", "Hung" etc residing in different Organs while having different functions. I find this theory pretty fascinating and some of it does make sense to me. Is it contradictory to what Buddhism proposes?


AFAIK, even Buddhists do not deny that some human beings after death do not transmigrate immediately and their spirit gets stuck on Earth for a long time because of their attachment towards worldly life or the nature of their death (sudden accident for example). This perfectly fits with the traditions of ancestor worship found all over the world. After all, if the being gets a new birth somewhere, whom are their descendants worshiping anyway?

[Konchog1]

Well, in Tibetan Buddhism Lung is the energy that keeps the person alive. Wangtang is the 'aura' you can sense in some people.

AFAIK, even Buddhists do not deny that some human beings after death do not transmigrate immediately and their spirit gets stuck on Earth for a long time because of their attachment towards worldly life or the nature of their death (sudden accident for example). This perfectly fits with the traditions of ancestor worship found all over the world.

Only in some sects, and even then people only stay for a month or so at most.

After all, if the being gets a new birth somewhere, whom are their descendants worshiping anyway?

Spirits looking for offerings.

[Rakshasa]

I was referring to these:

Shen: The Spirit of Fire — Inspiration, Insight, Awareness, and Compassion

Hun: The Spirit of Wood — Vision, Imagination, Direction, and Benevolence

Yi: The Spirit of Earth — Integrity, Intention, Clear Thought, and Devotion

Po: The Spirit of Metal — Animal Wit, Embodied Knowing, Receptivity, and Appreciation

Zhi: The Spirit of Water — Instinctual Power, Courage, Will, and Wisdom

http://www.fivespirits.com/fivespirits.php

Clearly these spirits are not the "Soul" of the Hindus and Tirthikas. Can a Buddhist also believe in this theory of five spirits?

[Red Faced Buddha]

I was referring to these:

Shen: The Spirit of Fire — Inspiration, Insight, Awareness, and Compassion

Hun: The Spirit of Wood — Vision, Imagination, Direction, and Benevolence

Yi: The Spirit of Earth — Integrity, Intention, Clear Thought, and Devotion

Po: The Spirit of Metal — Animal Wit, Embodied Knowing, Receptivity, and Appreciation

Zhi: The Spirit of Water — Instinctual Power, Courage, Will, and Wisdom

http://www.fivespirits.com/fivespirits.php

Clearly these spirits are not the "Soul" of the Hindus and Tirthikas. Can a Buddhist also believe in this theory of five spirits?

I think so.I belief trees,rocks,mountains,and other such things possess a spirit.Not a soul,mind you.But an animate spirit that lives in the spirit realm.