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Charles Henry Allan Bennett

January 01, 1970

This article is about the spiritual pioneer who rallied the first Buddhist Mission to England. For other people, see Alan Bennett (disambiguation).

Charles Henry Allan Bennett (8 December 1872 – 9 March 1923) was an English Buddhist and former member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. He was an early friend and influential teacher of occultist Aleister Crowley.[3][4][5]

Charles Henry Allan Bennett
Ordained as a Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya
Personal
Born(1872-12-08)8 December 1872
London, United Kingdom
Died9 March 1923(1923-03-09) (aged 50)
Clapham Junction, London
Resting placeUnmarked grave buried in Morden Cemetery, South London, England
ReligionBuddhism
SchoolTheravada
Notable work(s)The Religion of Burma and Other Papers,[1] & The Wisdom of the Aryas.[2]
Monastic nameAnanda Metteyya (also early version: Ananda Maitreya)
Occupation
  • early life: analytical chemist & occultist.
  • later life: buddhist monk & buddhist; writer, teacher, advocate.

Bennett received the name Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya at his ordination as a Buddhist monk and spent years studying and practising Buddhism in the East. He was the second Englishman to be ordained as a Buddhist monk (Bhikkhu) of the Theravāda tradition[6] and was instrumental in introducing Buddhism in England. He established the first Buddhist Mission in the United Kingdom and sought to spread the light of Dhamma to the West. Co-founder of international Buddhist organisations and publications, he was an influential Buddhist advocate of the early 20th century.

Early life edit

Allan Bennett was born in London on 8 December 1872, [7][8] his full name at birth was Charles Henry Allan Bennett. His only sister, Charlotte Louise was born in Brighton about a year before.[9] His childhood was difficult and filled with suffering. His father died when he was still a boy, and his mother struggled to support the family, who nevertheless raised him as a strict Roman Catholic. [10][11][12][13] During his youth he was plagued with bouts of acute asthma, which were debilitating even for weeks at a time.[9][14]

 
Bennett was an avid follower of the Christian Life, converting at the age of sixteen to Agnosticism.

He had, however, already some experience of an unseen world. As a young boy, about the age of 8, he overheard some gossip among superstitious servants, that if you recite the "Lord's Prayer" backwards, the Devil would appear. He set himself to the task of learning the prayer letter perfect and went into the back garden to perform the invocation. Something, the Devil, Mara or one of his armies appeared that day and in terror he ran screaming back into the house. [15][13] When he was sixteen he was disgusted at the boys' discussion of childbirth,[10] becoming furious he stated, "children were brought to earth by angels". After being confronted with a manual of obstetrics, accepting the facts, he said: "Did the Omnipotent God whom he had been taught to worship devise so revolting and degrading a method of perpetuating the species? Then this God must be a devil, delighting in loathsomeness." This was the very moment that he disproved in the notion of an Eternal Creator God and relinquished his faith[15][9] announcing himself as an 'agnostic'.[16][17] In his personal biographical notes on Bennett, Crowley once stated "Allan never knew joy; he disdained and distrusted pleasure from the womb."[18]

Bennett's father had been a civil and electrical engineer, [19][7][14][13] following in his footsteps Bennett was a keen natural scientist. Bennett was educated at The Colonial College at Hollesey Bay, Suffolk, and later at Bath, England,[19][9][17][20] with keen interest in Chemistry and Physics.[21] Upon leaving school, he trained as an analytical chemist[7][20] and achieved some success in that field. Bennett also conducted his own experiments, while no inventions or patents were fruitful at the time.[22] Possibly true, in a fictional work Crowley depicts Bennett as working on one process "trying to make rubies from ruby dust" also stating a precisely similar process was in commercial use by others only years later.[23] Bennett was eventually employed by Bernard Dyer,[20] a London-based public analyst and consulting chemist with an international reputation. Dyer was also an official analyst to the London Corn Trade[24] and invited Bennett to participate in an expedition to Africa. Bennett in the end turned down the offer to go, and stated to an occultist colleague and friend Frederick Leigh Gardner that he was rather glad for this because he could focus on furthering his esoteric practices.[25][26] It is said that Bennett was Bernard Dyer's most promising student, though his shocking health prevented him from holding a job.[25][26][12] Bennett also inquired of Gardner, if he could obtain a teaching position in chemistry or electrical science at local day schools.[9] His electrical knowledge was profound, extending into the "higher branches of Electricity, Hertz waves, Röntgen rays, etc.":[17] this and his talent for experimental science, mathematics and physics would stay with him throughout his life.[27] Cassius Pereira mentions that Bennett had "done much electrical work, which was just coming to fruition, when his health broke down...". [8]

Bennett's constant sickness created a heavy lens of suffering towards life. He was disenchanted towards the illusions of pleasure and love and saw these as the hidden enemy of mankind binding each being to the curse of existence. [15][14]

Search for spiritual truth edit

 
Bennett's lifetime inspiration: Sir Edwin Arnold.

Having left Catholicism in his teens, Bennett was still in search to fill the void that had formed from this parting as he ever wished to find his place in the spiritual spectrum.[14] Having a heart and intellect that sought cause and effect, analytical knowledge and wisdom, he wanted to apply scientific analysis to religion and uncover true spiritual gnosis. When Bennett was eighteen he fell in love with Sir Edwin Arnolds' book (1879) The Light of Asia, which at the time was said to cause "an enormous upsurge in awareness of, and interest in, Buddhism".[16][28][3] This was a real turning point in Bennett's life, and made a revolutionary impression that lasted his lifetime.[29][30][31][14] He was so deeply moved by the pure and rational Faith experienced through Arnold's poetry. This religious experience lead the way for Bennett to develop a closer association with the existing English translations of Buddhist Scriptures.[31][16] Thus at this tender age of eighteen, having been inspired by 'The Light of Asia', Bennett announced himself a Buddhist by Faith. [32][16][8]

Biographer Elizabeth J. Harris states Bennett "was a man of his time, born when the British Empire was at the height of its power and the wish to probe new religious pathways was gripping many young minds." [33] Bennett searching for the height of Ultimate Truth, sought to find spiritual realization through the doors of religious and mystical practices and teachings available to him. One notable experience that occurred, also at the age of eighteen, where all at once Bennett spontaneously attained to the cosmic yogic state of annihilation Shivadarshana,[25][13] literally meaning "to have sight of Siva."[13] Even though he was immediately thrown out, Crowley comments it was "a marvel that Allan survived". Even after years of hard practice the effect on him was transformative, he said to himself referring to that lofty state: "This is the only thing worthwhile, I will do nothing else in all my life but find out how to get back to it."[34] Crowley further noted "It is a marvel that Allan survived and kept his reason," as this extraordinarily high state of yogic attainment can be dangerous, a potential cause for madness.[35] Crowley further explained the cross reference that Shivadarshana is the same experience as one of the formless arupa jhana's in Buddhism. [36]

On 24 March 1893, Bennett applied to joining the notable organisation the Theosophical Society.[9][12] This society was a known path to spiritual exploration covering mystical traditions from east to west; yoga, religion and the esoteric and exoteric were all seen as things to be studied and practised. Notable also that the founders both had declared themselves as Buddhist in Ceylon in 1880.

Shortly before his 21st birthday in November 1893, Bennett wrote a letter to F. L. Gardner stating "I have been ill - had an attack of apoplexy, which laid the body up..." going on to request a set of astrological Ephemerides so he could track back a horoscope of his exact time of birth.[37] During his time Bennett also gave a lecture to the Lodge on Egyptian mythology. By 1895 Bennett had lost interest in the Theosophical Society and turned his full attention to the esoteric gnosis. [9][38]

Golden Dawn edit

Dawn of the esoteric edit

Bennett was initiated into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1894,[39] taking the Latin motto "Voco", ("I Invoke").[40] He quickly progressed through the grades, entering the Second Order as a 5=6 on 22 March 1895 and taking the Hebrew motto "Iehi Aour", ("let there be light").[40][41][42][5] He was always very poor and tormented by illness, but still made a strong impression on other occultists of the time.[43] Bennett was one of the most luminous minds in the order[44][45][31][14] and favoured mysticism and white magic rather than the occult. [3][46] Bennett was almost wholly concerned with divine knowledge and enlightenment rather than siddhis (magical powers) seeing them as mundane and divorced from the unrealised but glimpsed heights of spiritual attainment.[36][46][25]

 
Bennett's search for Truth and Light turned to the esoteric.

After initiation into the Second Order of the Golden Dawn on 22 March 1895, Bennett was considered the most proficient second only to S. L. Mathers and attained extraordinary success.[15][43][47] Bennett had high regard for Golden Dawn leader Mathers, so much so it is said that he was adopted by Mathers and took his last name on until Mathers death.[19] Notably he also helped Mathers put together an extended work the Book of Correspondences, a systematic grouping of esoteric symbols and numbers from around the world which Crowley later expanded into a book of Hermetic Qabalah the Liber 777.[44][48]

Bennett at the age of twenty-three was already working on his own occult formula, which was seen as quite astonishing, one such popularised account was the esoteric ceremony he wrote for Golden Dawn associate and actress Florence Farr.[49][50][51] The ceremony was rather difficult and detailed, drawing on antiquity, involved things like the Egyptian symbol of immortality, and harmonising the forces of Mercury with Mercuries intelligence Tiriel, while working in the hour of Tafrac under the domain of the Great Angel of Mercury.[49][50] Its purpose is stated to learn the hidden mysteries of art and science.[49] With the second order of the Golden Dawn having over thirty members,[52] in a period that was exceedingly orthodox,[53] it is no wonder that his association with the occult haunted Bennett in later life.[54] During this period Bennett was fascinated with the arithmetical subtleties of the literal Qabalah, and via his essay Liber Israfel we can note his poetic musing incorporating Egyptian symbology specifically on the 20th Major Arcana of Tarot, Judgement.[55] Crowley recounts a humorous magical tale before their first encounter, where Bennett had created a consecrated talisman of the Moon to cause rain. To make it work it needed to be immersed in water. Bennett had somehow dropped it and "it worked its way into the sewer, London proceeded to have the wettest summer in the memory of man!"[56]

Crowley had been in the same order as Bennett for over a year, however their first encounter was in early 1899 on the initiation of a new member into the order. During the ceremony Crowley became aware of a "tremendous spiritual and magical force" coming from the east; he knew it must be Frater Iehi Aour.[57][58][59] After the ceremony Crowley was "led trembling before the great man" though he could not bring himself to say a word.[59] In the anteroom an hour after the ceremony,[59] Bennett came directly to Crowley startling him by announcing "Little brother, you have been meddling with the Goetia!" Crowley withholding the truth in shock denied this, Bennett recounted: then "Goetia has been meddling with you." Crowley said later "I protested myself unworthy even to pronounce the word!". Honoured Iehi Aour it seems could sense that Crowley had been "dabbling in malignant forces beyond his control". [60][57][61][62][59] Crowley went home somewhat reprimanded and determined to call on Bennett the next day. [58][57][63] Crowley later recounted "He had spotted me as a promising colt, and when, using my opportunity, I made myself even as his familiar spirit, he consented to take me as a pupil. Before long we were working together day and night, and a devil of a time we had!"[64]

George Cecil Jones and Bennett were known to be Crowley's primary teachers during his days in the Golden Dawn. Bennett, four years older than Crowley, was the more experienced of the two and continued on to be one of greatest influences and inspirations in Crowley's life. [61][65][44][66] The only other person that Crowley places on such an upper tier with Bennett is Oscar Eckenstein stating his "moral code was higher and nobler than that of any other man I have met."[67] Crowley found in Bennett a Teacher of spiritual gnosis and a friend in spiritual seeking, and found him to be an "inspiration to work in white magic",[46] further imparting "he bequeathed to me a beautiful Garden, the like of which hath rarely been seen upon Earth."[68]

Poverty, chronic sickness, and accessing mysteries edit

Soon after the meeting, Crowley was shocked to find that the Very Honoured Frater Iehi Aour was living in a dilapidated apartment in the slums south of the Thames with another Brother of the Order.[57] Crowley, deeply impressed with the man also pitying his situation, invited Bennett to come stay with him, now enabling the two light seekers to work together more fluently.[57] Crowley organised a room for him in his Chancery Lane flat, "and settled down to pick his brains", for he knew his reputation "as the one Magician who could really do big-time stuff".[25][69] For days, weeks and months, Bennett trained Crowley in the basics of magic[70] and tried to instill a devotion to white magic.[71] Bennett was generally ascetic and reputedly sexually chaste, a marked contrast to Crowley's libertine attitude.[72] In a fictional work Crowley depicts Bennett's disposition towards chastity stating "He had an aversion to all such matters amounting to horror."[23] Even though all early sources point to Bennett's chastity, unfounded rumours seem to of circulated in later years in an attempt to smear Crowley. Israel Regardie, who was a personal secretary of Crowley's for a time, agrees the rumours seem to be baseless, that he never heard anything from Crowley or any substantiated claim to suggest otherwise.[73][61][74] Crowley had said of him "We called him the White Knight", that there "never walked a whiter man on earth" that he was a harmless, lovable "terribly frustrated genius".[25]

 
Bennett's quest for Light in the "inner traditions" drew from the antiquity of esotericism and the occult.

In the preface introduction to Iehi Aour's work "A Note on Genesis" Crowley states "Its venerable author was an adept" with the esoteric system of symbols, accomplished in harmonising them in himself (here referring to what would later be known as Liber 777).[75] "In the year 1899 he was graciously pleased to receive me as his pupil, and, living in his house, I studied daily under his guidance the Holy Qabalah."[68] Crowley goes on to praise the "ratiocinative methods employed", and that the methods utilised were indeed "so fine and subtle that they readily sublime into the Intuitive."[75] As to some darker occult experiments that Crowley dabbled in at Chancery Lane he made the clear and specific point that Bennett "never had anything to do with this".[76]

Crowley's described Allan as tall, though "his sickness had already produced a stoop. His head, crowned with a shock of wild black hair, was intensely noble; the brows, both wide and lofty, overhung indomitable piercing eyes. The face would have been handsome had it not been for the haggardness and pallour due to his almost continuous suffering."[15][77] He went on to describe how in spite of Bennett's ill-health "he was a tremendous worker". That he has a vast, precise and profound understanding of science and electricity.[15][78] Crowley noted "He showed me how to get knowledge, how to criticise it and how to apply it."[79] Also highlighting how Bennett had immersed himself in Buddhist and Hindu teachings for the purpose of spiritual insight. Crowley continued to relate that he "did not fully realize the colossal stature of that sacred spirit" and yet he was at once aware that "this man could teach me more in a month than anyone else in five years."[15][51]

At a time when there was no legal prohibition against drugs, Bennett was an experimental user of available drugs (with which he also treated recurrent asthma) and introduced Crowley to this aspect of his occult and alchemical researches.[80][72][15][81] Furthermore, as a part of his experiments into accessing the mysteries of the "subconscious and super-normal mind" and "the World behind the Veil of Matter" it is alleged he even experimented with poisons once taking an overdose that would have otherwise killed another man, though he remained unharmed.[31][72][61][46][3] While Bennett was soon to abandon the practice of such experimentation and uses, Crowley went on to a life of hedonistic addiction though always held Bennett in the highest regard.[82][83]

Crowley also painted the grim picture of how Bennett suffered acutely from spasmodic asthma at that early time. Bennett would take one drug at a time (up to a month) until it was no longer helping then cycled through the other drugs available to him until he was reduced to using chloroform.[46][15] Crowley recalled how even for a week he would see him "only recovering consciousness sufficiently to reach for the bottle and sponge". After a brief period of being well the asthma would return again, and Bennett would be once again forced back into this grim cycle of existence.[15][72] Crowley stated, "But through it all the calm undaunted spirit walked the empyrean, and the radiant angelic temper ripened the wheat of friendship."[25]

Impact, influence, and change of view edit

 
Bennett's Hebrew motto "Let There Be Light" has its roots in Genesis.

In a hallowing scene Bennett is described as "calm, majestic, clearly master of it all", Crowley paints in detail the aura of the man, that thunders forth; "instantly a ray of divine brilliance cleaves the black clouds above his head, and his noble countenance flashing in that ecstasy of brightness."[84] Crowley stating how this picture of Bennett was the literal truth. That Bennett was one of the very few people that he had met "who really could get ... the results they wished for" in this esoteric field, for it is easy for most to get unwished for results "madness, death, marriage".[84]

Biographer Kaczynski states that Crowley took on the Adeptus Minor Grade motto, "let there be light" in an Enochian angelic language. While he guarded this closely throughout his life, it shows a clear reference to the influence of his teacher and friend.[41] Crowley once remarked concerning Bennett's powers: Bennett had constructed a magical wand out of glass, a lustre from a chandelier which he carried with him. [85][86] He preferred this to the wands recommended by the G.D. and would keep it "charged with his considerable psychic force and ready for use".[87] As it so happened, Crowley and Bennett were at a party and a group of theosophists present were ridiculing in disbelief the power of the wands. It was alleged by Crowley that "Allan promptly produced his and blasted one of them. It took fourteen hours to restore the incredulous individual to the use of his mind and his muscles."[85][15][86][88]

Crowley states how he had hoped Bennett would establish the Order in Asia "The Dawn was Golden when you met the guide, ... You took the boat that floated with the tide, To leave behind no track... I hoped that you would raise my magic Sword, Upon another strand."[89] One of the differences they faced was that Crowley seemed to think that virtuous conduct could be bypassed, where Bennett went as far to insist it was the first founding factor an aspirant required, seeing the deficiencies in the West, namely the blamelessness of keeping the precepts. [90][91] Crowley's Autobiography is dedicated to three "Immortal Memories", including "Allan Bennett, who did what he could".[92] Sutin states that Crowley tried to rekindle the connection, Bennett was the reluctant one and eventually the two of them did start to drift apart. [93]

Crowley notes years later "Allan, strangely enough it seems to me, lost interest rather than gained it as we acquired proficiency in the White Art... He didn't really care for Magic at all; he thought that it led nowhere. He only cared for yoga."[94][95][51] Also while Bennett was a strong influence on Crowley's early life and later thought,[96] Bennett one day responded to Crowley "No Buddhist would consider it worthwhile to pass from the crystalline clearness of his own religion to this involved obscurity."[97] Years later Crowley's reprinted Bennett's essay "On the Culture of Mind", likely without his knowledge, with the new name "Training of the Mind" in the Equinox series. Here it can be seen that their understanding of ultimate reality had taken separate roads, Crowley seemed to think the two paths compatible, while Bennett was unwavering in his religious zeal.[90][98] On a sombre note, Kaczynski quotes what Crowley wrote down upon his friends' departure, now aware of Bennett's change in path: "O Man of Sorrows: brother unto Grief!"... "In the white shrine of thy white spirit's reign, Thou man of Sorrows: O, beyond belief!".[99]

Travel to Southeast Asia edit

Ceylon, yoga and Buddhism edit

 
Bennett studied Hinduism, Buddhism, yoga, meditation and the ancient Pali and Sanskrit texts.

