![]() ![]() (See Peter Skilling’s article.)Īnd there’s nothing mysterious, dubious or underhand about it. Mantras are found in the texts of the Sarvāstivadin sect and in the paritta texts of the Theravadins. Indeed, the recitation of verses against disease or evil spirits goes right back to the beginnings of Buddhism. Spells were being cast by Buddhists long before the tantras appeared. (The story, from Daoxuan’s Further Lives of Eminent Monks, is retold in Richard McBride’s article.)Īnd let’s not think that this only applies to tantric Buddhism. But Bodhiruci stopped the monk and explained that all Indian monks learn these skills. ![]() Once, when a Chinese monk spotted Bodhiruci casting a spell to make the water in a well boil, the monk started to pay special homage to him. There’s a story about Bodhiruci – an Indian monk who taught for many years in China – that nicely illustrates this. No, Indian, Chinese, Japanese monks have all mixed potions, cast spells and exorcised demons. Let’s not make the mistake of thinking that this only applies to Tibetan Buddhism, through some insidious influence of shamanism (whatever that is). But magic? Well, it seems that throughout most of the history of Buddhism the answer to the first question has been yes, and to the second usually why not? In fact, the Buddhist canon contains enough spells to rival the repertoire of Merlin, Saruman and Harry Potter put together. ![]() Can monks do magic? Should they? We often picture monks (or at least the ideal of the monk) firmly in the setting of the monastery, either seeking enlightenment through study and meditation, or carrying out in the affairs of the monastery. ![]()
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