The Buddhist Saints Of The Forest by Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah
and the Cult of Amulets
An anthropological portrait of modern Thai Theravada Buddhism that explores the veneration of ascetic forest monks as charismatic saints and the mass popularity of protective amulets linked to their perceived powers. Through fieldwork and historical analysis, it shows how monastic charisma, ritual economies, and patronage networks connect rural villagers, urban devotees, and the state, revealing tensions between ascetic ideals, magical efficacy, and the bureaucratic Sangha in a rapidly changing society.
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- Published
- 1984
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Moderate
- Pages
- 420-450
- Original Language
- English
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