At some time between 1889 and 1900, in his late twenties, Bennett travelled to Asia[100][101][102] to relieve his chronic asthma, after submersing himself in the study Buddhism.[16][32] He travelled to Ceylon as a self-converted Buddhist, staying at Kamburugamuwa in the Matara district for four months, Bennett studied the Pali language and the root Theravadan Teachings under an elder Sinhala monk Venerable Revata Thera.[17][3] Cassius Pereira later recalled that "such was the brilliance of his intellect" that he had mastered that ancient tongue in six months and could fluently converse."[103][104] Further that Bennett "made many close friends amongst the Buddhists of Ceylon, who gave him much assistance in every way."[104] Bennett also spent time visiting monasteries, monks and sacred sites, familiarising and immersing himself with the Buddhist culture and practice of Ceylon. [31]

In Colombo he studied Hatha Yoga under the yogi Ponnambalam Ramanathan (Shri Parananda) who was said to be a man of "profound religious knowledge".[105][31][106] As Bennetts' health improved, he served as tutor to the younger sons of the Shri Parananda, who was a high-caste Tamil and the Solicitor General of Ceylon.[105][107] Florence Farr a prior Golden Dawn associate, was also to move over to Ceylon years later, and became the principal lady of Shri Parananda's College for Girls.[108] Bennett joined the Sangha under the yogi and took the name Swami Maitrananda,[109] which was already of Buddhist significance. The psychic potency of the man become more pronounced as he mastered the breathing techniques, mantras, asana postures and concentration practices in an amazingly short time period. [31][106][3] Crowley visited Bennett in Kandy, and personally attended on him during a yogic meditation retreat.[110] Crowley supported his retreat by quietly bringing food into the room nextdoor to where Bennett was practising. Having missed two meals in a row, Crowley out of concern checked on Bennett finding him not seated on the central mat, but at the end of the room still in the Padmasana yoga posture "in his knotted position, resting on his head and right shoulder, exactly like an image overturned." Crowley set him a right, and he came out of the trance quite unaware that anything unusual had happened. [110][111]

With his health improving in the warm weather, he was now free from the chronic cycle of drugs he had needed in England.[112] Also, he had relinquished his experimentation into psychic and esoteric power.[113] Bennett's quest for spiritual meaning had finally been quenched as he began to commit to the practice and Teachings of Theravada Buddhism.[113] Crowley noted Bennett was "the noblest and gentlest soul I have ever known", and in spite of his teacher & friend's prior experimentation that "Allan was already at heart a Buddhist". [114][115] Egil Asprem states "Following Bennett's example Crowley also engaged in a more intimate relation with Buddhism during his visit [116] and would subsequently consider himself a Buddhist for many years".[117] Bennett later recounts "The native, and correct, designation of the pure form of Buddhism now prevalent in Burma, Ceylon, and Siam is Theravādha, 'The Tradition of the Elders' or, as we might justly render it, the Traditional, Original, or Orthodox School."[118] His intellect, spiritual endeavour and faith sees this school as the "pure and simple" ... "practically unchanged after twenty-five centuries", that its inheritance is not mythical but rather "the actual words" the Buddha employed on his "religious mission" that are still rolling down to the present.[119]

In July 1901, Bennett gave a talk at the Theosophical Society in Colombo named the "Four Noble Truths". Attending this talk was the young Cassius Pereira who was so deeply moved at this talk, it changed his life, and he became a lifelong friend of Bennett and later also took up the robes.[120][17][102] Bennett, at this time decided he would lead a Buddhist Mission to England.[16][121] To do this he realised it must be carried out by a Bhikkhu of the Buddha's Sangha, thus seeing the limitations in Ceylon he set his vision on Higher Ordination in the Theravada Buddhist Order of monks in Burma.[16][121][51] He had come to the see that the path of renunciation, was the only path for him, the more he studied and practised the more he was attracted to it.

Out of darkness into the light edit

Eastern Buddhism early 1900s
 
Inside Theravadan Wat in 1903.
 
The father of western monks in Ceylon Venerable Nyanatiloka, with Silacara and Dhammanusari in 1909.

Bennett travelled to the coastal city of Akyab at took up residence at the Buddhist monastery, the Lamma Sayadaw Kyoung. Bennett was accepted into the Order by Lamrna Saradaw as a Samanera (novice monk) on 8 December 1901. [122][17][121][123] During this time he spent his time learning and improving further his knowledge of Pali, learning the duties of a Buddhist Monk and writing Buddhist papers for a publication Ceylon.[17] Half a year later, on Vesak Day the Full Moon May 1902, a long line of seventy-four Buddhist monks proceed from Kyarook Kyoung towards the wharf edge for the new Samanera's Higher Ordination. The ceremony was taken place on the water, presided by Sheve Bya Sayadaw, and it is here that he moved from the ten precepts of a novice to the 227 precepts of a Buddhist Bhikkhu.[124][17][32] Still unacquainted with the Burmese tongue, Shwe Zedi Saradaw translated each sentence into English, likely the first occurrence of this happening in history.[17] His ordination name was Ananda Maitreya, a Sanskrit name,[17][102] soon to be changed to the Pali rendition Ananda Metteyya to be inline with the Theravada roots, which means "Bliss of loving kindness".[105][125][3][126][102] Ananda was also the name of Gautama Buddha's attendant, and the Sanskrit Maitreya and the Pali Metteyya are the name of the coming Buddha stated in the suttas.[127][128] With fresh vigour he addressed the Sangha at this auspicious ceremony, outlining how he intended to help spread Buddhism to the West.[129] He spoke of the conflicts that were forming due to the clash of science and religion, and spoke of a vision of bringing to the West that shining faith and Path of the Buddha that he had first truly experienced in Ceylon. Crow quotes him as stating "Herein, then, lies the work that is before me", that his purpose is to "carry to the Lands of the West the Law of Love and Truth" declared by the Buddha, to establish a Sangha of Bhikkhus in his name.[129][16][121] Metteyya filled with zeal closes the speech with: "bringing from the East even unto the West, the splendour of a Dawn beyond our deepest conception; bringing joy from sorrow, and out of Darkness, LIGHT."[17]

Metteyya was the second known Englishman to be ordained as a Bhikkhu, after Gordon Douglas who was ordained in Ceylon 1899.[125][130] During Metteyya's ordination speech he made an earnest call to "countrymen ... who will come to the East, and receive the requisite Ordination, and acquire a thorough knowledge of the Dharma" to help teach the West, "this work I have already commenced on a small scale."[17] Harris states Metteyya made a "call for five men from four countries to come to Burma to be trained for higher ordination."[131] One such German man, who may have heard this call, travelled to find Metteyya and soon ordained as a novice, staying on with Metteyya for a month. The sāmaṇera then went to Kyundaw monastery, which was nearby boarding the forest, and in February 1904 was accepted into the Sangha as Ñāṇatiloka Bhikkhu, the first known continental European to receive higher ordination. He was later grateful for meeting the supporters of Metteyya and made use at one point of the hut that had been built for Metteyya.[132] Harris holds a letter from 10 February 1905, were Metteyya is commending Ñāṇatiloka asking Cassius Perera if he would help him further stating "he is an easily-contented mortal, with a very gentle and considerate nature".[133] Ñāṇatiloka went on to become the father of western monks in Ceylon.[134]

Brotherly bonds of all mankind edit

In Rangoon 1903, Metteyya and Ernest Reinhold Rost co-founded the International Buddhist Society known as Buddhasāsana Samāgama. It was an "international Buddhist society that aimed at the global networking of Buddhists."[124][3][126][121][135] Its motto was "Sabbadānaṁ dhammadānaṁ jināti" meaning "The Gift of Truth Excels All Gifts" taken from the Dhammapada v. 354.[136] Metteyya was Secretary General and made Edwin Arnold, the man who was the first to illuminate the Buddhas Path to him with the Light of Asia, the first honorary member of the Society. [137][138] Harris goes on to state that "Buddhasāsana Samāgama gained official representatives in Austria, Burma, Ceylon, China, Germany, Italy, America, and England." Enthusiasm and greeting began to poor in from all around the world. [121][139] His friend Cassius Pereira (who later entered the Sangha, becoming Bhikkhu Kassapa in 1947 at the Vajiraramaya Temple) referring to this period recalls that Metteyya gave several "inspiring addresses from the Maitriya Hall". Pereira's Father built Maitriya Hall at Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya in honour of Ānanda Metteyya,[140] its related group 'Servants of the Buddha' has been active down to the 21st century. [141]

 
Council of the Buddhasāsana Samāgama (International Buddhist Society), March 1904. Ananda Metteyya, co-founder, can be seen in the centre with the other key members in this photo taken in Rangoon printed in Buddhism.

The Buddhasāsana Samāgama garnered an immediate interest, with three hundred attendees at a Conversazione in Rangoon, a few months after its inception.[121] In September 1903, whilst still in Rangoon, Metteyya began a periodical called Buddhism: An Illustrated Review. Metteyya was instrumental in its production and appears in the Prospectus with Dr. Ross as secretary-general.[121] The Quarterly Review was really the heart pulse of the society, which was sent to all Members without additional cost and "sold to the General Public at three shillings a copy".[142] However, funding was difficult and further the work was often delayed due to Metteyya's sickness. Metteyya avidly contributed to each addition, for example some of his first works were "In the Shadow of Shwe Dagon",[143][144][145] "Nibbāṇa",[146] "Transmigration"[147] & "The Law of Righteousness".[148] Buddhasāsana Samāgama also notably printed its constitution and rules in Volume 1 Issue 2.[149][126]

During this time Albert Edmunds helped to promote the journal, he too openly hoped for a synthesis between the east and the west.[150] Edmunds acceptance of the position of America representative to the Society, was more humanitarian "I have taken this Rangoon representativeship so as to be useful and justify my existence." Further explaining "I am not a Buddhist, but a philosopher who believes that a knowledge of Buddhism will liberalize Christianity ..." Tweed further explaining Edmund's rationale "it seemed to be capable of broadening Christianity and fusing cultures."[151] So Edmunds became the person of note in North America and at the same time Anagarika Dharmapala and one J. F. McKechnie became inspired after reading Metteyya's article 'Nibbana'.[150][152][134] McKechnie stated "It seemed to me couched in a fine style of English and moderate, rational, clear and convincing in its argument", he was inspired and moved, saying "It hit me where I lived".[152] McKechnie soon answered and appeal and became sub-editor of the journal, and within some years had himself left to Burma to become Bhikkhu Sīlācāra.[150][152]

It can be said that the Illustrated Review, while fitful due to Metteyyas illness, was a success.[152] Thought pioneer James Allen, author of As a Man Thinketh, Rhys Davis, Shwe Zan Aung,[153] Paul Carus, J. F. M'Kechnie, Cassius Pereira[154] and Maung Khin (barrister from Rangoon whom was later a Chief Justice of the High Court) are a glance at some of the contributing authors in the first few publications. Mrs. Hla Oung who was the sponsor of Metteyya hut in Ceylon, who was daughter of the late Sitkegyi Oo Tawlay, wife of Oo Hla Oung (Controller of the Indian Treasuries), also is in the first issue an article entitled "The Women of Burma".[155][156][157][158]

Due to said distributions there were only six issues of Buddhism printed between 1903 and 1908. Harris details the principles underlining the missionary and international vision outlined in the first issue. One, "to set before the world the true principles of our Religion" to give rise to "wide-spread acceptance among the peoples of the West" its true practice as a vehicle to promote general happiness. Two and three set to encourage wholehearted humanitarian activities and to further those interested in ever growing numbers to unite under common brotherly bonds of all mankind in alignment with True Buddhist ideals.[159]

By December 2003, Volume 1 Issue 2 stated "Some five hundred copies of our first number were sent gratuitously[160] to the Press, Libraries, Universities and other institutions in the West" so that the real work of spreading the light to the West was well underway.[161] Metteyya continued to maintain a high level of international contact and by 1904, thanks to the generous supporters in Burma, the periodical was appearing on the reading table of 500 to 600 libraries across Europe.[131][162] Christmas Humphreys states that the first issue appeared in September 1903, and the "production and quality of contents" was "the most remarkable Buddhist publication in English which has yet appeared", that ramifications of this and the ensuing five issues was immense.[7]

 
The International Buddhist Society's publication known as Buddhism: An Illustrated Quarterly Review, appearing on the reading table of 500 to 600 libraries across Europe from 1903 to 1908.[163]

Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland edit

R. J. Jackson,[164] who with the help of a fellow friend and Buddhist R. J. Pain[165] founded 'The Buddhist Society of England'.[166][167] With the help of Ernest Reinhold Rost[168] the three of them set up a bookshop at 14 Bury Street, Bloomsbury, close to the British Museum, and would promote the Societies cause by placing Buddhist literature for sale in store front window to encourage interest.[121][169][170][171] Rost actively lectured in private congregations and the group soon started to garner support.[7][121] A portable platform was painted in luminous orange bearing the words "The Word of the Glorious Buddha is sure and everlasting" and used in parks for lectures also gathering a considerable audience.[121][170] Humphreys referring to Jackson also states "In 1906 the first English practising Buddhist began to lecture on Buddhism from the traditional soap box in Hyde Park."[166]

Francis Payne mentions on his way to the British Museum he noticed the Buddhist leaning bookshop.[172] Furious he went in and stated, "Why are you bringing this superstition to England?". One of them asked him not to be in a hurry and suggested he read one of the books, presenting him with "Lotus Blossoms",[173] by Bhikkhu Sīlacāra. Soon after Payne was himself giving Dhamma lectures and became an integral part of the Society.[121] It is said that Francis Payne went on to be the greatest Buddhist evangelist of the era second only to Metteyya.[174]

Jackson and Pain soon got in touch with Metteyya, and preparations began to pave the way for his arrival,[171] the time was now ripe for Metteyya's vision to be fulfilled.[166] On the evening of 3 November 1907, a meeting commenced at Harley Street, London. Some twenty-five people had attended, the result of this meeting 'The Buddhist Society of England' was expanded[167][171] to form 'The Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland', which based its structure on its Rangoon counterpart.[7][175][176] Christmas Humphreys later said its main purpose was "to welcome and serve as the vehicle for the teachings"[177] of Buddhism to the West.

With its formation the King of Thailand became Patron[167] and the eminent Pali scholar Professor Rhys Davis accepted the position of President. Professor Edmund T. Mills, F.R.S., Captain J. E. Ellam also took on key roles on the committee. This newly formed team of five was given the task "of drawing up a provisional Prospectus, Constitution and Rules, and the convening of another and larger meeting". [7][178][176]

A few names of such eminent Buddhist followers were Captain Rolleston, Hon. Eric Collier, sculptor St George Lane Fox-Pitt, painter Alexander Fisher, The Earl of Maxborough[179] & A.J. Mills.[7][121][180] Hermann Oldenberg, Loftus Hare[181] (who went on to be a part of the Parliament of Living Religions), Sir Charles Eliot, C. Jinarajadasa, D.T. Suzuki and Mme David-Neel are further notable names of those who supported or contributed to the Society.[182]

Bennett was associated with the Society, when health was able, throughout the rest of his life. Bennett was also a key editor of their periodical, The Buddhist Review which was founded in 1909 and ended in 1922.[150][183] It was certainly challenging, partly composed of the religiously inspired, true converts, scholars, scientists, sceptics, agnostics and those who had to work hard to keep the Society afloat.[184] Its headquarters in London, was seen as the oldest Buddhist organisation in Europe. Officially the Society was would up in 1925 and superseded by the Buddhist Lodge in London, in 1926. By 1953 it was known as the Buddhist Society and had relocated to its current address in Eccleston Square. Notably its journals have been Buddhism and The Middle Way and Christmas Humphreys was its president from 1926 until his death 1983.[185][186]

First Buddhist mission to England edit

With the recent dawn of "The Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland" Ananda Metteyya arrived on the steamship Ava with three devoted lay supporters at Albert Dock on the shores of England, in the United Kingdom, on 22 April 1908.[187][188][176][189] Soon after stepping off the ship, Metteyya was questioned as to his purpose for coming to England, he replied "in order to set forward the principles of Buddha in this country" also elucidating that Buddhism blends harmoniously with other creeds, giving one clear example: "its position as regards Christianity is that it supplements."[190]

 
Ananda Metteyya, "Buddhism in London", Annals of Psychical Science, 1908.[32]

This was the first true Buddhist Mission to the West, the first lecture was soon to take place in London before the Royal Asiatic Society on 8 May. [130][189][190][191] While circumstances were difficult, and public opinion was resistant at times, [100][187][190] Metteyya's personal charisma meant that he garnered "golden opinions and the friendship and respect of all who had the privilege of meeting him."[192] A historical account in the "Voice of Buddhism" relates that Metteyya "began his work with great enthusiasm" and that "people came in large numbers to his Dhamma talks and meditation classes."[167] Fifty years later Christmas Humphreys recalls that Metteyya "brought Buddhism as a living force to England" that it was the start of a slow growing movement of "many to live the Buddhist life".[100]

Christmas Humphreys also recounts his meeting of Metteyya on this inaugural Mission, in London 1908: with head shaven, the "then thirty-six years of age" Bhikkhu was "tall, slim, graceful, and dignified." Humphreys describes Metteyyas deep-set eyes juxtaposed against a slightly ascetic appearance, that surely Metteyya "made a great impression on all who met him". The young monk was well-spoken, interesting with conversation and topic, with a pleasant voice, "and in his lighter moments he showed a delightful sense of humour". Metteyya displayed a "deep comprehension of the Dhamma" and his wit of analogy by topic of science and his sheer "power and range of thought combined to form a most exceptional personality." [27][193]

One magazine printed part of Metteyyas writing in May 1908, "Buddhism, ... with its central tenet of non-individualisation, is capable of offering to the West, to England, an escape from this curse of Individualism", recounting this a root to suffering. Ending he encourages the temperament of Burma to Londoners "one learns to respect not wealth but charity, and to revere not arrogance but piety."[194] There were many newspaper articles published in Britain and some abroad, mostly positive.[195]

During this period the influential and prolific populariser of Zen Buddhism, Japanese writer and academic Suzuki Daisetsu Teitarō, met with Metteyya. Suzuki is later noted for his strong influence on such people as Edward Conze, Alan Watts & Christmas Humphreys, further expanding interest in Eastern Buddhism.[196]

While in London Metteyya was active in giving a number of lectures including one entitled "Buddhism" at the Theosophical Society, 10 June 1908. By September, he was meeting with members of the Buddhist Society every Sunday.[176] All Metteyyas industry and devotion to the cause, helped grow the Society's membership considerably. Many of Metteyya lectures later appeared as pamphlets, in the Society's journal or in The Buddhist Review.[176] Metteyya and his devoted lay supporters, concluded the inaugural mission, leaving London to Liverpool on 29 September 1908, then travelling by way of ship back to Burma.[176]

Christian missionary Rev. E. G. Stevenson studied Buddhism in Burma during this period and subsequently took up the yellow robes. The newly ordained Venerable Sasanadhaja went on to help Metteyya with his missionary work. Also in 1909, 'The Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland' expanded its membership base to three hundred. [180]

Teachings and declining health edit

Rescuing force of truth edit

 
From the Buddhism publication, symbolising the Buddha's Dhamma with the Lotus as a symbol for enlightenment, growing out of filth and dirt into the light.

