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Can spirits enter this world by taking possession of a human body?

Cloaked in secrecy for almost 400 years, the State Oracle of Tibet – or Nechung – is a strange and mystical aspect of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. This ancient spirit, which has inhabited a succession of 13 human mediums, advises the Dalai Lama on matters of public and religious policy. To witness the eerie spectacle of a medium entering a trance state and being possessed by the Oracle is to confront profound questions about the very nature of human consciousness.

On Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET, VisionTV 's Enigma presents “The Oracle,” an hour-long documentary by David Cherniack that offers a rare glimpse into the role of oracles in Tibetan spirituality. “The Oracle” repeats on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 10 p.m. ET, and on Monday, Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET.

Enigma is a weekly documentary strand that features “real-life stories at the edge of the possible,” delving deep into the worlds of esoteric spirituality, secret societies and arcane symbology.

In the West, the practice of Buddhism most often centers upon compassion and meditation. But in the East – and especially in Tibet – there also exists a complex supernatural aspect. A pantheon of goddesses, demons, and nature spirits inhabit six celestial realms.

Oracles serve as the doorway between our world and the next, and Tibetans value their guidance. The present Dalai Lama relied on the advice of the Nechung Oracle to escape the invading Chinese army in 1959. Today, there are hundreds of oracles, with many more still appearing in Tibet and in India's community of Tibetans in exile.

In 1989, at the Dalai Lama's behest, documentary filmmaker David Cherniack witnessed a trance by the Nechung in South India. Something happened to him that day that he will never forget: “As the Nechung Oracle tossed out barley seeds to the monks as a blessing, I took my attention off him for just a second. At that precise moment something I can only describe as a ‘force' shot through my body, practically blowing me off the steps. What was it that entered me?”

In “The Oracle,” Cherniack returns to Dharamsala, India to investigate: Who are Tibet's state Oracles today, and what is their role in a modern government? How is their authenticity verified? What happens when a medium goes into trance? And what happened to Cherniack himself on that day in 1989?

The documentary features an interview with the Dalai Lama, as well as never-before-seen footage of his private consultation with the State Oracles.

“The Oracle” was produced for Enigma by All In One Productions. Alberta Nokes is the Executive Producer.