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32 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

defined the colonial era. It elevated Spirit mediumship is especially They similarly invoke karma as they
European men of science as the targeted by accusations of design ritual strategies to improve
only people knowledgeable of the superstition. The medium who clients’ circumstances. Typically, they
supposed “true doctrine” of the subleased a room to me when I first prescribe ad-hoc rituals of merit
Buddha, and silenced the voices moved to Bangkok, for example, making to improve one’s karmic
of practitioners in Asia. In fact, offered divination via spirit baggage.
until recently scholars would possession only to family members
treat practices such as divination and close friends. She did not take Thai practitioners also locate
as dangerous departures if not in clients, and refused disclosing the epistemology of divination
abominations of the Canon, her status as a medium to people within a moral universe ruled by
sometimes going as far as re- outside for fear of being ridiculed or karma. More or less openly, some
proposing primitivist arguments. stigmatized. masters suggest that their ability
to know the unknown stems from
In my work, I am to counter these Some monks also offer divination. extraordinary reservoirs of good
dominating narratives of putting They tend to be much venerated karma, accumulated via meditative
ordinary people, and whatever by followers and disciples, but practice and an overall virtuous
practice they seem to be most likewise operate in a gray area. The conduct (sometimes dating back to
interested in, at the center of my restrictions imposed by the Vinaya previous lives). This idea is quite
inquiry. on divination makes their activity consistent with normative Buddhist
especially sensitive. From their doctrine: Siddhartha himself
Who practices divination these days perspective, they use divination acquired extraordinary abilities
in Thailand, and what is the status to help people deal with their and insight as he attained advanced
of diviners in a modern society? concerns, and therefore alleviate states of concentration during his
their suffering. meditative practice.
Diviners are an assorted crowd
of lay people of all sexes, gender Since Buddhism believes in the In your research what do you
identities, social classes, levels of natural law of karma, how do find are the main reasons many
education, age groups and political Buddhist practitioners of divination Thai people believe strongly in
colors. The same goes for their explain its apparent contradiction divination? Is it also widespread
clients. to this law? among the young and educated?

While being immensely popular, Divination practitioners in Thailand Recourse to divination is
divination inhabits a space of firmly locate their activity within a widespread in Thai society, also
ambiguity in Thailand. Modernist Buddhist cosmological framework, among younger and more educated
discourse depicts it as an especially making reference to constituencies. Recent statistical
embarrassing residue from the the law of karma. In normative studies suggest that over 70% of
past that does not belong to the Theravāda thought, the karma Thai people engage in divination,
modern world. As a result, a lot of of individuals cannot be known, with city dwellers and members
people make recourse to it in the but it shapes individuals’ life of the younger generations being
private domain, avoiding being seen circumstances. By exploring the past, among the most active users. In
by others. They consult diviners the present and the future of clients, fact, during the past few years,
at private offices, over the phone, diviners suggest that what they divination has become increasingly
or at night. They tend to engage in observe is the fruit of individuals’ trendy among young people. As a
more accepted forms of religiosity karma. If, for example, a master result, it is becoming more visible in
in public, such as merit-making at sees a period of unhappiness, they public than before.
temples and meditation. would link it to negative karma.