In a biographical account Harris reveals that Metteyya had pity and compassion for the hearts of the West. He noted the signs of great neglect in our culture such as "crowded taverns", overflowing jails and "sad asylums".[197][198] To cope with this loss of religious and moral awareness he had laid down a three-fold agenda as a remedy. First to address this loss of moral awareness, so as to encourage the "spirit of mutual helpfulness" rather than the current curses faced by society due to such degradation. Second, he opposed three misconception about Buddhism: that it was uncivilised worship of idols, that it was "miracle-mongering and esotericism" and that it was a spineless, "apathetic, pessimistic manner of philosophy". Third he had introduced his impression of Buddhism; as rational, optimistic, and that the Buddha was certainly a remarkable and enlightened Teacher. [197]

Metteyya had highlighted the spiritual poverty of the West through his dedicated writing, with Theravada Buddhism presented as the force that could rescue it.[199] Metteyya would give a range of teachings during this time encouraging others to see the benefit of virtue in precepts, with its opposing suffering,[200] establishing faith in the Buddha as a foundation and even to develop the ability to recall past lives.[201][202] The purpose for his teachings was to inspire but also to use these things to see into the suffering of existence and understand the Four Noble Truths as to personally attaint to the far shore, the goal of the Theravada Buddhist Teachings. With a simile of the force of required in by high-pressure steam in a steam locomotive, Metteyya encourages the aspirant to use the right skillful means of meditation to allow the mind not to flow out into the world, but to intensify the power of the mind in one spot, based on purity.[203] He makes statements like "Aspiration, Speech, Action, and so forth stand for consecutive stages in the path of spiritual progress" inclining his audience towards the higher fruitions.[204] He found light in the teaching that "whatsoever phenomenon arises, it is invariably an effect produced by an antecedent cause" giving rise to a profound understanding of the three characteristics.[205][206] Metteyya goes on to use a comparative simile of what enlightenment is, then states it is the destruction of the illusion of self, the unbinding of the five Khanda's of existence. That when that truth of liberation is reached it is "Illimitable, the Element of Nirvana" reigns supreme.[207]

Buddha's message to the West edit

On the 89th anniversary of the 'United Kingdom Buddhist Day' on 16 July 1997, Tilak S. Fernando related the life, successes and struggles of Metteyya.[208][209] He states that after returning to Rangoon, Metteyya was highly satisfied with the spiritual success of the mission though his health had steadily declined and the financial support for the mission was exhausted. While the Metteyya had found the Teachings were not broadly accepted with great enthusiasm, he was once again determined to push on to further the transmission of this Light.[208] In December 1908 Metteyya wrote an "Open Letter to the Buddhists of England" earnestly appealing those interested in the Teachings to support the prosperity of the Society. At this time the Society had already swollen to one hundred and fifty members, and with all the graceful eloquence and inspiration he could muster, he posed the glory of the Buddha's message as the answer to the immediate needs of the West.[208] Fernando goes on to state Metteyya's "iron will to return to England was still alive, though the effort necessary to carry on with even routine work was terrible." [210]

To his further impact on the growth of Buddhism, Metteyya is referenced in organising the Western Wing of the International Buddhist Union, a group started by Anagārika Dharmapāla which later formed into the World Fellowship of Buddhists in 1950.[211] Metteyya was also commended for his work in Burma encouraging Buddhism to be taught in schools.[212][198] It is also suggested by Harris that the anti-Buddhist pressure in Ceylon had caused Metteyya to dedicate his time helping "to equip Buddhist children to withstand the arguments of the Christian missionaries."[213] This being a possible reason also for the waning possibility of a return mission to England.

Murmurs and inmost shrine of Buddhism edit

While as a marked contrast its not sure if it was a help or a hinder, Crowley set to praise his old guru and published a newspaper article on 13 June 1908, stirring images of the brilliance of his old friend and teacher. First painting the surreal graphic details of ceremonial magic then going on to state "How wonderful must then be the inmost shrine of Buddhism, when we find this same Allan Bennett discarding as childish folly the power of healing the sick, or raising the dead, of the attainment of the Philosopger's Stone, the Red Tincture, the Elixir of Life!".[84] Metteyya clearly having renounced his prior esoteric path to take up the "white heights" of spiritual Buddhist practice.[84] "What strange attraction must lie" in the yellow robes of a Bhikkhu, "the Begging Bowl, the shaven head, and the averted eye". Crowley goes on to rouse Londoners to a monumental illustration that this man has "torn the heart of Truth bleeding from the dead body of the Universe", that they who are hungry should seek his wisdom. That to all serious men who seek for real Faith, that this man has "passed through all the ways of life and dead" and he is attained, "Latin Intra Nobis Regnum:[214] Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya - Allan Bennett - is the man to help you find it."[84] Crowley's arousal of energy, probably purely motivated, was likely a key factor in Metteyya's later character assassination attacks. Certainly his former life as an occultist and public admiration from Crowley would have added to the hype of murmurs and baseless accusations.[215][74]

 
An influential article by Ananda Metteyya entitled "Transmigration".

Dark suspicion over Metteyya's controversial past and associations seem to captivated some part of the public. While his faith and practice was genuine, Metteyya still was a controversial figure head. Both due to his history in the esoteric and his ongoing contact with friends in groups such as the Theosophy Society, meant the suspicion continued.[216] In years to come these rumours were to amplify when Crowley was openly attacked in the media. This resulted in the names of both Jones and Metteyya to be drag through the mud. Jones tired to sue the journal for libel which resulted in a drawn out court case.[217][218][219] One news article said of Metteyya: "the rascally sham Buddhist monk Allan Bennett, whose imposture was shown up in Truth some years ago" is likely one of the worst examples of the accusations thrown about. "Counsel proceeded to question the witness with regard to Allan Bennett, a Buddhist monk, and also a member of the Order, and it was at this point" that his lordship Mr. Justice Scrutton remarked "this trial is getting very much like the trial in ‘Alice in Wonderland,’".[218][219]

No facts were certified in the trial, evidence was presented in a way that Metteyya was associated with the occult and libertine lifestyle of Crowley. This unfortunate public perception may indeed be one of a handful of causes in Metteyya's waning ability for to spread the Dhamma through a further mission. The power of these stories and insinuations, really a form of character assassination, can be seen as some have even rippled down to the 21st century.[215][74][220]

Metteyya had the full support of his close friends in Buddhist circles, Harris remarks that its worthy of attention several articles were run in his lifetime to help state he had given up his past and "was not a man of 'mystery'".[221] One editorial stating "There is no more mystery attending the Bhikkhu Ānanda Metteyya than any other person", Clifford Bax likewise stating from first glance the genuine nature of the man.[222]

Remembering backwards edit

Metteyya in his early teachings and throughout his life prompted those he knew and taught to invoke a meditation practice that would enable the aspirant, firstly to remember backwards and ultimately to recall their past lives.[223][page needed][2][224] Being one of the psychic powers used for realisation in Buddhism, he taught it as a tool to see that the continuation of rebirth in saṃsāra is suffering, enabling the aspirant to sharpen ones insight to perfect right view.[223][page needed][225][226][227]

 
Gautama Buddha encouraged the use of psychic power for seeing into suffering as a cause for wisdom.

Alec Robertson, recalled one such memory. Mr Rovertson was president and longstanding member of Servants of the Buddha[228][229][230] the society that has run at the Maitriya Hall (Colombo, Sri Lanka), that was built in Ananda Metteyya's memory.[228][230] Alec Robertson, who was said to have a profound memory, recalled that in the conversation with Venerable Kassapa (Metteyyas close friend Cassius Pereira); that the Venerable alleged having such a close connection with Metteyya "that the two could communicate by telepathy", that each could know the others thoughts even at great distance.[229][230] Biographers Crow & Sutin also dive into the topic of Crowleys struggling efforts following his old teacher and friends advice.[231][232] Wild as it may seem to the modern skeptic, knowledge of past lives is described as one of the psychic powers that the Buddha realized on the night of his enlightenment.[233]

Digestible Dhamma and deterioration of health edit

Metteyya realised that the best path for LIGHT of Dhamma to arise in the West was through the Sangha of Bhikkhu's, that this was the primary and indispensable foundation for the Buddha's Truth taking root in a society.[234] This honest realisation was stated in 1910, further in this letter Metteyya announced "I do not think that the maintenance of a single Bhikkhu, whether myself or another, would, as things now are, at all conduce to that end. Quite the contrary, in fact." [234] Here Metteyya was referring to the difficulties of establishing a Sangha of Bhikkhus that could flourish, while strictly adhering to the Vinaya.

Metteyya instead set forth the idea of the creation of Dhamma Literature that was constructed in a way that was easily digestible, broken into shorter fragments to be more suited to the modern disgruntled mind.[234] "The Dhamma, best for the deeper student in actual translations, is too archaic for the modern average man to start on. It needs interpreting into ways of thought, rather than translating into verbal likeness."[234]

 
Gautama Buddha is the history central figure of Buddhism recorded in the ancient texts.

Metteyyas earlier plans to establish a permanent Buddhist community in the West, in England,[235] waned under his new understanding that Ven. Sīlācāra or himself would be unable properly establish a Sangha in the West.[234] This marked the end of Metteyya's time as a dedicated Buddhist Missionary to England.[236][237] Metteyya had stated that one who lives his true vocation of this life as a Bhikkhu, must of followed the Vinaya accordingly to prove himself against temptations as a religious teacher amongst his fellow-men, to be wise and worthy so that he be a living example through the actions of his life.[238] While Metteyya's determination to return was great, his health was rapidly declining.[239][65][237] Metteyya further stated "I should be very sorry indeed to see the first beginnings of Buddhist monasticism in England founded on a deliberate and a continuous breach of the Rule by which the Bhikkhu should live".[240]

Speaking of the heart of Dhamma in this letter Metteyya states "Now at this point I must pause to emphasise that our Dhamma, our Sasana, is the Truth about life, the Religion which comes as the Crown, as the Goal, of all religious teaching which has ever been given to the world."[241] That we have learnt the "fundamental movements" necessary to follow what is "Right and Truth" superseding our "mental baby-hood" becoming "self-reliant", endowed with "personal responsibility" taking up the mantle of the "great pilgrimage of Life".[242] Quoting the Buddha Metteyya writes "Seek ye therefore Refuge in the Truth; looking on yourself and on the Truth as Guides, not seeking any other Refuge."[243]

In 1909 Bennetts early Qabalahist work (from his time as an occultist) 'A Note on Genesis' appears in Crowley's The Equinox, Volume I, Number II.[68] In 1911 Metteyya's Buddhist work 'The Training of the Mind' appears in The Equinox, Volume I, Number V.[244] Also in 1911, Metteyya publishes his a collection of his Buddhist articles: 'An outline of Buddhism; or, Religion of Burma'. The latter was published in Rangoon, Burma, through the International Buddhist Society with an introduction by the Theosophical Society,[245] later republished posthumously in 1929.[1]

Burma's climate was aggravating Metteyya's asthma, and the austerity of the rules of a Bhikkhu was causing him to be weak.[176] While the dates were not stated, Cassius Pereira mentions that he had gallstone trouble, had two operations and his chronic asthma had returned.[239][246] Crowley states "his life as a bhikkhu had not been too good for my guru" his physical health was in a "very shocking state" including "a number of tropical complaints".[65] Metteyyas doctors had reluctantly given him the advice to leave the Order of Monks "where he had now attained the seniority of a Thera or Elder."[247] In 1913 he had conversed with his sister, they decided it would be best if he moved to California so the better climate could aid in his recovery. In May 1914, Ananda Metteyya disrobed, no longer a Buddhist Monk, then by the aid of some local friends left Burma to return to England.[176][248][166][237][51]

Return to England and final years edit

 
Rembrandt's The Philosopher in Meditation, strikes an image of Allan Bennetts struggles for the "Ultimate" for "the Beyond" even as a layman, with chronic physical suffering, a luminous heart of metta, still devoted to the Buddhas Path of inward practice.

Arriving in England, on 12 September 1914, Bennett meet with his sister who was to accompany him on the journey to America.[249][176] Unfortunately due to his failing health the US ship medic denied his immigration visa, his sister sailed without him, and he found himself stranded, and forced to live in poverty and illness.[249][51] Bennett, now a layperson, was once again incapacitated with chronic asthma for weeks at a time and with the outbreak of World War I his situation was looking dire.[175]

Though Bennett's situation was bleak, all was not lost. A doctor and his family who were a member of the Liverpool branch of the Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland took him in for two years, though the strain was too great.[237][176][51] An anonymous group of well-wishers ensured that Bennett was taken care of through support of the Buddhist Society, to save him from being placed in public care. As the help came in, from local and abroad, Bennett's health improved.[250][51]

The Wisdom of the Aryas edit

With refreshed vigour, in winter of 1917–1918, Bennett gave a series of six private lectures in Clifford Bax's studio.[237] With war raging, Bennett still roused his listeners to the sublime "Nirvana stands for the Ultimate, the Beyond, and the Goal of Life", describing that our transient conditioned selfhood was so utterly different to what was truly "beyond all naming and describing, but far past even Thought itself."[251] Also encouraging householders to bring the "ever-present sun-light of the Teachings" into their daily lives.[252] In May 1918, Bennett aroused the members of the Buddhist Society to fresh enthusiasm in what Christmas Humphreys stated being a "fighting speech".[253][176]

Humphreys later cites Metteyya in his classic Buddhism:

Life's long enduring suffering has arisen out of the blind Nescience ... with the sense of separate existence, are states of suffering.[254]

Harris cites one account that mentions Bennett, though sick for weeks at a time, took over the editorship of the Buddhist Review in 1920, January 1922, being the final edition.[237][255] The title, Arya meaning "Noble" in Sanskrit (likewise Āriya in Pali), refers to those who have attained to the Buddhas path of the four stages of enlightenment.[256][257][258] Bennett then took the lectures he had given at Clifford Bax's studio and used them as the main basis of his book The Wisdom of the Aryas,[2] published January 1923. Included was one teaching on transmigration "one of the most difficult of Buddhist Teachings to make clear to the western mind."[176][259]

Bennett dedicates the work The Wisdom of the Aryas[2] to his dear friend Clifford Bax, Esquire, who hosted the lectures which were the basis for the bulk of the compilation. Bennett states: during the early "terrible years of the Great War, I came to London, broken in health and despairing of further possibility of work for the cause to which my life has been devoted". This is the "first-fruits of my work as published in a western land", thanking Bax for making "possible the resumption of my life-work" with heartfelt gratitude signed Ananda Metteyya.[260]

Death edit

Clifford Bax's recounts his meeting of Bennett in 1918 "His face was the most significant that I had ever seen" that one could both sense the twisting and scoring from years of physical suffering, and a "lifetime of meditation upon universal love" these grave rise to the most remarkable impression. "Above all, at the moment of meeting" Bennett emanated a tender shimmering unwavering "psychic sunlight" that was a halo to his persona.[261]

It was clear by early March 1922 Allan Bennett was deteriorating rapidly. The suffering was plain even for others to see. Charles Alwis Hewavitharana[262] and in all likelihood Cassius Pereira continued to support Bennett in his final days at 90 Eccles Road, Clapham Junction, London.[263][264] Allan Bennett died on his native English soil at the age of 50, on 9 March 1923.[176][248][265] Hewavitarana cabled the necessary funds for his grave in Morden Cemetery in South London.[263][255] Christmas Humphreys recalls the event:

 
Morden, Battersea New Cemetery, is the resting place of Allan Bennett.

flowers and incense were placed on the grave by members of the large gathering assembled[263]

Lifelong friend and Buddhist writer, Cassius Pereira, wrote:

... on the 9th of March, in London, the Buddhist world loses one of its foremost protagonists of late years.[8]

And now the worker has, for this life, laid aside his burdens. One feels more glad than otherwise, for he was tired; his broken body could no longer keep pace with his soaring mind. The work he began, that of introducing Buddhism to the West, he pushed with enthusiastic vigour in pamphlet, journal and lecture, all masterly, all stimulating thought, all in his own inimitably graceful style. And the results are not disappointing to those who know.[247]

Paul Brunton, in 1941, shared that Allan Bennett had "stimulated me spiritually and quickened my dawning determination to decipher the profound enigma of life". Brunton recounts his respect and honour for Bennett, leaving us with his thanks for:

this white Buddhist whose ship has sailed for the infinite waters of Nirvana.[31]

Tilak S. Fernando on 'United Kingdom Buddhist Day' in 1997 ends his speech paying homage to Venerable Ananda Metteyya's legacy:

And so, there passed from sight a man whose memory would honour for bringing to England, as a living faith, the message of the All-Enlightened One[265][266]

Legacy edit

Allan Bennett was a pioneer, and without him, Buddhism would not have entered the Western world as it did.[267][100] In particular he encouraged and introduced the "serious study of Buddhism as a spiritual practice" into Britain, and further fostered its growth in Burma and Ceylon.[268][269] Just before Bennetts death in 1923 the collection of lectures that had taken place in Clifford Bax's studio[270][237] plus and addition paper on Rebirth were printed in the book The Wisdom of the Aryas.[2][237] Posthumously in 1929 the Theosophical Publishing House in India printed The Religion of Burma and Other Papers a collection of Metteyya's writings from the first decade of the century a rework of the 1911 release.[237][245] This latter collection subsists of the bulk of articles that have been published throughout his life as a Buddhist Monk, and as a devoted Buddhist. "Rightly indeed have the Buddhists of the East decided that these inspiring writings shall not be consigned to the oblivion which overtakes back-numbers of journals, but made accessible to the world in the form of a volume."[271] Many of his addresses and papers are still intact, available and in use today.[272]

 
"The Gift of Truth Excels all other Gifts" proverb from the Dhammapada illuminates Metteyya's life work trying to share the crystalline Truth with mankind. This inscription is found both on every 'Buddhism Illustrated Review' and on Bennett's final work 'The Wisdom of the Aryas'.

Ananda Metteyya is remembered for his promotion of Buddhist education in Burma and his central role as a figure promoting the global networking of Buddhism[273] including the first true authentic roots of the Buddha's Sangha in the West.[131][274] Known both as a critic of the moral stagnation of the West and as a keen promoter of the beliefs of the East at the dawn of the 20th century.[131] Metteyya was noted as one of the few early Western Buddhists who possessed reason, devotion and a strong grip of the Buddhist truths. Metteyya played an important role as one of these prolific forerunners "who opened the eyes of their generation to an ancient wisdom long lost to the Western world".[275]

Reiterated in the posthumous release 'The Religion of Burma'[1] the introduction states:

For the whole of the powers of this remarkable man were devoted to one single object - to the exposition of the Dhamma in such a manner that it could be assimilated by the peoples of the West.

