Episode two of the buddhist other explores the world of Buddhist Amulets.

AMULE′TUM. (περίαπτον, περίαμμα, φυλακτήριον), an amulet. This word in Arabic means that which is suspended. It was probably brought by Arabian merchants, together with the articles to which it was applied, when they were imported into Europe from the East. It first occurs in the Natural History of Pliny. An amulet was any object — a stone, a plant, an artificial production, or a piece of writing — which was suspended from the neck, or tied to any part of the body, for the purpose of counteracting poison, curing or preventing disease, warding off the evil eye, aiding women in childbirth, or obviating calamities and securing advantages of any kind.

Bibliiography

Kitairsa, Pattana. Mediums, Monks & Amulets: Thai Popular Buddhism Today. Silk Worm Books, Chang Mai, 2012.

Tambiah, Stanley Ieyaraja. The Buddhist Saints of the Forest and the Cult of Amulets. Cambridge University Press, 1984.

Patton, Thomas Nathan. The Buddha's Wizards: Magic Protection and Healing in Burmese Buddhism. Columbia University Press, 2020.

Baker, Chris and Phongpaichit, Pasuk. Protection and Power in Siam: From Khun Chang Khun Phaen to the Buddha Amulet. Southeast Asian Studies, 2014.

The 5 Precepts are an ethical renunciation practice that support mindfulness and wise intention in everyday life. These are the basic renunciations of lay practitioners found throughout Buddhisms. While the language varies, the precepts enjoin us to not kill, not steal, not engage in sexual misconduct, not lie and not to use intoxicants. The 5 mindfulness  trainings from Master Thich Nhat Hanh include social justice and positive action instead of being only proscriptive.

Taking  Refuge: the Buddha's teaching starts with taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha (The Three Jewels). The Buddha is both the historical person of Siddhartha Gautama, the prior and future Buddhas, and our own capacity to realize the truth of existence. The Dharma is the canonical teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, as well as Buddhist teachings attributed more generally to the mythological Buddha(s) but can also be considered existential truth. The Sangha is traditionally considered to be the community of Buddhist monks and nuns but it’s orthodox meaning is the community of fully realized individuals. Modern Western Meditation communities use the word Sangha to mean the community of practitioners generally, but this usage is not supported by any teachings from the Tripitaka or three baskets of Sutta teachings. 

Mae Chi in Thailand are 8 precept lay nuns who shave their heads and wear white robes. The most famous of these was Mae Chee Keaw. Her autobiography Mae Chee Kaew: Her Journey to Spiritual Awakening and Enlightenment can be found as a free PDF on the internet.

Full show notes can be found on our Discord server, the buddhist other.

The Other as we are defining it means the things not spoken of, outside of the official narrative, that which is occulted. 

There is no question that modern Buddhist practice, especially in Sri Lanka and the United States, was heavily influenced by the work of Theosophy’s co-founder Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. Who was this Civil War era Renaissance Man and how did he influence modern Buddhism? 

We hope that by shedding light on his impact it may help open the conversation about Buddhist esotericism, mysticism and magic that seem to be muted in the practices and study of modern Buddhism, especially from the viewpoint of Western Scientific Materialism. Let’s make Dharma magic again!

The Three Tenets of Zen Peacemakers

What is Protestant Buddhism?

Oxford definition

https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/a-protestant-buddhism/

The White Buddhist: The Asian Odyssey of Henry Steel Olcott by Stephen Prothero

Spiritualism

The evolution of funeral practices in the United States:

Henry Olcott and cremation in America

People from the Other World by Henry Steel Olcott

Olcott’s book regarding events at the Eddy Farm. 

The Garibaldini- Italian Redshirts

Explanation of Theosophy’s “Masters” 

Olcott’s descriptions of his meetings with Master Morya

The death of Arthur Conan Doyle’s son and Spriitualism: It is often put forward that Arthur Conan Doyle’s interest in Spiritualism was due to the death of his son Kingsley in 1918. ACD had a lifelong interest in the mystical and paranormal. In fact his interest in Spiritualism can be dated as early as 1887 when he published an article in the journal of the London Spiritualistic Alliance. In 1883 he joined the thriving Society for Psychical Research. But Kingsley’s death from a long convalescence following a wound acquired at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 did appear to strengthen his belief in spirit communication and life after death. He believed that Spiritualism was a New Revelation sent by God to bring solace to so many who were experiencing loss. He began lecturing on Spiritualism in 1916 and wrote The New Revelation in 1918 on this theme.

The Trickster and the Paranormal by George P. Hansen 

Anagarika Dharmapala 

http://www.anagarikadharmapala.org/life_2_our-teachers.php

Maha Bodhi Society founded by Anagarika Dharmapala in 1891

1893’s World’s Parliament of Religions at Chicago’s World’s Fair

Wiki article on Olcott’s The Buddhist Catechism

https://theosophy.wiki/en/The_Buddhist_Catechism_(book)

Swami Vivekenanda’s speech at the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions

Jiddu Krishnamurti’ split with Theosophy: While HPB did state that a goal of Theosophy was to prepare for the coming of Lord Maitreya, it was actually her successors Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater who found Krishnamurti and proclaimed him to be the next Maitreaya. While he originally embraced this role, Krishnamurti rejected this call in 1929 and stated, "I do not want followers. My only concern is to set men absolutely, unconditionally free,” a stunning announcement by today’s standards for influencers and religious leaders. 

Free copy of Olcott’s The Buddhist Catechism 

Thudong practice

Dipa Ma’s website 

The Buddha’s Wizards: Magic, Protection and Healing in Burmese Buddhism by Thomas Nathan Patton

Ordaining the trees in Thailand

Metta Sutta (with tree spirits!)

This was our first episode and we’ve left in some of our inaccuracies, and our um’s and actuallies. Below are not only links for what we don’t cover in depth, but also some corrections where we weren’t 100% accurate. Thanks for your understanding as we learn to be better presenters! We hope you enjoyed our discussion as much as we enjoyed making the episode.