La (Tibetan བླ, bla) is the vital energy-soul in the Tibetan tradition, one of the five key categories of Tibetan Yungtsi astrology (འབྱུང་རྩིས).

A mobile vital force. La is a mobile vital force that moves cyclically through the body during the lunar month.

La's Unique Ontology

Neither Atman nor Anatman. La is identical neither with the Indian Atman (आत्मन्, "the eternal soul") nor with the Buddhist Anatman (अनात्मन्, "non-self"). It is something third — a vital energy.

The falling of La. This energy can be lost (བླ་ལྷུང, bla lhung — "the falling of La") — a state resembling "soul loss" in shamanic traditions.

Position of La in the Body

The lunar month as a map. The position of La in the body depends on the lunar day (tithi):

• On the 1st day — in the feet
• On the 15th day — at the crown
• Then it descends back down

Medical Caution

Prohibition of interventions in La's zone. Medical and ritual practice takes the position of La into account: moxibustion or bloodletting at the place where La currently resides is forbidden. This is a basic rule of Tibetan medicine.

The Ritual of Calling La

Bla 'gugs. The ritual of calling La (བླ་འགུགས, bla 'gugs) is one of the important ceremonies of Tibetan medicine and astrology. It returns the "fallen" La back into the body.