Metteyya was also noted "by virtue of the literary skill" to engage and share Buddhist thought through "vivid expression ... the knowledge" he had realised.[275] "One can hardly turn a page of his prose essays without coming across some passage which is instinct with ... imaginative expression".[21] Metteyya's passion for the Buddha's Teachings as a way of life, his ingenuity and industry in bring that Light to the West, his example as a keen practitioner of Dhamma, all of this helped kindle a sense of spiritual urgency and seeking in those who crossed his path and teachings. His life work in summary was to share with the West the Noble Eightfold Path, the Majjhima-Pātipadā: that place of practice that avoids both extremes and leads to enlightenment, the total extinguishment of all suffering.

If … any of you shall be able to gain even some faint glimmer of the Buddhist Religion and its incomparable value to the western world, it will be my very great reward; and, as you in such case will surely find, your very great advantage.[276]

Our western world… I believe will find, the greatest answer to its questionings, the simplest presentations of the deepest facts about life, in this same wonderful Teaching of the Indian Prince, who sought and found alone the Way to put an End to Suffering – the Way to Everlasting Peace.[276]

Tricycle Magazine also quotes Metteyya's thoughts on the Buddha's teachings: [277]

All that remains to us is Action … He taught, but action true, following to the best of our small powers; … make a man our Master's Follower

...wherefore by earnestness work out your Liberation[277]

Works edit

  • Bennett, Allan (1923). The Wisdom of the Aryas. London & New York: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. / E. P. Dutton & Co.
  • Bennett, Allan (1929). The Religion of Burma and other Papers. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House.
As editor
  • York University Digital Library | Buddhism: An Illustrated Quarterly - Vol. 1, No. 1
  • York University Digital Library | Buddhism: An Illustrated Quarterly - Vol. 1, No. 2
  • York University Digital Library | Buddhism: An Illustrated Quarterly - Vol. 1, No. 3
  • York University Digital Library | Buddhism: An Illustrated Quarterly - Vol. 1, No. 4
  • York University Digital Library | Buddhism: An Illustrated Quarterly - Vol. 2, No. 1
  • The Buddhist Review, Volume 1, Number 2
  • The Buddhist Review, Volume 11, Number 3

See also edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b c Bennett & Metteyya 1929.
  2. ^ a b c d e Bennett & Metteyya 1923.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Melton 2000, p. 169.
  4. ^ Kaczynski & Wasserman 2009, Chp. 6 Crowley credited... "his focus on concentration and awareness practices to the influence of his two early mentors, Oscar Eckenstein and Allan Bennett.".
  5. ^ a b Crow 2008c, p. 1.
  6. ^ Batchelor 1994, p. 40.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Humphreys 1956, pp. 26–27.
  8. ^ a b c d Bennett & Metteyya 1929, p. 432. The Late Mr Allan Bennett by Cassius Pereira.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Crow 2008a, pp. 14–36.
  10. ^ a b Regardie 1986, p. 41.
  11. ^ Harris 2006, p. 149 cites Symonds & Grant 1989: 180.
  12. ^ a b c Harris 2013, p. 81.
  13. ^ a b c d e Crowley, Beta & Kaczynski 1998, p. 23.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Harris 2006, p. 149.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Crowley, Symonds & Grant 1989, Ch. 21.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Humphreys 1956, p. 27.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Metteyya 1902.
  18. ^ Harris 1998a, p.11 cites Confessions, p.234.
  19. ^ a b c Harris 1998a.
  20. ^ a b c Harris 2006, p. 149 cites Grant 1972: 82.
  21. ^ a b Bennett & Metteyya 1929, p. v.
  22. ^ Crow 2008b, pp. 30–33.
  23. ^ a b Leo & Crowley 1911.
  24. ^ Harris 1998a, cites Kenneth Grant, The Magical Revival (Frederick Muller Ltd., London, 1972), p.82n.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g Grant 1972, p. 87.
  26. ^ a b Howe 1985, p. 151.
  27. ^ a b Harris 1998a, Ch. 1, § 'The Mission to England', Paragraph 3. Cites Humphreys, Sixty Years of Buddhism in England, p.7.
  28. ^ Antes, Geertz & Warne 2004, p. 454 cites Ahnond 1988: 1.
  29. ^ Harris 1998a, cites The Magical Revival, p.85..
  30. ^ Crow 2008a, p. 17.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h Brunton Ph.D 1941.
  32. ^ a b c d The Annals of Psychical Science 1908, p. 260 (Vol III No. 41).
  33. ^ Harris 1998a, p. 10.
  34. ^ Grant 1972, p. 87 cites an unpublished manuscript entitled Origins.
  35. ^ Harris 1998a, p.12 cites The Magical Revival, p.85..
  36. ^ a b Crowley 1909, § XIX.
  37. ^ Howe 1985, p. 105.
  38. ^ Harris 2013, pp. 81–82.
  39. ^ Harris 1998a, p. 13.
  40. ^ a b Gilbert 1986, p. 151.
  41. ^ a b Kaczynski 2010, p. 62.
  42. ^ Howe 1985, p. 296.
  43. ^ a b Crow 2008a, p. 18.
  44. ^ a b c Sutin 2000, p. 64.
  45. ^ Harris 1998a, Ch. 1, § 'The Search for Truth', Paragraph 2.
  46. ^ a b c d e Sutin 2000, p. 65.
  47. ^ Owen 2004, p. 191 inc. fn.12.
  48. ^ Crowley 1983, see p.5 of introduction.
  49. ^ a b c Mysteries of the Unknown 1989, pp. 153–155.
  50. ^ a b Howe 1985, pp. 105–106.
  51. ^ a b c d e f g h Harris 2013, p. 82.
  52. ^ Howe 1985, p. 99.
  53. ^ Curtice, Clery & Perry 2019, p. 3.
  54. ^ Harris 2013, p. 80.
  55. ^ Colquhoun 1975, p. 147.
  56. ^ Crowley, Beta & Kaczynski 1998, p. 24.
  57. ^ a b c d e Symonds 1951, p. 27.
  58. ^ a b Crowley, Symonds & Grant 1989, Ch. 20.
  59. ^ a b c d Crowley, Beta & Kaczynski 1998, p. 28.
  60. ^ Owen 2004, p. 191.
  61. ^ a b c d Campbell 2018, Ch. 1, § 'The Dawn of the Magician'.
  62. ^ Colquhoun 1975, p. 146.
  63. ^ Campbell 2018, Chp. 1, § 'The Dawn of the Magician'.
  64. ^ Grant 1972, p. 28.
  65. ^ a b c Crowley, Symonds & Grant 1989, Ch. 54, p. 464.
  66. ^ Kaczynski & Wasserman 2009, Chp. 6 Crowley credited "his focus on concentration and awareness practices to the influence of his two early mentors, Oscar Eckenstein and Allan Bennett.".
  67. ^ Crowley, Symonds & Grant 1989, Ch. 18, p. 159.
  68. ^ a b c A ∴ A ∴ Publication 1909.
  69. ^ Harris 2013, p.79 cites Grant (1972, 85), quoted in Harris (1998, 6).
  70. ^ Regardie 1986, p. 113.
  71. ^ Symonds 1951, pp. 27–28.
  72. ^ a b c d Symonds 1951, p. 28.
  73. ^ Regardie 1986, p. 16.
  74. ^ a b c Sutin 2000, p. 212-213 cites Confessions, J. E C. Fuller - "Introductory Essay" to Bibliotheca Crowleyana - p. 7.c. 68 & The Looking Glass, 29 October 1910.
  75. ^ a b Bennett 1889, § Prefatory Note.
  76. ^ Sutin 2000, p. 65 cites Confessions Ch.21.
  77. ^ Grant 1972, pp. 89–90.
  78. ^ Howe 1985, p. 150.
  79. ^ Howe 1985, p. 194.
  80. ^ Sutin 2000, p. 67.
  81. ^ Owen 2004, p. 151.
  82. ^ Sutin 2000, pp. 234, 266, 281, 296.
  83. ^ Crowley, Symonds & Grant 1989, Ch. 54.
  84. ^ a b c d e Whats On 1908.
  85. ^ a b Gilbert 1983, pp. 62–63.
  86. ^ a b Grant 1972, p. 88.
  87. ^ Colquhoun 1975, p. 148.
  88. ^ Howe 1985, 151 cites Confessions, op. cit., p. 80.
  89. ^ Grant 1972, pp. 88–89.
  90. ^ a b Metteyya 1911, pp. 31, 57. Inc. Crowleys fn's.
  91. ^ Crowley, Symonds & Grant 1989, Ch. 27.
  92. ^ Crowley, Symonds & Grant 1989, p. 27.
  93. ^ Sutin 2000, pp. 193-194, 389-390 cites J. F. C. Fuller - "Introductory Essay" to Keith Hogg - [666] Bibliotheca Crowleyana (catalog of Fuller's collection...) (Kent, UK: 1966), p. 5 & P. R. Stephensen and I. Regardie - Legend of Aleister Crowley (1970) - p. 70.
  94. ^ Crow 2008a, p. 16.
  95. ^ Colquhoun 1975, p. 90. Also showing his loss of interest.
  96. ^ Regardie 1986, pp. 112–113, 232, 236, 286, 297–298, 319.
  97. ^ Sutin 2000, p. 193.
  98. ^ Crow 2008c, p. 3.
  99. ^ Kaczynski 2010, Ch. 3, Golden Dawn, para. 85-86 citation "To Allan Bennett MacGregor," from The Soul of Osiris (1901), rpt. Works 1: 207. The phrase "Man of Sorrows", besides reflecting his physical state, also applies to the Buddhist trance of Dukkha.
  100. ^ a b c d Humphreys 1972, pp. 133–136.
  101. ^ Crow 2008c.
  102. ^ a b c d Harris 2006, p. 150.
  103. ^ Harris 2006, p. 150, cites Pereira 1923: 6.
  104. ^ a b Bennett & Metteyya 1929, p. 434. The Late Mr Allan Bennett by Cassius Pereira.
  105. ^ a b c Sutin 2000, p. 90.
  106. ^ a b Owen 2004, p. 228 see fn. 19 cites Crowley, Confessions, 237.
  107. ^ Owen 2004, p. 228.
  108. ^ Owen 2004, pp. 227-228 cites Crowley, Confessions, 237; and Josephine Johnson, Florence Farr: Bernard Shaw's "New Woman" (Gerrards Cross: Colin Smythe Ltd., 1975), 93.
  109. ^ Golden Dawn Research Ctr 1998.
  110. ^ a b Crowley, Symonds & Grant 1989, Ch. 29.
  111. ^ Kaczynski 2010, Ch. The Mountain Holds a Dagger, para 114..
  112. ^ Harris 2006, p. 150 cites Foot Note 4, inc. Symonds & Grant 1989: 180, James Adam 1913, A.C. Wootton 1910.
  113. ^ a b Harris 2006, p. 150 cites Symonds & Grant 1989: 237, 249.
  114. ^ Harris 1998a, Ch. 1, § 'In Siri Lanka', cites Confessions, p.237.
  115. ^ Wilson 2005, Chp. 3. para. 52.
  116. ^ Churton 2014, p. 78.
  117. ^ Asprem 2012, p. 87.
  118. ^ Bennett & Metteyya 1929, p. 4.
  119. ^ Bennett & Metteyya 1929, pp.4-8.
  120. ^ Harris 1998a, Ch. 1, § 'In Siri Lanka', cites "Why do I renounce the World?", p.67.
  121. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Shrine & Pesala 2009, pp. 19-20 cites "Sixty Years of Buddhism" by Christmas Humphreys, page 1-5.
  122. ^ Humphreys 1956, pp. 27–28.
  123. ^ Harris 2006, p. 150 (though states December, 12).
  124. ^ a b Harris 2006, p. 150 cites fn 5 inc. Humphreys 1968: 3–5.
  125. ^ a b Buswell Jr & Lopez Jr 2014, p. 40.
  126. ^ a b c Humphreys 1956, p. 28.
  127. ^ Harris 1998b, pp. 9–10, 14, 19, 34 n.5, 53.
  128. ^ Robinson, Johnson & Thanissaro 1996, pp. 105–106.
  129. ^ a b Crow 2009, p. 6.
  130. ^ a b Harris 1998b, p. 174.
  131. ^ a b c d Harris 2013, p. 78.
  132. ^ Hecker & Nanatusi 2008, pp. 24–25.
  133. ^ Harris 2013, pp. 85–86.
  134. ^ a b Harris 2013, p. 85.
  135. ^ Harris 2013, p. 78 states it was 1902.
  136. ^ 'Buddhism' 1903b, Prospectus after p. 528 see p. vii.
  137. ^ Oliver 1979, pp. 43–44.
  138. ^ Antes, Geertz & Warne 2004, p. 454.
  139. ^ Harris 2013, p. 84, speaks of the struggles and more details.
  140. ^ Harris 1998a, Ch. 1, § 'The Search for Truth', also see fn. 4.
  141. ^ Senanayake 2021.
  142. ^ Humphreys 1956, pp. 28–29.
  143. ^ 'Buddhism' 1903a, pp. 100–112.
  144. ^ 'Buddhism' 1903b, pp. 267–288.
  145. ^ 'Buddhism' 1904a, pp. 462–472.
  146. ^ 'Buddhism' 1903a, pp. 113–134.
  147. ^ 'Buddhism' 1903b, pp. 289–312.
  148. ^ 'Buddhism' 1904a, pp. 353–379.
  149. ^ 'Buddhism' 1903b, Prospectus see p. 528 onwards.
  150. ^ a b c d Williams & Moriya 2010, pp. 98–99.
  151. ^ Tweed 2000, p. 102 cites Edmunds details of Edmunds Diaries & Papers see note 52 of tweed for more.
  152. ^ a b c d Humphreys 1956, p. 29.
  153. ^ Min 2018.
  154. ^ Harris 1998a, see note 4 for further info.
  155. ^ 'Buddhism' 1903a, pp. 61–83.
  156. ^ The Somerset and West of England Advertiser 1908.
  157. ^ Wright 1910.
  158. ^ Hecker & Nanatusi 2008, p. 24 fn.28, Mrs. Mah May Hia Oung ... A biography of this Burmese philanthropist is found in The Buddhist Review, Vol. II, Oct-Dec, 1910, No. 4, pp. 16-17.
  159. ^ Harris 1998a, Ch. 1, § 'In Burma', cites Buddhism: An Illustrated Quarterly Review, Vol. 1:1, pp.63–64, see also notes 36 to 38 in Harris 1988a.
  160. ^ meaning here: 'costing nothing'
  161. ^ 'Buddhism' 1903b, p. 319.
  162. ^ Harris 2006, p. 150 cites Editorial comment, Buddhism 1, 3 March 1904: 473..
  163. ^ Photo provided for this article courtesy of Weiser Antiquarian Books.
  164. ^ Some of Jackson's later books include "Buddhism and God" (1940) & "India's Quest for Reality". Both were published in London by the Buddhist Society
  165. ^ an ex-soldier from Burma
  166. ^ a b c d Humphreys 1956, p. 122.
  167. ^ a b c d Buddhist Missionary Society 1984.
  168. ^ Hecker & Nanatusi 2008, p. 24 fn. 29 R. Rost (1822-1896) was for many years the head of the Indian Office Library in London, at this time was from the Indian Medical Service, on leave from Rangoon.
  169. ^ Humphreys 1956, p. 30.
  170. ^ a b Kitto 2005.
  171. ^ a b c Humphreys 1951, p. 224.
  172. ^ Shrine & Pesala 2009, pp. 19-20 cites Sixty Years of Buddhism by Christmas Humphreys, page 1-5.
  173. ^ Silacara 1922.
  174. ^ Shrine & Pesala 2009, p. 21 cites Sixty Years of Buddhism, page 1-5.
  175. ^ a b Harris 2006, p. 148.
  176. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Crow 2008b, p. 33.
  177. ^ Connolly 1985, pp. 3–6.
  178. ^ Antes, Geertz & Warne 2004, p. 454 fn. 8.
  179. ^ The Teesdal Mercury 1913, column 3, para. 8.
  180. ^ a b World Fellowship of Buddhists 1956, p. 16.
  181. ^ Theosophy Wiki 2017.
  182. ^ Shrine & Pesala 2009, p. 21 cites "Sixty Years of Buddhism", page 1-5.
  183. ^ Humphreys 1956, p. 132.
  184. ^ Shrine & Pesala 2009, pp. 16-22 cites "Sixty Years of Buddhism", page 1-5.
  185. ^ Oxford Reference 2011.
  186. ^ The Buddhist Society 2017.
  187. ^ a b Harris 2006, pp. 150–151.
  188. ^ Harris 1998a, Ch. 1, § 'The Mission to England', cites Humphreys, Sixty Years of Buddhism in England, p.7.
  189. ^ a b Yorkshire Telegraph and Star 1908.
  190. ^ a b c The Homeward Mail 1908.
  191. ^ Kaczynski 2010, Epilogue para. 44.
  192. ^ Harris 2006, p. 151 cites BR, I, 1909: 3.
  193. ^ Harris 2006, p. 151 cites Humphreys 1968: 6.
  194. ^ T.P.'s Weekly 1908, p. 565.
  195. ^ The Dundee Evening Telegraph and Post, 23 April 1908; The Straits Times Singapore, 19 May 1908, p. 5; The Maha-Bodhi and the United Buddhist Word. June 1908, pp. 88–90; The People's Journal, 20 June 1908; The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 7 September 1908, p. 6; Aberdeen Daily Journal, 29 September 1908, p. 5; The Motherwell Times, 2 October 1908.
  196. ^ Antes, Geertz & Warne 2004, p. 471 cites Fader 1986: 95, p. 472 cites Humphreys 1968: 78-79.
  197. ^ a b Harris 2006, pp. 148-149 cites Bennett 1903a: 12, 13 & 35.
  198. ^ a b Harris 2013, p. 88.
  199. ^ Harris 2006, p. 91.
  200. ^ Metteyya 1903, pp. 353–360.
  201. ^ Sutin 2000, p. 163.
  202. ^ Metteyya 1911, pp. 28, 29, 30, 55.
  203. ^ Metteyya 1911, pp. 37–50.
  204. ^ Metteyya 1913, pp. 85–108.
  205. ^ Harris 1998a, Ch. 'The Path' cites Wisdom of the Aryas, p.32.
  206. ^ Regardie 1986, p. 42.
  207. ^ William 1923, pp. 189–190.
  208. ^ a b c Fernando 1997.
  209. ^ Deegalle 2018, pp. 52–73 side note only on purpose of the United Kingdom Buddhist Day.
  210. ^ Fernando 1997, para. 12.
  211. ^ Antes, Geertz & Warne 2004, pp. 460-461 also cites Humphreys 1968: 15.
  212. ^ Harris 1998a, cites Minute Book, 3 December 1909, The Buddhist Society, London.
  213. ^ Harris 2013, p. 86.
  214. ^ literally means "Inside Us the Kingdom of god"
  215. ^ a b Symonds 1951, pp. 28, 107–108; Daily News 1911; Whats On 1908; Campbell 2018, Chp. 1, § 'The Dawn of the Magician' see "It was equally rumoured..."; Melton 2000, p. 1; Kaczynski 2010, Ch. The Five Peaks, para. 10 & 11 quotes a poem dedicated to Allan Bennett appeared to the astonishment of the press; Kaczynski 2010, Ch. 10, Aleister Through the Looking Glass; Colquhoun 1975, p. 146 biographer suggestion suspicion just by association; Wilson 2005, Chp. 5. para. 48-50 states "It seems likely that this scandalous gossip originated with Mathers."... "From now on for the rest of his life, Crowley would be unable to escape a reputation for wickedness".
  216. ^ Harris 2013, pp. 79-80 cites 'ongoing engagement with theosophy see Crow (2009, 55–62), Harris(2008)'.
  217. ^ The Wiltes and Gloucestershire, 29 April 1911, p. 5.
  218. ^ a b The Exmouth Journal, 29 April 1911.
  219. ^ a b Oakland Tribune, 21 May 1911.
  220. ^ News Collection, April to May, 1911 1911.
  221. ^ Harris 1998a, Chp. 1 § Years of Crisis see "No gravestone has ever been placed...".
  222. ^ Harris 1998a, Chp. 1 § Years of Crisis cites The Buddhist Review, Vol. 1, 1909, p.3 & Clifford Bax, "Ānanda Metteyya" in The Middle Way, Vol. 43:1, p.23.
  223. ^ a b Metteyya 1911.
  224. ^ Crow 2008c, p. 6.
  225. ^ Robinson, Johnson & Thanissaro 1996, p. 16.
  226. ^ William 1923, p. 76.
  227. ^ Crow 2008c, p. 5.
  228. ^ a b Kuruppu 2004.
  229. ^ a b Harris 1998a, Chp. 1 § The Search for Truth inc. fn. 5.
  230. ^ a b c Kuruppu 2007.
  231. ^ Sutin 2000, pp. 163, 268 & 269.
  232. ^ Crow 2008c, pp. 6–7.
  233. ^ Bodhi & Ñanamoli 2009, MN 36, p. 341, The Greater Discourse to Saccaka.
  234. ^ a b c d e Metteyya 1910, p. 171.
  235. ^ Harris 1998a, cites The Buddhist Review, Vol. 1, 1909, p.3..
  236. ^ Harris 1998a, cites Minute Book, December 23, 1914. The Buddhist Society, London.
  237. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harris 2006, p. 151.
  238. ^ Metteyya 1910, p. 172.
  239. ^ a b Harris 1998a, cites The Buddhist, April 28, 1923, p.6.
  240. ^ Metteyya 1910, p. 173.
  241. ^ Metteyya 1910, p. 174.
  242. ^ Metteyya 1910, pp. 174–175.
  243. ^ Metteyya 1910, pp. 175.
  244. ^ A ∴ A ∴ Publication 1911.
  245. ^ a b Metteyya 1911b.
  246. ^ Harris 2006, p. 151 cites Pereira 1923: 6.
  247. ^ a b Harris 1998a, cites The Buddhist, 28 April 1923, p.6.
  248. ^ a b Melton 2000, p. 170.
  249. ^ a b Harris 1998a, Ch. 'Years of Crisis'.
  250. ^ Harris 2006, p. 151 cites Buddhist Review, 8, 1916: 217–9.
  251. ^ Harris 2006, 157-158 cites Bennett 1923: 124.
  252. ^ Harris 2006, p. 153 cites Bennett 1923: 6.
  253. ^ Harris 2006, p. 151 inc. citation Humphreys 1968: 14.
  254. ^ Humphreys 1951, p.87 cites The Wisdom of the Aryas, p. xxi.
  255. ^ a b Harris 2013, p. 83.
  256. ^ Britannica 2021.
  257. ^ Encyclopedia of Buddhism - Arya 2021.
  258. ^ Encyclopedia of Buddhism - Arya Sangha 2021.
  259. ^ Harris 2013, p.83 Harris quotes a meeting of Bruton and Bennett at this time also "taught me the lofty ethic and stern ascetic philosophy of his faith".
  260. ^ Bennett & Metteyya 1923, see introductory dedication.
  261. ^ Harris 2006, p. 148 cites 'Bax 1968: 23'.
  262. ^ Harris 2013, p.80 notes 'Dr Hewavitarana that brother of the Anagarika Dharmapala'.
  263. ^ a b c Harris 1998a, Chp. 1 § Years of Crisis cites Humphreys, Sixty Years, pp.16–17.
  264. ^ Harris 2013, pp. 82–83.
  265. ^ a b Fernando 1997, para. 14.
  266. ^ Harris 1998a, Chp. 1 § Years of Crisis see end of Humphreys quote "...a man whom history may some time honour for bringing to England as a living faith the Message of the All-Enlightened One.".
  267. ^ Harris 1998a, Ch. 1.
  268. ^ Owen 2004, p. 32.
  269. ^ Harris 1998a, cites Minute Book, 3 December 1909. The Buddhist Society, London.
  270. ^ Bax 1925, Sec XX, p. 290.
  271. ^ Bennett & Metteyya 1929, p. vi.
  272. ^ See Harris & Crow in references & further reading
  273. ^ Harris 2013, pp. 83–89.
  274. ^ Harris 2013, p. 89.
  275. ^ a b Story 1962, p. 87.
  276. ^ a b Bennett & Metteyya 1923, p. 20.
  277. ^ a b Tricycle 1997.

