Traditional Tibetan Mo Divination: A Traditional Buddhist Method of Guidance

Divination is part of many cultures and traditions around the world. In Tibetan Buddhism, Mo divination is understood as one of several traditional methods for seeking guidance when a person is facing uncertainty, difficulty, or an important decision.

Tibetan devotion is rooted in a deep confidence that the Three Jewels, the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, can provide support and guidance throughout one’s life. Tibetan Buddhism recognizes that people seek many different things from spiritual practice. Some may wish for greater health or prosperity, while others seek peace, clarity, compassion, or awakening. From the traditional Tibetan Buddhist perspective, the ultimate purpose of the teachings is to provide methods for addressing the deeper roots of suffering.

Our ordinary understanding of life can make this existence seem long, yet Buddhist teachings remind us that human life is impermanent and precious. For practitioners, confidence and a steady mind are therefore important. When the mind is filled with doubt and uncertainty, our actions can become equally uncertain. When the mind becomes settled and focused, our aspirations can become stronger.

Within this tradition, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are understood as beings who recognize the suffering of sentient beings and seek ways to help. Over centuries, Buddhist traditions developed different practices and methods for working with uncertainty and difficulty. Mo is one of these traditional methods. It can be understood as a form of spiritual divination used to seek guidance in situations where a person does not have sufficient clarity on their own.

Lama Pegyal and the Tradition of Mo

Lama Pegyal has a longstanding connection to this tradition. In his monastery in Tibet, there was a mask representing Vetali, a deity associated with divination and wisdom. According to the story passed down to him, before the Chinese occupation, blood appeared to flow from the mask three times. This was understood as a powerful warning that great destruction was approaching. Lama Pegyal had heard this story before the events took place, and when he was young, he looked up at the pillar and saw a clot of dried blood remaining in the mask.

There is a longstanding Tibetan tradition of supplicating Vetali and seeking guidance through her perceived omniscience. Lama Pegyal continues to approach Mo within this religious framework, with the understanding that the practitioner himself is not omniscient. As he explains, “I don’t have omniscience. But I believe that the deity does. From this I ask the Mo.”

When Lama Pegyal was living in Tibet, performing Mo was relatively uncommon for him. After coming to the United States, however, Sakyong Mipham began asking him to perform Mo for personal questions. Later, the Sakyong also began sending students to Lama Pegyal for consultations. Through these experiences, Lama Pegyal came to see that Mo could be a meaningful way to help people who were experiencing suffering or uncertainty.

His motivation is ultimately compassionate. People seek a Mo because something in their lives is difficult or unclear, and Lama Pegyal hopes that the guidance may help them find a way through their circumstances.

What to Expect From a Mo Consultation

A Mo consultation is personal and is approached with care and consideration. Traditionally, the purpose is not simply to predict what will happen in the future. The consultation may offer guidance about circumstances, obstacles, possible actions, or traditional Buddhist practices that may be appropriate in response.

The cost of a Mo depends on the complexity of the question and any recommendations that arise from the divination. The customary offering is $108 per question. If the Mo suggests additional practices, these will be discussed with you and, where possible, we will help you understand what is being recommended and how you might undertake it.

For online orders, a single-question Mo is $108.

Please send your Mo request to info@breezeofdelight.com, and you can order your consultation online here.

When formulating your question, please keep it as clear and concise as possible. This is especially helpful because the question may need to be translated. Questions are generally most appropriate when they seek broader guidance rather than a highly specific prediction.

For example, you might ask about a personal obstacle in your spiritual practice, family circumstances, marriage, livelihood, or another significant area of your life. Questions concerning health may be considered from a traditional spiritual perspective, but a Mo should not replace medical care or professional advice.

If your question is particularly complex, highly specific, unusual, or involves several circumstances at once, please contact us at info@breezeofdelight.com before making your payment so that we can determine whether a Mo consultation is appropriate and whether we can be of help.