In Tibet and throughout the greater Himalayan region, oracles have played, and continue to play, an important part in revelation, religion, doctrine, and prophecy. In Tibet, the Nechung Oracle and other oracles on occasion, have also played principal roles assisting governmental decision-making and providing intelligence on pressing matters of [[Sovereign state|State]and most importantly hidden security of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet]. There are a number of oracular traditions within the Himalaya of which the Nechung is but one. The word "oracle" is used by Tibetans to refer to the spirit, deity, or entity - which in the Himalayan tradition is more appropriately rendered in English as "mindstream thoughtform" - that through temporary possession (or various styles of periodic or ongoing po