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Further reading edit

  • Brunton, Paul (May 1941). "A Pioneer Western Buddhist" (PDF). Ceylon Daily News.
  • Crow, John L. (2008). "The Unity of All Life: Ananda Metteyya's View of Nature". The Middle Way: Journal of the Buddhist Society – via Academia.edu.
  • Crow, John L. (2008). "Venerable Ananda Metteyya's Buddhist Mission to the UK". Dharma to the UK: A Centennial Celebration of Buddhist Legacy. World Buddhist Foundation – via Academia.edu.
  • Crowley, Aleister (1979). The Confessions of Aleister Crowley: An Autohagiography. London; Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-7100-0175-4.. Chapters 27–33.
  • Harris, Elizabeth J. (1998). Ananda Metteya: The First British Emissary of Buddhism. The Wheel Publication No. 420/422. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society.
  • Parachin, Victor M. (23 March 2020). "The Man Who Brought Buddhism to Great Britain: Allan Bennett". Buddhistdoor Global.

January 01, 1970
charles, henry, allan, bennett, this, article, about, spiritual, pioneer, rallied, first, buddhist, mission, england, other, people, alan, bennett, disambiguation, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, lear. This article is about the spiritual pioneer who rallied the first Buddhist Mission to England For other people see Alan Bennett disambiguation This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article may be written from a fan s point of view rather than a neutral point of view Please clean it up to conform to a higher standard of quality and to make it neutral in tone March 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message This article s tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia See Wikipedia s guide to writing better articles for suggestions March 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message Learn how and when to remove this message Charles Henry Allan Bennett 8 December 1872 9 March 1923 was an English Buddhist and former member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn He was an early friend and influential teacher of occultist Aleister Crowley 3 4 5 Charles Henry Allan BennettOrdained as a Bhikkhu Ananda MetteyyaPersonalBorn 1872 12 08 8 December 1872London United KingdomDied9 March 1923 1923 03 09 aged 50 Clapham Junction LondonResting placeUnmarked grave buried in Morden Cemetery South London EnglandReligionBuddhismSchoolTheravadaNotable work s The Religion of Burma and Other Papers 1 amp The Wisdom of the Aryas 2 Monastic nameAnanda Metteyya also early version Ananda Maitreya Occupationearly life analytical chemist amp occultist later life buddhist monk amp buddhist writer teacher advocate Bennett received the name Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya at his ordination as a Buddhist monk and spent years studying and practising Buddhism in the East He was the second Englishman to be ordained as a Buddhist monk Bhikkhu of the Theravada tradition 6 and was instrumental in introducing Buddhism in England He established the first Buddhist Mission in the United Kingdom and sought to spread the light of Dhamma to the West Co founder of international Buddhist organisations and publications he was an influential Buddhist advocate of the early 20th century Contents 1 Early life 2 Search for spiritual truth 3 Golden Dawn 3 1 Dawn of the esoteric 3 2 Poverty chronic sickness and accessing mysteries 3 3 Impact influence and change of view 4 Travel to Southeast Asia 4 1 Ceylon yoga and Buddhism 4 2 Out of darkness into the light 4 3 Brotherly bonds of all mankind 5 Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland 6 First Buddhist mission to England 7 Teachings and declining health 7 1 Rescuing force of truth 7 2 Buddha s message to the West 7 3 Murmurs and inmost shrine of Buddhism 7 4 Remembering backwards 7 5 Digestible Dhamma and deterioration of health 8 Return to England and final years 9 The Wisdom of the Aryas 10 Death 11 Legacy 12 Works 13 See also 14 Footnotes 15 Sources 16 Further readingEarly life editAllan Bennett was born in London on 8 December 1872 7 8 his full name at birth was Charles Henry Allan Bennett His only sister Charlotte Louise was born in Brighton about a year before 9 His childhood was difficult and filled with suffering His father died when he was still a boy and his mother struggled to support the family who nevertheless raised him as a strict Roman Catholic 10 11 12 13 During his youth he was plagued with bouts of acute asthma which were debilitating even for weeks at a time 9 14 nbsp Bennett was an avid follower of the Christian Life converting at the age of sixteen to Agnosticism He had however already some experience of an unseen world As a young boy about the age of 8 he overheard some gossip among superstitious servants that if you recite the Lord s Prayer backwards the Devil would appear He set himself to the task of learning the prayer letter perfect and went into the back garden to perform the invocation Something the Devil Mara or one of his armies appeared that day and in terror he ran screaming back into the house 15 13 When he was sixteen he was disgusted at the boys discussion of childbirth 10 becoming furious he stated children were brought to earth by angels After being confronted with a manual of obstetrics accepting the facts he said Did the Omnipotent God whom he had been taught to worship devise so revolting and degrading a method of perpetuating the species Then this God must be a devil delighting in loathsomeness This was the very moment that he disproved in the notion of an Eternal Creator God and relinquished his faith 15 9 announcing himself as an agnostic 16 17 In his personal biographical notes on Bennett Crowley once stated Allan never knew joy he disdained and distrusted pleasure from the womb 18 Bennett s father had been a civil and electrical engineer 19 7 14 13 following in his footsteps Bennett was a keen natural scientist Bennett was educated at The Colonial College at Hollesey Bay Suffolk and later at Bath England 19 9 17 20 with keen interest in Chemistry and Physics 21 Upon leaving school he trained as an analytical chemist 7 20 and achieved some success in that field Bennett also conducted his own experiments while no inventions or patents were fruitful at the time 22 Possibly true in a fictional work Crowley depicts Bennett as working on one process trying to make rubies from ruby dust also stating a precisely similar process was in commercial use by others only years later 23 Bennett was eventually employed by Bernard Dyer 20 a London based public analyst and consulting chemist with an international reputation Dyer was also an official analyst to the London Corn Trade 24 and invited Bennett to participate in an expedition to Africa Bennett in the end turned down the offer to go and stated to an occultist colleague and friend Frederick Leigh Gardner that he was rather glad for this because he could focus on furthering his esoteric practices 25 26 It is said that Bennett was Bernard Dyer s most promising student though his shocking health prevented him from holding a job 25 26 12 Bennett also inquired of Gardner if he could obtain a teaching position in chemistry or electrical science at local day schools 9 His electrical knowledge was profound extending into the higher branches of Electricity Hertz waves Rontgen rays etc 17 this and his talent for experimental science mathematics and physics would stay with him throughout his life 27 Cassius Pereira mentions that Bennett had done much electrical work which was just coming to fruition when his health broke down 8 Bennett s constant sickness created a heavy lens of suffering towards life He was disenchanted towards the illusions of pleasure and love and saw these as the hidden enemy of mankind binding each being to the curse of existence 15 14 Search for spiritual truth edit nbsp Bennett s lifetime inspiration Sir Edwin Arnold Having left Catholicism in his teens Bennett was still in search to fill the void that had formed from this parting as he ever wished to find his place in the spiritual spectrum 14 Having a heart and intellect that sought cause and effect analytical knowledge and wisdom he wanted to apply scientific analysis to religion and uncover true spiritual gnosis When Bennett was eighteen he fell in love with Sir Edwin Arnolds book 1879 The Light of Asia which at the time was said to cause an enormous upsurge in awareness of and interest in Buddhism 16 28 3 This was a real turning point in Bennett s life and made a revolutionary impression that lasted his lifetime 29 30 31 14 He was so deeply moved by the pure and rational Faith experienced through Arnold s poetry This religious experience lead the way for Bennett to develop a closer association with the existing English translations of Buddhist Scriptures 31 16 Thus at this tender age of eighteen having been inspired by The Light of Asia Bennett announced himself a Buddhist by Faith 32 16 8 Biographer Elizabeth J Harris states Bennett was a man of his time born when the British Empire was at the height of its power and the wish to probe new religious pathways was gripping many young minds 33 Bennett searching for the height of Ultimate Truth sought to find spiritual realization through the doors of religious and mystical practices and teachings available to him One notable experience that occurred also at the age of eighteen where all at once Bennett spontaneously attained to the cosmic yogic state of annihilation Shivadarshana 25 13 literally meaning to have sight of Siva 13 Even though he was immediately thrown out Crowley comments it was a marvel that Allan survived Even after years of hard practice the effect on him was transformative he said to himself referring to that lofty state This is the only thing worthwhile I will do nothing else in all my life but find out how to get back to it 34 Crowley further noted It is a marvel that Allan survived and kept his reason as this extraordinarily high state of yogic attainment can be dangerous a potential cause for madness 35 Crowley further explained the cross reference that Shivadarshana is the same experience as one of the formless arupa jhana s in Buddhism 36 On 24 March 1893 Bennett applied to joining the notable organisation the Theosophical Society 9 12 This society was a known path to spiritual exploration covering mystical traditions from east to west yoga religion and the esoteric and exoteric were all seen as things to be studied and practised Notable also that the founders both had declared themselves as Buddhist in Ceylon in 1880 Shortly before his 21st birthday in November 1893 Bennett wrote a letter to F L Gardner stating I have been ill had an attack of apoplexy which laid the body up going on to request a set of astrological Ephemerides so he could track back a horoscope of his exact time of birth 37 During his time Bennett also gave a lecture to the Lodge on Egyptian mythology By 1895 Bennett had lost interest in the Theosophical Society and turned his full attention to the esoteric gnosis 9 38 Golden Dawn editDawn of the esoteric edit Bennett was initiated into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1894 39 taking the Latin motto Voco I Invoke 40 He quickly progressed through the grades entering the Second Order as a 5 6 on 22 March 1895 and taking the Hebrew motto Iehi Aour let there be light 40 41 42 5 He was always very poor and tormented by illness but still made a strong impression on other occultists of the time 43 Bennett was one of the most luminous minds in the order 44 45 31 14 and favoured mysticism and white magic rather than the occult 3 46 Bennett was almost wholly concerned with divine knowledge and enlightenment rather than siddhis magical powers seeing them as mundane and divorced from the unrealised but glimpsed heights of spiritual attainment 36 46 25 nbsp Bennett s search for Truth and Light turned to the esoteric After initiation into the Second Order of the Golden Dawn on 22 March 1895 Bennett was considered the most proficient second only to S L Mathers and attained extraordinary success 15 43 47 Bennett had high regard for Golden Dawn leader Mathers so much so it is said that he was adopted by Mathers and took his last name on until Mathers death 19 Notably he also helped Mathers put together an extended work the Book of Correspondences a systematic grouping of esoteric symbols and numbers from around the world which Crowley later expanded into a book of Hermetic Qabalah the Liber 777 44 48 Bennett at the age of twenty three was already working on his own occult formula which was seen as quite astonishing one such popularised account was the esoteric ceremony he wrote for Golden Dawn associate and actress Florence Farr 49 50 51 The ceremony was rather difficult and detailed drawing on antiquity involved things like the Egyptian symbol of immortality and harmonising the forces of Mercury with Mercuries intelligence Tiriel while working in the hour of Tafrac under the domain of the Great Angel of Mercury 49 50 Its purpose is stated to learn the hidden mysteries of art and science 49 With the second order of the Golden Dawn having over thirty members 52 in a period that was exceedingly orthodox 53 it is no wonder that his association with the occult haunted Bennett in later life 54 During this period Bennett was fascinated with the arithmetical subtleties of the literal Qabalah and via his essay Liber Israfel we can note his poetic musing incorporating Egyptian symbology specifically on the 20th Major Arcana of Tarot Judgement 55 Crowley recounts a humorous magical tale before their first encounter where Bennett had created a consecrated talisman of the Moon to cause rain To make it work it needed to be immersed in water Bennett had somehow dropped it and it worked its way into the sewer London proceeded to have the wettest summer in the memory of man 56 Crowley had been in the same order as Bennett for over a year however their first encounter was in early 1899 on the initiation of a new member into the order During the ceremony Crowley became aware of a tremendous spiritual and magical force coming from the east he knew it must be Frater Iehi Aour 57 58 59 After the ceremony Crowley was led trembling before the great man though he could not bring himself to say a word 59 In the anteroom an hour after the ceremony 59 Bennett came directly to Crowley startling him by announcing Little brother you have been meddling with the Goetia Crowley withholding the truth in shock denied this Bennett recounted then Goetia has been meddling with you Crowley said later I protested myself unworthy even to pronounce the word Honoured Iehi Aour it seems could sense that Crowley had been dabbling in malignant forces beyond his control 60 57 61 62 59 Crowley went home somewhat reprimanded and determined to call on Bennett the next day 58 57 63 Crowley later recounted He had spotted me as a promising colt and when using my opportunity I made myself even as his familiar spirit he consented to take me as a pupil Before long we were working together day and night and a devil of a time we had 64 George Cecil Jones and Bennett were known to be Crowley s primary teachers during his days in the Golden Dawn Bennett four years older than Crowley was the more experienced of the two and continued on to be one of greatest influences and inspirations in Crowley s life 61 65 44 66 The only other person that Crowley places on such an upper tier with Bennett is Oscar Eckenstein stating his moral code was higher and nobler than that of any other man I have met 67 Crowley found in Bennett a Teacher of spiritual gnosis and a friend in spiritual seeking and found him to be an inspiration to work in white magic 46 further imparting he bequeathed to me a beautiful Garden the like of which hath rarely been seen upon Earth 68 Poverty chronic sickness and accessing mysteries edit Soon after the meeting Crowley was shocked to find that the Very Honoured Frater Iehi Aour was living in a dilapidated apartment in the slums south of the Thames with another Brother of the Order 57 Crowley deeply impressed with the man also pitying his situation invited Bennett to come stay with him now enabling the two light seekers to work together more fluently 57 Crowley organised a room for him in his Chancery Lane flat and settled down to pick his brains for he knew his reputation as the one Magician who could really do big time stuff 25 69 For days weeks and months Bennett trained Crowley in the basics of magic 70 and tried to instill a devotion to white magic 71 Bennett was generally ascetic and reputedly sexually chaste a marked contrast to Crowley s libertine attitude 72 In a fictional work Crowley depicts Bennett s disposition towards chastity stating He had an aversion to all such matters amounting to horror 23 Even though all early sources point to Bennett s chastity unfounded rumours seem to of circulated in later years in an attempt to smear Crowley Israel Regardie who was a personal secretary of Crowley s for a time agrees the rumours seem to be baseless that he never heard anything from Crowley or any substantiated claim to suggest otherwise 73 61 74 Crowley had said of him We called him the White Knight that there never walked a whiter man on earth that he was a harmless lovable terribly frustrated genius 25 nbsp Bennett s quest for Light in the inner traditions drew from the antiquity of esotericism and the occult In the preface introduction to Iehi Aour s work A Note on Genesis Crowley states Its venerable author was an adept with the esoteric system of symbols accomplished in harmonising them in himself here referring to what would later be known as Liber 777 75 In the year 1899 he was graciously pleased to receive me as his pupil and living in his house I studied daily under his guidance the Holy Qabalah 68 Crowley goes on to praise the ratiocinative methods employed and that the methods utilised were indeed so fine and subtle that they readily sublime into the Intuitive 75 As to some darker occult experiments that Crowley dabbled in at Chancery Lane he made the clear and specific point that Bennett never had anything to do with this 76 Crowley s described Allan as tall though his sickness had already produced a stoop His head crowned with a shock of wild black hair was intensely noble the brows both wide and lofty overhung indomitable piercing eyes The face would have been handsome had it not been for the haggardness and pallour due to his almost continuous suffering 15 77 He went on to describe how in spite of Bennett s ill health he was a tremendous worker That he has a vast precise and profound understanding of science and electricity 15 78 Crowley noted He showed me how to get knowledge how to criticise it and how to apply it 79 Also highlighting how Bennett had immersed himself in Buddhist and Hindu teachings for the purpose of spiritual insight Crowley continued to relate that he did not fully realize the colossal stature of that sacred spirit and yet he was at once aware that this man could teach me more in a month than anyone else in five years 15 51 At a time when there was no legal prohibition against drugs Bennett was an experimental user of available drugs with which he also treated recurrent asthma and introduced Crowley to this aspect of his occult and alchemical researches 80 72 15 81 Furthermore as a part of his experiments into accessing the mysteries of the subconscious and super normal mind and the World behind the Veil of Matter it is alleged he even experimented with poisons once taking an overdose that would have otherwise killed another man though he remained unharmed 31 72 61 46 3 While Bennett was soon to abandon the practice of such experimentation and uses Crowley went on to a life of hedonistic addiction though always held Bennett in the highest regard 82 83 Crowley also painted the grim picture of how Bennett suffered acutely from spasmodic asthma at that early time Bennett would take