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The Light of Dharma July 2020 – June 2021 69

Websters, the early American dicionary
publisher spoke of the spirit in the definitians
of the words, oracle (ruling), necromancy
(spiritualism) and spiritualism. The divination
believe Laws that come from gods through the
medium. Sometimes they can be relayed
through monks, but in these instances, the
message may be more mysterious. Spiritualism
is the art of contacting ghosts. As for
spiritualism, it is a belief that the souls of the
decisions. In the west, they too would ask the dead can be contacted by the self-hypnosis of
medium’s advice but they would only the medium (trance.) Thai language uses the
summon up the ghosts of high-ranking people word “reverie” to describe this condition.
from the past. In Japan, a demon or evil spirit
would possess the body of someone because The belief in ghosts or spiritualism (as it
they did not want to leave this world. Often is known today), has existed for thousands of
causing the “host” to become sick physically years, but in the United States (a reletivly new
or mentally. These people would need to country) it first emerged in 1848 in a story
have a ritual performed to rid them of these regarding a small family that takes place in
ghosts. Most times, these “ghost drivers” Counten, New York. It describes the incident
tended to be monks who would use prayers whereby everyone in the house heard
as part of the ritual. During the ritual, the ghost knocking at the door but upon investigation, it
would be summoned to reveal the reason for was found that no one outside or in the
their suffering. At which time the ghost would vicinity.
leave the body of the possessed and enter the Spiritualists believe that ghosts can help
medium and speak through them. The English heal disease and this belief is expanding
word ‘exorcism’ is used in Japan to describe rapidly, rather than decreasing. In America
these performances. there are people selling tools to call ghosts
In various countries, including Thailand, tools such as horns, skulls, talking ghosts and
mediums become mediums through a variety movable desks. One company produces a
of ways. Sometimes after an illness. By catalog displaying over 500 various products
practice and studying the books on black and stories.
magic. Some mediums tell of a dream where a The English term “mesmer” comes from
deity has spoken to them and instructed them the name of the German doctor, “Franz Anton
to be a medium. or, some believe that it Mesmer” who theorized the existence of a
genetic as other members of their close family natural energy he called “animal magnetism”,
are also mediums. sometimes called “mesmerism”. Today the
The spirit mediums in the north of word “mesmerism” is often used as a
Thailand are asked by sufferers of mental synonym of “hypnosis” but generally either
illnesses to help and cure them also. hypnotism or hypnosis is used. (“Hypnos” was
It is interesting to note, mediums in the a primordial deity in Greek mythology, the
west tend to predict the destruction of the personification of sleep.) Under hypnosis, a
human world, this does not happen in person accepts advice, suggestions or control.
Thailand. As promised by the prophets in the Some call the state of being hypnotized as
Bible and Christians all believe that God will being “semi-conscious”.
return. Western mediums use the phrase “The People who believe and trust in the
day of the Lord is at the door.” Even though hypnotist are more likely to be able to be
Buddhists have predicted that religion will end hypnotized.
after 5,000 years, mediums do not talk about (to be continued)
this issue.