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New Buddhist Movements in Thailand: An ‘Individualistic Revolution’, Reform and Political Dissonance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

J.L. Taylor
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Extract

Throughout Thai history there have been religious ascetics credited with the ability of precognition (mii yaan) as a result of accumulated virtues and meditation abilities. One such religious figure, perhaps the most widely acknowledged “saint” in modern times, was Phra Ajaan Man Phuurithatto (1870–1949). Of particular interest to this paper is the recorded prediction made by this ascetic monk shortly before his death, documented by a former disciple Phra Aajaan Wiriyang, that there would be a proliferation of self-proclaimed meditation masters and pupils and fragmentation into urban-based “cults” or religious movements (yaek pen kok pen lao).

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , March 1990 , pp. 135 - 154
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1990

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References

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