one drug at a time up to a month until it was no longer helping then cycled through the other drugs available to him until he was reduced to using chloroform 46 15 Crowley recalled how even for a week he would see him only recovering consciousness sufficiently to reach for the bottle and sponge After a brief period of being well the asthma would return again and Bennett would be once again forced back into this grim cycle of existence 15 72 Crowley stated But through it all the calm undaunted spirit walked the empyrean and the radiant angelic temper ripened the wheat of friendship 25 Impact influence and change of view edit nbsp Bennett s Hebrew motto Let There Be Light has its roots in Genesis In a hallowing scene Bennett is described as calm majestic clearly master of it all Crowley paints in detail the aura of the man that thunders forth instantly a ray of divine brilliance cleaves the black clouds above his head and his noble countenance flashing in that ecstasy of brightness 84 Crowley stating how this picture of Bennett was the literal truth That Bennett was one of the very few people that he had met who really could get the results they wished for in this esoteric field for it is easy for most to get unwished for results madness death marriage 84 Biographer Kaczynski states that Crowley took on the Adeptus Minor Grade motto let there be light in an Enochian angelic language While he guarded this closely throughout his life it shows a clear reference to the influence of his teacher and friend 41 Crowley once remarked concerning Bennett s powers Bennett had constructed a magical wand out of glass a lustre from a chandelier which he carried with him 85 86 He preferred this to the wands recommended by the G D and would keep it charged with his considerable psychic force and ready for use 87 As it so happened Crowley and Bennett were at a party and a group of theosophists present were ridiculing in disbelief the power of the wands It was alleged by Crowley that Allan promptly produced his and blasted one of them It took fourteen hours to restore the incredulous individual to the use of his mind and his muscles 85 15 86 88 Crowley states how he had hoped Bennett would establish the Order in Asia The Dawn was Golden when you met the guide You took the boat that floated with the tide To leave behind no track I hoped that you would raise my magic Sword Upon another strand 89 One of the differences they faced was that Crowley seemed to think that virtuous conduct could be bypassed where Bennett went as far to insist it was the first founding factor an aspirant required seeing the deficiencies in the West namely the blamelessness of keeping the precepts 90 91 Crowley s Autobiography is dedicated to three Immortal Memories including Allan Bennett who did what he could 92 Sutin states that Crowley tried to rekindle the connection Bennett was the reluctant one and eventually the two of them did start to drift apart 93 Crowley notes years later Allan strangely enough it seems to me lost interest rather than gained it as we acquired proficiency in the White Art He didn t really care for Magic at all he thought that it led nowhere He only cared for yoga 94 95 51 Also while Bennett was a strong influence on Crowley s early life and later thought 96 Bennett one day responded to Crowley No Buddhist would consider it worthwhile to pass from the crystalline clearness of his own religion to this involved obscurity 97 Years later Crowley s reprinted Bennett s essay On the Culture of Mind likely without his knowledge with the new name Training of the Mind in the Equinox series Here it can be seen that their understanding of ultimate reality had taken separate roads Crowley seemed to think the two paths compatible while Bennett was unwavering in his religious zeal 90 98 On a sombre note Kaczynski quotes what Crowley wrote down upon his friends departure now aware of Bennett s change in path O Man of Sorrows brother unto Grief In the white shrine of thy white spirit s reign Thou man of Sorrows O beyond belief 99 Travel to Southeast Asia editCeylon yoga and Buddhism edit nbsp Bennett studied Hinduism Buddhism yoga meditation and the ancient Pali and Sanskrit texts At some time between 1889 and 1900 in his late twenties Bennett travelled to Asia 100 101 102 to relieve his chronic asthma after submersing himself in the study Buddhism 16 32 He travelled to Ceylon as a self converted Buddhist staying at Kamburugamuwa in the Matara district for four months Bennett studied the Pali language and the root Theravadan Teachings under an elder Sinhala monk Venerable Revata Thera 17 3 Cassius Pereira later recalled that such was the brilliance of his intellect that he had mastered that ancient tongue in six months and could fluently converse 103 104 Further that Bennett made many close friends amongst the Buddhists of Ceylon who gave him much assistance in every way 104 Bennett also spent time visiting monasteries monks and sacred sites familiarising and immersing himself with the Buddhist culture and practice of Ceylon 31 In Colombo he studied Hatha Yoga under the yogi Ponnambalam Ramanathan Shri Parananda who was said to be a man of profound religious knowledge 105 31 106 As Bennetts health improved he served as tutor to the younger sons of the Shri Parananda who was a high caste Tamil and the Solicitor General of Ceylon 105 107 Florence Farr a prior Golden Dawn associate was also to move over to Ceylon years later and became the principal lady of Shri Parananda s College for Girls 108 Bennett joined the Sangha under the yogi and took the name Swami Maitrananda 109 which was already of Buddhist significance The psychic potency of the man become more pronounced as he mastered the breathing techniques mantras asana postures and concentration practices in an amazingly short time period 31 106 3 Crowley visited Bennett in Kandy and personally attended on him during a yogic meditation retreat 110 Crowley supported his retreat by quietly bringing food into the room nextdoor to where Bennett was practising Having missed two meals in a row Crowley out of concern checked on Bennett finding him not seated on the central mat but at the end of the room still in the Padmasana yoga posture in his knotted position resting on his head and right shoulder exactly like an image overturned Crowley set him a right and he came out of the trance quite unaware that anything unusual had happened 110 111 With his health improving in the warm weather he was now free from the chronic cycle of drugs he had needed in England 112 Also he had relinquished his experimentation into psychic and esoteric power 113 Bennett s quest for spiritual meaning had finally been quenched as he began to commit to the practice and Teachings of Theravada Buddhism 113 Crowley noted Bennett was the noblest and gentlest soul I have ever known and in spite of his teacher amp friend s prior experimentation that Allan was already at heart a Buddhist 114 115 Egil Asprem states Following Bennett s example Crowley also engaged in a more intimate relation with Buddhism during his visit 116 and would subsequently consider himself a Buddhist for many years 117 Bennett later recounts The native and correct designation of the pure form of Buddhism now prevalent in Burma Ceylon and Siam is Theravadha The Tradition of the Elders or as we might justly render it the Traditional Original or Orthodox School 118 His intellect spiritual endeavour and faith sees this school as the pure and simple practically unchanged after twenty five centuries that its inheritance is not mythical but rather the actual words the Buddha employed on his religious mission that are still rolling down to the present 119 In July 1901 Bennett gave a talk at the Theosophical Society in Colombo named the Four Noble Truths Attending this talk was the young Cassius Pereira who was so deeply moved at this talk it changed his life and he became a lifelong friend of Bennett and later also took up the robes 120 17 102 Bennett at this time decided he would lead a Buddhist Mission to England 16 121 To do this he realised it must be carried out by a Bhikkhu of the Buddha s Sangha thus seeing the limitations in Ceylon he set his vision on Higher Ordination in the Theravada Buddhist Order of monks in Burma 16 121 51 He had come to the see that the path of renunciation was the only path for him the more he studied and practised the more he was attracted to it Out of darkness into the light edit Eastern Buddhism early 1900s nbsp Inside Theravadan Wat in 1903 nbsp The father of western monks in Ceylon Venerable Nyanatiloka with Silacara and Dhammanusari in 1909 Bennett travelled to the coastal city of Akyab at took up residence at the Buddhist monastery the Lamma Sayadaw Kyoung Bennett was accepted into the Order by Lamrna Saradaw as a Samanera novice monk on 8 December 1901 122 17 121 123 During this time he spent his time learning and improving further his knowledge of Pali learning the duties of a Buddhist Monk and writing Buddhist papers for a publication Ceylon 17 Half a year later on Vesak Day the Full Moon May 1902 a long line of seventy four Buddhist monks proceed from Kyarook Kyoung towards the wharf edge for the new Samanera s Higher Ordination The ceremony was taken place on the water presided by Sheve Bya Sayadaw and it is here that he moved from the ten precepts of a novice to the 227 precepts of a Buddhist Bhikkhu 124 17 32 Still unacquainted with the Burmese tongue Shwe Zedi Saradaw translated each sentence into English likely the first occurrence of this happening in history 17 His ordination name was Ananda Maitreya a Sanskrit name 17 102 soon to be changed to the Pali rendition Ananda Metteyya to be inline with the Theravada roots which means Bliss of loving kindness 105 125 3 126 102 Ananda was also the name of Gautama Buddha s attendant and the Sanskrit Maitreya and the Pali Metteyya are the name of the coming Buddha stated in the suttas 127 128 With fresh vigour he addressed the Sangha at this auspicious ceremony outlining how he intended to help spread Buddhism to the West 129 He spoke of the conflicts that were forming due to the clash of science and religion and spoke of a vision of bringing to the West that shining faith and Path of the Buddha that he had first truly experienced in Ceylon Crow quotes him as stating Herein then lies the work that is before me that his purpose is to carry to the Lands of the West the Law of Love and Truth declared by the Buddha to establish a Sangha of Bhikkhus in his name 129 16 121 Metteyya filled with zeal closes the speech with bringing from the East even unto the West the splendour of a Dawn beyond our deepest conception bringing joy from sorrow and out of Darkness LIGHT 17 Metteyya was the second known Englishman to be ordained as a Bhikkhu after Gordon Douglas who was ordained in Ceylon 1899 125 130 During Metteyya s ordination speech he made an earnest call to countrymen who will come to the East and receive the requisite Ordination and acquire a thorough knowledge of the Dharma to help teach the West this work I have already commenced on a small scale 17 Harris states Metteyya made a call for five men from four countries to come to Burma to be trained for higher ordination 131 One such German man who may have heard this call travelled to find Metteyya and soon ordained as a novice staying on with Metteyya for a month The samaṇera then went to Kyundaw monastery which was nearby boarding the forest and in February 1904 was accepted into the Sangha as Naṇatiloka Bhikkhu the first known continental European to receive higher ordination He was later grateful for meeting the supporters of Metteyya and made use at one point of the hut that had been built for Metteyya 132 Harris holds a letter from 10 February 1905 were Metteyya is commending Naṇatiloka asking Cassius Perera if he would help him further stating he is an easily contented mortal with a very gentle and considerate nature 133 Naṇatiloka went on to become the father of western monks in Ceylon 134 Brotherly bonds of all mankind editIn Rangoon 1903 Metteyya and Ernest Reinhold Rost co founded the International Buddhist Society known as Buddhasasana Samagama It was an international Buddhist society that aimed at the global networking of Buddhists 124 3 126 121 135 Its motto was Sabbadanaṁ dhammadanaṁ jinati meaning The Gift of Truth Excels All Gifts taken from the Dhammapada v 354 136 Metteyya was Secretary General and made Edwin Arnold the man who was the first to illuminate the Buddhas Path to him with the Light of Asia the first honorary member of the Society 137 138 Harris goes on to state that Buddhasasana Samagama gained official representatives in Austria Burma Ceylon China Germany Italy America and England Enthusiasm and greeting began to poor in from all around the world 121 139 His friend Cassius Pereira who later entered the Sangha becoming Bhikkhu Kassapa in 1947 at the Vajiraramaya Temple referring to this period recalls that Metteyya gave several inspiring addresses from the Maitriya Hall Pereira s Father built Maitriya Hall at Lauries Road Bambalapitiya in honour of Ananda Metteyya 140 its related group Servants of the Buddha has been active down to the 21st century 141 nbsp Council of the Buddhasasana Samagama International Buddhist Society March 1904 Ananda Metteyya co founder can be seen in the centre with the other key members in this photo taken in Rangoon printed in Buddhism The Buddhasasana Samagama garnered an immediate interest with three hundred attendees at a Conversazione in Rangoon a few months after its inception 121 In September 1903 whilst still in Rangoon Metteyya began a periodical called Buddhism An Illustrated Review Metteyya was instrumental in its production and appears in the Prospectus with Dr Ross as secretary general 121 The Quarterly Review was really the heart pulse of the society which was sent to all Members without additional cost and sold to the General Public at three shillings a copy 142 However funding was difficult and further the work was often delayed due to Metteyya s sickness Metteyya avidly contributed to each addition for example some of his first works were In the Shadow of Shwe Dagon 143 144 145 Nibbaṇa 146 Transmigration 147 amp The Law of Righteousness 148 Buddhasasana Samagama also notably printed its constitution and rules in Volume 1 Issue 2 149 126 During this time Albert Edmunds helped to promote the journal he too openly hoped for a synthesis between the east and the west 150 Edmunds acceptance of the position of America representative to the Society was more humanitarian I have taken this Rangoon representativeship so as to be useful and justify my existence Further explaining I am not a Buddhist but a philosopher who believes that a knowledge of Buddhism will liberalize Christianity Tweed further explaining Edmund s rationale it seemed to be capable of broadening Christianity and fusing cultures 151 So Edmunds became the person of note in North America and at the same time Anagarika Dharmapala and one J F McKechnie became inspired after reading Metteyya s article Nibbana 150 152 134 McKechnie stated It seemed to me couched in a fine style of English and moderate rational clear and convincing in its argument he was inspired and moved saying It hit me where I lived 152 McKechnie soon answered and appeal and became sub editor of the journal and within some years had himself left to Burma to become Bhikkhu Silacara 150 152 It can be said that the Illustrated Review while fitful due to Metteyyas illness was a success 152 Thought pioneer James Allen author of As a Man Thinketh Rhys Davis Shwe Zan Aung 153 Paul Carus J F M Kechnie Cassius Pereira 154 and Maung Khin barrister from Rangoon whom was later a Chief Justice of the High Court are a glance at some of the contributing authors in the first few publications Mrs Hla Oung who was the sponsor of Metteyya hut in Ceylon who was daughter of the late Sitkegyi Oo Tawlay wife of Oo Hla Oung Controller of the Indian Treasuries also is in the first issue an article entitled The Women of Burma 155 156 157 158 Due to said distributions there were only six issues of Buddhism printed between 1903 and 1908 Harris details the principles underlining the missionary and international vision outlined in the first issue One to set before the world the true principles of our Religion to give rise to wide spread acceptance among the peoples of the West its true practice as a vehicle to promote general happiness Two and three set to encourage wholehearted humanitarian activities and to further those interested in ever growing numbers to unite under common brotherly bonds of all mankind in alignment with True Buddhist ideals 159 By December 2003 Volume 1 Issue 2 stated Some five hundred copies of our first number were sent gratuitously 160 to the Press Libraries Universities and other institutions in the West so that the real work of spreading the light to the West was well underway 161 Metteyya continued to maintain a high level of international contact and by 1904 thanks to the generous supporters in Burma the periodical was appearing on the reading table of 500 to 600 libraries across Europe 131 162 Christmas Humphreys states that the first issue appeared in September 1903 and the production and quality of contents was the most remarkable Buddhist publication in English which has yet appeared that ramifications of this and the ensuing five issues was immense 7 nbsp The International Buddhist Society s publication known as Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly Review appearing on the reading table of 500 to 600 libraries across Europe from 1903 to 1908 163 Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland editR J Jackson 164 who with the help of a fellow friend and Buddhist R J Pain 165 founded The Buddhist Society of England 166 167 With the help of Ernest Reinhold Rost 168 the three of them set up a bookshop at 14 Bury Street Bloomsbury close to the British Museum and would promote the Societies cause by placing Buddhist literature for sale in store front window to encourage interest 121 169 170 171 Rost actively lectured in private congregations and the group soon started to garner support 7 121 A portable platform was painted in luminous orange bearing the words The Word of the Glorious Buddha is sure and everlasting and used in parks for lectures also gathering a considerable audience 121 170 Humphreys referring to Jackson also states In 1906 the first English practising Buddhist began to lecture on Buddhism from the traditional soap box in Hyde Park 166 Francis Payne mentions on his way to the British Museum he noticed the Buddhist leaning bookshop 172 Furious he went in and stated Why are you bringing this superstition to England One of them asked him not to be in a hurry and suggested he read one of the books presenting him with Lotus Blossoms 173 by Bhikkhu Silacara Soon after Payne was himself giving Dhamma lectures and became an integral part of the Society 121 It is said that Francis Payne went on to be the greatest Buddhist evangelist of the era second only to Metteyya 174 Jackson and Pain soon got in touch with Metteyya and preparations began to pave the way for his arrival 171 the time was now ripe for Metteyya s vision to be fulfilled 166 On the evening of 3 November 1907 a meeting commenced at Harley Street London Some twenty five people had attended the result of this meeting The Buddhist Society of England was expanded 167 171 to form The Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland which based its structure on its Rangoon counterpart 7 175 176 Christmas Humphreys later said its main purpose was to welcome and serve as the vehicle for the teachings 177 of Buddhism to the West With its formation the King of Thailand became Patron 167 and the eminent Pali scholar Professor Rhys Davis accepted the position of President Professor Edmund T Mills F R S Captain J E Ellam also took on key roles on the committee This newly formed team of five was given the task of drawing up a provisional Prospectus Constitution and Rules and the convening of another and larger meeting 7 178 176 A few names of such eminent Buddhist followers were Captain Rolleston Hon Eric Collier sculptor St George Lane Fox Pitt painter Alexander Fisher The Earl of Maxborough 179 amp A J Mills 7 121 180 Hermann Oldenberg Loftus Hare 181 who went on to be a part of the Parliament of Living Religions Sir Charles Eliot C Jinarajadasa D T Suzuki and Mme David Neel are further notable names of those who supported or contributed to the Society 182 Bennett was associated with the Society when health was able throughout the rest of his life Bennett was also a key editor of their periodical The Buddhist Review which was founded in 1909 and ended in 1922 150 183 It was certainly challenging partly composed of the religiously inspired true converts scholars scientists sceptics agnostics and those who had to work hard to keep the Society afloat 184 Its headquarters in London was seen as the oldest Buddhist organisation in Europe Officially the Society was would up in 1925 and superseded by the Buddhist Lodge in London in 1926 By 1953 it was known as the Buddhist Society and had relocated to its current address in Eccleston Square Notably its journals have been Buddhism and The Middle Way and Christmas Humphreys was its president from 1926 until his death 1983 185 186 First Buddhist mission to England editWith the recent dawn of The Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland Ananda Metteyya arrived on the steamship Ava with three devoted lay supporters at Albert Dock on the shores of England in the United Kingdom on 22 April 1908 187 188 176 189 Soon after stepping off the ship Metteyya was questioned as to his purpose for coming to England he replied in order to set forward the principles of Buddha in this country also elucidating that Buddhism blends harmoniously with other creeds giving one clear example its position as regards Christianity is that it supplements 190 nbsp Ananda Metteyya Buddhism in London Annals of Psychical Science 1908 32 This was the first true Buddhist Mission to the West the first lecture was soon to take place in London before the Royal Asiatic Society on 8 May 130 189 190 191 While circumstances were difficult and public opinion was resistant at times 100 187 190 Metteyya s personal charisma meant that he garnered golden opinions and the friendship and respect of all who had the privilege of meeting him 192 A historical account in the Voice of Buddhism relates that Metteyya began his work with great enthusiasm and that people came in large numbers to his Dhamma talks and meditation classes 167 Fifty years later Christmas Humphreys recalls that Metteyya brought Buddhism as a living force to England that it was the start of a slow growing movement of many to live the Buddhist life 100 Christmas Humphreys also recounts his meeting of Metteyya on this inaugural Mission in London 1908 with head shaven the then thirty six years of age Bhikkhu was tall slim graceful and dignified Humphreys describes Metteyyas deep set eyes juxtaposed against a slightly ascetic appearance that surely Metteyya made a great impression on all who met him The young monk was well spoken interesting with conversation and topic with a pleasant voice and in his lighter moments he showed a delightful sense of humour Metteyya displayed a deep comprehension of the Dhamma and his wit of analogy by topic of science and his sheer power and range of thought combined to form a most exceptional personality 27 193 One magazine printed part of Metteyyas writing in May 1908 Buddhism with its central tenet of non individualisation is capable of offering to the West to England an escape from this curse of Individualism recounting this a root to suffering Ending he encourages the temperament of Burma to Londoners one learns to respect not wealth but charity and to revere not arrogance but piety 194 There were many newspaper articles published in Britain and some abroad mostly positive 195 During this period the influential and prolific populariser of Zen Buddhism Japanese writer and academic Suzuki Daisetsu Teitarō met with Metteyya Suzuki is later noted for his strong influence on such people as Edward Conze Alan Watts amp Christmas Humphreys further expanding interest in Eastern Buddhism 196 While in London Metteyya was active in giving a number of lectures including one entitled Buddhism at the Theosophical Society 10 June 1908 By September he was meeting with members of the Buddhist Society every Sunday 176 All Metteyyas industry and devotion to the cause helped grow the Society s membership considerably Many of Metteyya lectures later appeared as pamphlets in the Society s journal or in The Buddhist Review 176 Metteyya and his devoted lay supporters concluded the inaugural mission leaving London to Liverpool on 29 September 1908 then travelling by way of ship back to Burma 176 Christian missionary Rev E G Stevenson studied Buddhism in Burma during this period and subsequently took up the yellow robes The newly ordained Venerable Sasanadhaja went on to help Metteyya with his missionary work Also in 1909 The Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland expanded its membership base to three hundred 180 Teachings and declining health editRescuing force of truth edit nbsp From the Buddhism publication symbolising the Buddha s Dhamma with the Lotus as a symbol for enlightenment growing out of filth and dirt into the light In a biographical account Harris reveals that Metteyya had pity and compassion for the hearts of the West He noted the signs of great neglect in our culture such as crowded taverns overflowing jails and sad asylums 197 198 To cope with this loss of religious and moral awareness he had laid down a three fold agenda as a remedy First to address this loss of moral awareness so as to encourage the spirit of mutual helpfulness rather than the current curses faced by society due to such degradation Second he opposed three misconception about Buddhism that it was uncivilised worship of idols that it was miracle mongering and esotericism and that it was a spineless apathetic pessimistic manner of philosophy Third he had introduced his impression of Buddhism as rational optimistic and that the Buddha was certainly a remarkable and enlightened Teacher 197 Metteyya had highlighted the spiritual poverty of the West through his dedicated writing with Theravada Buddhism presented as the force that could rescue it 199 Metteyya would give a range of teachings during this time encouraging others to see the benefit of virtue in precepts with its opposing suffering 200 establishing faith in the Buddha as a foundation and even to develop the ability to recall past lives 201 202 The purpose for his teachings was to inspire but also to use these things to see into the suffering of existence and understand the Four Noble Truths as to personally attaint to the far shore the goal of the Theravada Buddhist Teachings With a simile of the force of required in by high pressure steam in a steam locomotive Metteyya encourages the aspirant to use the right skillful means of meditation to allow the mind not to flow out into the world but to intensify the power of the mind in one spot based on purity 203 He makes statements like Aspiration Speech Action and so forth stand for consecutive stages in the path of spiritual progress inclining his audience towards the higher fruitions 204 He found light in the teaching that whatsoever phenomenon arises it is invariably an effect produced by an antecedent cause giving rise to a profound understanding of the three characteristics 205 206 Metteyya goes on to use a comparative simile of what enlightenment is then states it is the destruction of the illusion of self the unbinding of the five Khanda s of existence That when that truth of liberation is reached it is Illimitable the Element of Nirvana reigns supreme 207 Buddha s message to the West edit On the 89th anniversary of the United Kingdom Buddhist Day on 16 July 1997 Tilak S Fernando related the life successes and struggles of Metteyya 208 209 He states that after returning to Rangoon Metteyya was highly satisfied with the spiritual success of the mission though his health had steadily declined and the financial support for the mission was exhausted While the Metteyya had found the Teachings were not broadly accepted with great enthusiasm he was once again determined to push on to further the transmission of this Light 208 In December 1908 Metteyya wrote an Open Letter to the Buddhists of England earnestly appealing those interested in the Teachings to support the prosperity of the Society At this time the Society had already swollen to one hundred and fifty members and with all the graceful eloquence and inspiration he could muster he posed the glory of the Buddha s message as the answer to the immediate needs of the West 208 Fernando goes on to state Metteyya s iron will to return to England was still alive though the effort necessary to carry on with even routine work was terrible 210 To his further impact on the growth of Buddhism Metteyya is referenced in organising the Western Wing of the International Buddhist Union a group started by Anagarika Dharmapala which later formed into the World Fellowship of Buddhists in 1950 211 Metteyya was also commended for his work in Burma encouraging Buddhism to be taught in schools 212 198 It is also suggested by Harris that the anti Buddhist pressure in Ceylon had caused Metteyya to dedicate his time helping to equip Buddhist children to withstand the arguments of the Christian missionaries 213 This being a possible reason also for the waning possibility of a return mission to England Murmurs and inmost shrine of Buddhism editWhile as a marked contrast its not sure if it was a help or a hinder Crowley set to praise his old guru and published a newspaper article on 13 June 1908 stirring images of the brilliance of his old friend and teacher First painting the surreal graphic details of ceremonial magic then going on to state How wonderful must then be the inmost shrine of Buddhism when we find this same Allan Bennett discarding as childish folly the power of healing the sick or raising the dead of the attainment of the Philosopger s Stone the Red Tincture the Elixir of Life 84 Metteyya clearly having renounced his prior esoteric path to take up the white heights of spiritual Buddhist practice 84 What strange attraction must lie in the yellow robes of a Bhikkhu the Begging Bowl the shaven head and the averted eye Crowley goes on to rouse Londoners to a monumental illustration that this man has torn the heart of Truth bleeding from the dead body of the Universe that they who are hungry should seek his wisdom That to all serious men who seek for real Faith that this man has passed through all the ways of life and dead and he is attained Latin Intra Nobis Regnum 214 Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya Allan Bennett is the man to help you find it 84 Crowley s arousal of energy probably purely motivated was likely a key factor in Metteyya s later character assassination attacks Certainly his former life as an occultist and public admiration from Crowley would have added to the hype of murmurs and baseless accusations 215 74 nbsp An influential article by Ananda Metteyya entitled Transmigration Dark suspicion over Metteyya s controversial past and associations seem to captivated some part of the public While his faith and practice was genuine Metteyya still was a controversial figure head Both due to his history in the esoteric and his ongoing contact with friends in groups such as the Theosophy Society meant the suspicion continued 216 In years to come these rumours were to amplify when Crowley was openly attacked in the media This resulted in the names of both Jones and Metteyya to be drag through the mud Jones tired to sue the journal for libel which resulted in a drawn out court case 217 218 219 One news article said of Metteyya the rascally sham Buddhist monk Allan Bennett whose imposture was shown up in Truth some years ago is likely one of the worst examples of the accusations thrown about Counsel proceeded to question the witness with regard to Allan Bennett a Buddhist monk and also a member of the Order and it was at this point that his lordship Mr Justice Scrutton remarked this trial is getting very much like the trial in Alice in Wonderland 218 219 No facts were certified in the trial evidence was presented in a way that Metteyya was associated with the occult and libertine lifestyle of Crowley This unfortunate public perception may indeed be one of a handful of causes in Metteyya s waning ability for to spread the Dhamma through a further mission The power of these stories and insinuations really a form of character assassination can be seen as some have even rippled down to the 21st century 215 74 220 Metteyya had the full support of his close friends in Buddhist circles Harris remarks that its worthy of attention several articles were run in his lifetime to help state he had given up his past and was not a man of mystery 221 One editorial stating There is no more mystery attending the Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya than any other person Clifford Bax likewise stating from first glance the genuine nature of the man 222 Remembering backwards edit Metteyya in his early teachings and throughout his life prompted those he knew and taught to invoke a meditation practice that would enable the aspirant firstly to remember backwards and ultimately to recall their past lives 223 page needed 2 224 Being one of the psychic powers used for realisation in Buddhism he taught it as a tool to see that the continuation of rebirth in saṃsara is suffering enabling the aspirant to sharpen ones insight to perfect right view 223 page needed 225 226 227 nbsp Gautama Buddha encouraged the use of psychic power for seeing into suffering as a cause for wisdom Alec Robertson recalled one such memory Mr Rovertson was president and longstanding member of Servants of the Buddha 228 229 230 the society that has run at the Maitriya Hall Colombo Sri Lanka that was built in Ananda Metteyya s memory 228 230 Alec Robertson who was said to have a profound memory recalled that in the conversation with Venerable Kassapa Metteyyas close friend Cassius Pereira that the Venerable alleged having such a close connection with Metteyya that the two could communicate by telepathy that each could know the others thoughts even at great distance 229 230 Biographers Crow amp Sutin also dive into the topic of Crowleys struggling efforts following his old teacher and friends advice 231 232 Wild as it may seem to the modern skeptic knowledge of past lives is described as one of the psychic powers that the Buddha realized on the night of his enlightenment 233 Digestible Dhamma and deterioration of health edit Metteyya realised that the best path for LIGHT of Dhamma to arise in the West was through the Sangha of Bhikkhu s that this was the primary and indispensable foundation for the Buddha s Truth taking root in a society 234 This honest realisation was stated in 1910 further in this letter Metteyya announced I do not think that the maintenance of a single Bhikkhu whether myself or another would as things now are at all conduce to that end Quite the contrary in fact 234 Here Metteyya was referring to the difficulties of establishing a Sangha of Bhikkhus that could flourish while strictly adhering to the Vinaya Metteyya instead set forth the idea of the creation of Dhamma Literature that was constructed in a way that was easily digestible broken into shorter fragments to be more suited to the modern disgruntled mind 234 The Dhamma best for the deeper student in actual translations is too archaic for the modern average man to start on It needs interpreting into ways of thought rather than translating into verbal likeness 234 nbsp Gautama Buddha is the history central figure of Buddhism recorded in the ancient texts Metteyyas earlier plans to establish a permanent Buddhist community in the West in England 235 waned under his new understanding that Ven Silacara or himself would be unable properly establish a Sangha in the West 234 This marked the end of Metteyya s time as a dedicated Buddhist Missionary to England 236 237 Metteyya had stated that one who lives his true vocation of this life as a Bhikkhu must of followed the Vinaya accordingly to prove himself against temptations as a religious teacher amongst his fellow men to be wise and worthy so that he be a living example through the actions of his life 238 While Metteyya s determination to return was great his health was rapidly declining 239 65 237 Metteyya further stated I should be very sorry indeed to see the first beginnings of Buddhist monasticism in England founded on a deliberate and a continuous breach of the Rule by which the Bhikkhu should live 240 Speaking of the heart of Dhamma in this letter Metteyya states Now at this point I must pause to emphasise that our Dhamma our Sasana is the Truth about life the Religion which comes as the Crown as the Goal of all religious teaching which has ever been given to the world 241 That we have learnt the fundamental movements necessary to follow what is Right and Truth superseding our mental baby hood becoming self reliant endowed with personal responsibility taking up the mantle of the great pilgrimage of Life 242 Quoting the Buddha Metteyya writes Seek ye therefore Refuge in the Truth looking on yourself and on the Truth as Guides not seeking any other Refuge 243 In 1909 Bennetts early Qabalahist work from his time as an occultist A Note on Genesis appears in Crowley s The Equinox Volume I Number II 68 In 1911 Metteyya s Buddhist work The Training of the Mind appears in The Equinox Volume I Number V 244 Also in 1911 Metteyya publishes his a collection of his Buddhist articles An outline of Buddhism or Religion of Burma The latter was published in Rangoon Burma through the International Buddhist Society with an introduction by the Theosophical Society 245 later republished posthumously in 1929 1 Burma s climate was aggravating Metteyya s asthma and the austerity of the rules of a Bhikkhu was causing him to be weak 176 While the dates were not stated Cassius Pereira mentions that he had gallstone trouble had two operations and his chronic asthma had returned 239 246 Crowley states his life as a bhikkhu had not been too good for my guru his physical health was in a very shocking state including a number of tropical complaints 65 Metteyyas doctors had reluctantly given him the advice to leave the Order of Monks where he had now attained the seniority of a Thera or Elder 247 In 1913 he had conversed with his sister they decided it would be best if he moved to California so the better climate could aid in his recovery In May 1914 Ananda Metteyya disrobed no longer a Buddhist Monk then by the aid of some local friends left Burma to return to England 176 248 166 237 51 Return to England and final years edit nbsp Rembrandt s The Philosopher in Meditation strikes an image of Allan Bennetts struggles for the Ultimate for the Beyond even as a layman with chronic physical suffering a luminous heart of metta still devoted to the Buddhas Path of inward practice Arriving in England on 12 September 1914 Bennett meet with his sister who was to accompany him on the journey to America 249 176 Unfortunately due to his failing health the US ship medic denied his immigration visa his sister sailed without him and he found himself stranded and forced to live in poverty and illness 249 51 Bennett now a layperson was once again incapacitated with chronic asthma for weeks at a time and with the outbreak of World War I his situation was looking dire 175 Though Bennett s situation was bleak all was not lost A doctor and his family who were a member of the Liverpool branch of the Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland took him in for two years though the strain was too great 237 176 51 An anonymous group of well wishers ensured that Bennett was taken care of through support of the Buddhist Society to save him from being placed in public care As the help came in from local and abroad Bennett s health improved 250 51 The Wisdom of the Aryas editWith refreshed vigour in winter of 1917 1918 Bennett gave a series of six private lectures in Clifford Bax s studio 237 With war raging Bennett still roused his listeners to the sublime Nirvana stands for the Ultimate the Beyond and the Goal of Life describing that our transient conditioned selfhood was so utterly different to what was truly beyond all naming and describing but far past even Thought itself 251 Also encouraging householders to bring the ever present sun light of the Teachings into their daily lives 252 In May 1918 Bennett aroused the members of the Buddhist Society to fresh enthusiasm in what Christmas Humphreys stated being a fighting speech 253 176 Humphreys later cites Metteyya in his classic Buddhism Life s long enduring suffering has arisen out of the blind Nescience with the sense of separate existence are states of suffering 254 Harris cites one account that mentions Bennett though sick for weeks at a time took over the editorship of the Buddhist Review in 1920 January 1922 being the final edition 237 255 The title Arya meaning Noble in Sanskrit likewise Ariya in Pali refers to those who have attained to the Buddhas path of the four stages of enlightenment 256 257 258 Bennett then took the lectures he had given at Clifford Bax s studio and used them as the main basis of his book The Wisdom of the Aryas 2 published January 1923 Included was one teaching on transmigration one of the most difficult of Buddhist Teachings to make clear to the western mind 176 259 Bennett dedicates the work The Wisdom of the Aryas 2 to his dear friend Clifford Bax Esquire who hosted the lectures which were the basis for the bulk of the compilation Bennett states during the early terrible years of the Great War I came to London broken in health and despairing of further possibility of work for the cause to which my life has been devoted This is the first fruits of my work as published in a western land thanking Bax for making possible the resumption of my life work with heartfelt gratitude signed Ananda Metteyya 260 Death editClifford Bax s recounts his meeting of Bennett in 1918 His face was the most significant that I had ever seen that one could both sense the twisting and scoring from years of physical suffering and a lifetime of meditation upon universal love these grave rise to the most remarkable impression Above all at the moment of meeting Bennett emanated a tender shimmering unwavering psychic sunlight that was a halo to his persona 261 It was clear by early March 1922 Allan Bennett was deteriorating rapidly The suffering was plain even for others to see Charles Alwis Hewavitharana 262 and in all likelihood Cassius Pereira continued to support Bennett in his final days at 90 Eccles Road Clapham Junction London 263 264 Allan Bennett died on his native English soil at the age of 50 on 9 March 1923 176 248 265 Hewavitarana cabled the necessary funds for his grave in Morden Cemetery in South London 263 255 Christmas Humphreys recalls the event nbsp Morden Battersea New Cemetery is the resting place of Allan Bennett flowers and incense were placed on the grave by members of the large gathering assembled 263 Lifelong friend and Buddhist writer Cassius Pereira wrote on the 9th of March in London the Buddhist world loses one of its foremost protagonists of late years 8 And now the worker has for this life laid aside his burdens One feels more glad than otherwise for he was tired his broken body could no longer keep pace with his soaring mind The work he began that of introducing Buddhism to the West he pushed with enthusiastic vigour in pamphlet journal and lecture all masterly all stimulating thought all in his own inimitably graceful style And the results are not disappointing to those who know 247 Paul Brunton in 1941 shared that Allan Bennett had stimulated me spiritually and quickened my dawning determination to decipher the profound enigma of life Brunton recounts his respect and honour for Bennett leaving us with his thanks for this white Buddhist whose ship has sailed for the infinite waters of Nirvana 31 Tilak S Fernando on United Kingdom Buddhist Day in 1997 ends his speech paying homage to Venerable Ananda Metteyya s legacy And so there passed from sight a man whose memory would honour for bringing to England as a living faith the message of the All Enlightened One 265 266 Legacy editAllan Bennett was a pioneer and without him Buddhism would not have entered the Western world as it did 267 100 In particular he encouraged and introduced the serious study of Buddhism as a spiritual practice into Britain and further fostered its growth in Burma and Ceylon 268 269 Just before Bennetts death in 1923 the collection of lectures that had taken place in Clifford Bax s studio 270 237 plus and addition paper on Rebirth were printed in the book The Wisdom of the Aryas 2 237 Posthumously in 1929 the Theosophical Publishing House in India printed The Religion of Burma and Other Papers a collection of Metteyya s writings from the first decade of the century a rework of the 1911 release 237 245 This latter collection subsists of the bulk of articles that have been published throughout his life as a Buddhist Monk and as a devoted Buddhist Rightly indeed have the Buddhists of the East decided that these inspiring writings shall not be consigned to the oblivion which overtakes back numbers of journals but made accessible to the world in the form of a volume 271 Many of his addresses and papers are still intact available and in use today 272 nbsp The Gift of Truth Excels all other Gifts proverb from the Dhammapada illuminates Metteyya s life work trying to share the crystalline Truth with mankind This inscription is found both on every Buddhism Illustrated Review and on Bennett s final work The Wisdom of the Aryas Ananda Metteyya is remembered for his promotion of Buddhist education in Burma and his central role as a figure promoting the global networking of Buddhism 273 including the first true authentic roots of the Buddha s Sangha in the West 131 274 Known both as a critic of the moral stagnation of the West and as a keen promoter of the beliefs of the East at the dawn of the 20th century 131 Metteyya was noted as one of the few early Western Buddhists who possessed reason devotion and a strong grip of the Buddhist truths Metteyya played an important role as one of these prolific forerunners who opened the eyes of their generation to an ancient wisdom long lost to the Western world 275 Reiterated in the posthumous release The Religion of Burma 1 the introduction states For the whole of the powers of this remarkable man were devoted to one single object to the exposition of the Dhamma in such a manner that it could be assimilated by the peoples of the West Metteyya was also noted by virtue of the literary skill to engage and share Buddhist thought through vivid expression the knowledge he had realised 275 One can hardly turn a page of his prose essays without coming across some passage which is instinct with imaginative expression 21 Metteyya s passion for the Buddha s Teachings as a way of life his ingenuity and industry in bring that Light to the West his example as a keen practitioner of Dhamma all of this helped kindle a sense of spiritual urgency and seeking in those who crossed his path and teachings His life work in summary was to share with the West the Noble Eightfold Path the Majjhima Patipada that place of practice that avoids both extremes and leads to enlightenment the total extinguishment of all suffering If any of you shall be able to gain even some faint glimmer of the Buddhist Religion and its incomparable value to the western world it will be my very great reward and as you in such case will surely find your very great advantage 276 Our western world I believe will find the greatest answer to its questionings the simplest presentations of the deepest facts about life in this same wonderful Teaching of the Indian Prince who sought and found alone the Way to put an End to Suffering the Way to Everlasting Peace 276 Tricycle Magazine also quotes Metteyya s thoughts on the Buddha s teachings 277 All that remains to us is Action He taught but action true following to the best of our small powers make a man our Master s Follower wherefore by earnestness work out your Liberation 277 Works editBennett Allan 1923 The Wisdom of the Aryas London amp New York Kegan Paul Trench Trubner amp Co E P Dutton amp Co Bennett Allan 1929 The Religion of Burma and other Papers Adyar Madras India Theosophical Publishing House As editor York University Digital Library Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly Vol 1 No 1 York University Digital Library Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly Vol 1 No 2 York University Digital Library Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly Vol 1 No 3 York University Digital Library Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly Vol 1 No 4 York University Digital Library Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly Vol 2 No 1 The Buddhist Review Volume 1 Number 2 The Buddhist Review Volume 11 Number 3See also editBuddhism in England Bhikkhu Asoka Lokanatha Naṇamoli Bhikkhu Naṇavira Thera Nyanaponika Thera U DhammalokaFootnotes edit a b c Bennett amp Metteyya 1929 a b c d e Bennett amp Metteyya 1923 a b c d e f g h Melton 2000 p 169 Kaczynski amp Wasserman 2009 Chp 6 Crowley credited his focus on concentration and awareness practices to the influence of his two early mentors Oscar Eckenstein and Allan Bennett a b Crow 2008c p 1 Batchelor 1994 p 40 a b c d e f g h Humphreys 1956 pp 26 27 a b c d Bennett amp Metteyya 1929 p 432 The Late Mr Allan Bennett by Cassius Pereira a b c d e f g Crow 2008a pp 14 36 a b Regardie 1986 p 41 Harris 2006 p 149 cites Symonds amp Grant 1989 180 a b c Harris 2013 p 81 a b c d e Crowley Beta amp Kaczynski 1998 p 23 a b c d e f Harris 2006 p 149 a b c d e f g h i j k Crowley Symonds amp Grant 1989 Ch 21 a b c d e f g h Humphreys 1956 p 27 a b c d e f g h i j k l Metteyya 1902 Harris 1998a p 11 cites Confessions p 234 a b c Harris 1998a a b c Harris 2006 p 149 cites Grant 1972 82 a b Bennett amp Metteyya 1929 p v Crow 2008b pp 30 33 a b Leo amp Crowley 1911 Harris 1998a cites Kenneth Grant The Magical Revival Frederick Muller Ltd London 1972 p 82n a b c d e f g Grant 1972 p 87 a b Howe 1985 p 151 a b Harris 1998a Ch 1 The Mission to England Paragraph 3 Cites Humphreys Sixty Years of Buddhism in England p 7 Antes Geertz amp Warne 2004 p 454 cites Ahnond 1988 1 Harris 1998a cites The Magical Revival p 85 Crow 2008a p 17 a b c d e f g h Brunton Ph D 1941 a b c d The Annals of Psychical Science 1908 p 260 Vol III No 41 Harris 1998a p 10 Grant 1972 p 87 cites an unpublished manuscript entitled Origins Harris 1998a p 12 cites The Magical Revival p 85 a b Crowley 1909 XIX Howe 1985 p 105 Harris 2013 pp 81 82 Harris 1998a p 13 a b Gilbert 1986 p 151 a b Kaczynski 2010 p 62 Howe 1985 p 296 a b Crow 2008a p 18 a b c Sutin 2000 p 64 Harris 1998a Ch 1 The Search for Truth Paragraph 2 a b c d e Sutin 2000 p 65 Owen 2004 p 191 inc fn 12 Crowley 1983 see p 5 of introduction a b c Mysteries of the Unknown 1989 pp 153 155 a b Howe 1985 pp 105 106 a b c d e f g h Harris 2013 p 82 Howe 1985 p 99 Curtice Clery amp Perry 2019 p 3 Harris 2013 p 80 Colquhoun 1975 p 147 Crowley Beta amp Kaczynski 1998 p 24 a b c d e Symonds 1951 p 27 a b Crowley Symonds amp Grant 1989 Ch 20 a b c d Crowley Beta amp Kaczynski 1998 p 28 Owen 2004 p 191 a b c d Campbell 2018 Ch 1 The Dawn of the Magician Colquhoun 1975 p 146 Campbell 2018 Chp 1 The Dawn of the Magician Grant 1972 p 28 a b c Crowley Symonds amp Grant 1989 Ch 54 p 464 Kaczynski amp Wasserman 2009 Chp 6 Crowley credited his focus on concentration and awareness practices to the influence of his two early mentors Oscar Eckenstein and Allan Bennett Crowley Symonds amp Grant 1989 Ch 18 p 159 a b c A A Publication 1909 Harris 2013 p 79 cites Grant 1972 85 quoted in Harris 1998 6 Regardie 1986 p 113 Symonds 1951 pp 27 28 a b c d Symonds 1951 p 28 Regardie 1986 p 16 a b c Sutin 2000 p 212 213 cites Confessions J E C Fuller Introductory Essay to Bibliotheca Crowleyana p 7 c 68 amp The Looking Glass 29 October 1910 a b Bennett 1889 Prefatory Note Sutin 2000 p 65 cites Confessions Ch 21 Grant 1972 pp 89 90 Howe 1985 p 150 Howe 1985 p 194 Sutin 2000 p 67 Owen 2004 p 151 Sutin 2000 pp 234 266 281 296 Crowley Symonds amp Grant 1989 Ch 54 a b c d e Whats On 1908 a b Gilbert 1983 pp 62 63 a b Grant 1972 p 88 Colquhoun 1975 p 148 Howe 1985 151 cites Confessions op cit p 80 Grant 1972 pp 88 89 a b Metteyya 1911 pp 31 57 Inc Crowleys fn s Crowley Symonds amp Grant 1989 Ch 27 Crowley Symonds amp Grant 1989 p 27 Sutin 2000 pp 193 194 389 390 cites J F C Fuller Introductory Essay to Keith Hogg 666 Bibliotheca Crowleyana catalog of Fuller s collection Kent UK 1966 p 5 amp P R Stephensen and I Regardie Legend of Aleister Crowley 1970 p 70 Crow 2008a p 16 Colquhoun 1975 p 90 Also showing his loss of interest Regardie 1986 pp 112 113 232 236 286 297 298 319 Sutin 2000 p 193 Crow 2008c p 3 Kaczynski 2010 Ch 3 Golden Dawn para 85 86 citation To Allan Bennett MacGregor from The Soul of Osiris 1901 rpt Works 1 207 The phrase Man of Sorrows besides reflecting his physical state also applies to the Buddhist trance of Dukkha a b c d Humphreys 1972 pp 133 136 Crow 2008c a b c d Harris 2006 p 150 Harris 2006 p 150 cites Pereira 1923 6 a b Bennett amp Metteyya 1929 p 434 The Late Mr Allan Bennett by Cassius Pereira a b c Sutin 2000 p 90 a b Owen 2004 p 228 see fn 19 cites Crowley Confessions 237 Owen 2004 p 228 Owen 2004 pp 227 228 cites Crowley Confessions 237 and Josephine Johnson Florence Farr Bernard Shaw s New Woman Gerrards Cross Colin Smythe Ltd 1975 93 Golden Dawn Research Ctr 1998 a b Crowley Symonds amp Grant 1989 Ch 29 Kaczynski 2010 Ch The Mountain Holds a Dagger para 114 Harris 2006 p 150 cites Foot Note 4 inc Symonds amp Grant 1989 180 James Adam 1913 A C Wootton 1910 a b Harris 2006 p 150 cites Symonds amp Grant 1989 237 249 Harris 1998a Ch 1 In Siri Lanka cites Confessions p 237 Wilson 2005 Chp 3 para 52 Churton 2014 p 78 Asprem 2012 p 87 Bennett amp Metteyya 1929 p 4 Bennett amp Metteyya 1929 pp 4 8 Harris 1998a Ch 1 In Siri Lanka cites Why do I renounce the World p 67 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Shrine amp Pesala 2009 pp 19 20 cites Sixty Years of Buddhism by Christmas Humphreys page 1 5 Humphreys 1956 pp 27 28 Harris 2006 p 150 though states December 12 a b Harris 2006 p 150 cites fn 5 inc Humphreys 1968 3 5 a b Buswell Jr amp Lopez Jr 2014 p 40 a b c Humphreys 1956 p 28 Harris 1998b pp 9 10 14 19 34 n 5 53 Robinson Johnson amp Thanissaro 1996 pp 105 106 a b Crow 2009 p 6 a b Harris 1998b p 174 a b c d Harris 2013 p 78 Hecker amp Nanatusi 2008 pp 24 25 Harris 2013 pp 85 86 a b Harris 2013 p 85 Harris 2013 p 78 states it was 1902 Buddhism 1903b Prospectus after p 528 see p vii Oliver 1979 pp 43 44 Antes Geertz amp Warne 2004 p 454 Harris 2013 p 84 speaks of the struggles and more details Harris 1998a Ch 1 The Search for Truth also see fn 4 Senanayake 2021 Humphreys 1956 pp 28 29 Buddhism 1903a pp 100 112 Buddhism 1903b pp 267 288 Buddhism 1904a pp 462 472 Buddhism 1903a pp 113 134 Buddhism 1903b pp 289 312 Buddhism 1904a pp 353 379 Buddhism 1903b Prospectus see p 528 onwards a b c d Williams amp Moriya 2010 pp 98 99 Tweed 2000 p 102 cites Edmunds details of Edmunds Diaries amp Papers see note 52 of tweed for more a b c d Humphreys 1956 p 29 Min 2018 Harris 1998a see note 4 for further info Buddhism 1903a pp 61 83 The Somerset and West of England Advertiser 1908 Wright 1910 Hecker amp Nanatusi 2008 p 24 fn 28 Mrs Mah May Hia Oung A biography of this Burmese philanthropist is found in The Buddhist Review Vol II Oct Dec 1910 No 4 pp 16 17 Harris 1998a Ch 1 In Burma cites Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly Review Vol 1 1 pp 63 64 see also notes 36 to 38 in Harris 1988a meaning here costing nothing Buddhism 1903b p 319 Harris 2006 p 150 cites Editorial comment Buddhism 1 3 March 1904 473 Photo provided for this article courtesy of Weiser Antiquarian Books Some of Jackson s later books include Buddhism and God 1940 amp India s Quest for Reality Both were published in London by the Buddhist Society an ex soldier from Burma a b c d Humphreys 1956 p 122 a b c d Buddhist Missionary Society 1984 Hecker amp Nanatusi 2008 p 24 fn 29 R Rost 1822 1896 was for many years the head of the Indian Office Library in London at this time was from the Indian Medical Service on leave from Rangoon Humphreys 1956 p 30 a b Kitto 2005 a b c Humphreys 1951 p 224 Shrine amp Pesala 2009 pp 19 20 cites Sixty Years of Buddhism by Christmas Humphreys page 1 5 Silacara 1922 Shrine amp Pesala 2009 p 21 cites Sixty Years of Buddhism page 1 5 a b Harris 2006 p 148 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Crow 2008b p 33 Connolly 1985 pp 3 6 Antes Geertz amp Warne 2004 p 454 fn 8 The Teesdal Mercury 1913 column 3 para 8 a b World Fellowship of Buddhists 1956 p 16 Theosophy Wiki 2017 Shrine amp Pesala 2009 p 21 cites Sixty Years of Buddhism page 1 5 Humphreys 1956 p 132 Shrine amp Pesala 2009 pp 16 22 cites Sixty Years of Buddhism page 1 5 Oxford Reference 2011 The Buddhist Society 2017 a b Harris 2006 pp 150 151 Harris 1998a Ch 1 The Mission to England cites Humphreys Sixty Years of Buddhism in England p 7 a b Yorkshire Telegraph and Star 1908 a b c The Homeward Mail 1908 Kaczynski 2010 Epilogue para 44 Harris 2006 p 151 cites BR I 1909 3 Harris 2006 p 151 cites Humphreys 1968 6 T P s Weekly 1908 p 565 The Dundee Evening Telegraph and Post 23 April 1908 The Straits Times Singapore 19 May 1908 p 5 The Maha Bodhi and the United Buddhist Word June 1908 pp 88 90 The People s Journal 20 June 1908 The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 7 September 1908 p 6 Aberdeen Daily Journal 29 September 1908 p 5 The Motherwell Times 2 October 1908 Antes Geertz amp Warne 2004 p 471 cites Fader 1986 95 p 472 cites Humphreys 1968 78 79 a b Harris 2006 pp 148 149 cites Bennett 1903a 12 13 amp 35 a b Harris 2013 p 88 Harris 2006 p 91 Metteyya 1903 pp 353 360 Sutin 2000 p 163 Metteyya 1911 pp 28 29 30 55 Metteyya 1911 pp 37 50 Metteyya 1913 pp 85 108 Harris 1998a Ch The Path cites Wisdom of the Aryas p 32 Regardie 1986 p 42 William 1923 pp 189 190 a b c Fernando 1997 Deegalle 2018 pp 52 73 side note only on purpose of the United Kingdom Buddhist Day Fernando 1997 para 12 Antes Geertz amp Warne 2004 pp 460 461 also cites Humphreys 1968 15 Harris 1998a cites Minute Book 3 December 1909 The Buddhist Society London Harris 2013 p 86 literally means Inside Us the Kingdom of god a b Symonds 1951 pp 28 107 108 Daily News 1911 Whats On 1908 Campbell 2018 Chp 1 The Dawn of the Magician see It was equally rumoured Melton 2000 p 1 Kaczynski 2010 Ch The Five Peaks para 10 amp 11 quotes a poem dedicated to Allan Bennett appeared to the astonishment of the press Kaczynski 2010 Ch 10 Aleister Through the Looking Glass Colquhoun 1975 p 146 biographer suggestion suspicion just by association Wilson 2005 Chp 5 para 48 50 states It seems likely that this scandalous gossip originated with Mathers From now on for the rest of his life Crowley would be unable to escape a reputation for wickedness Harris 2013 pp 79 80 cites ongoing engagement with theosophy see Crow 2009 55 62 Harris 2008 The Wiltes and Gloucestershire 29 April 1911 p 5 a b The Exmouth Journal 29 April 1911 a b Oakland Tribune 21 May 1911 News Collection April to May 1911 1911 Harris 1998a Chp 1 Years of Crisis see No gravestone has ever been placed Harris 1998a Chp 1 Years of Crisis cites The Buddhist Review Vol 1 1909 p 3 amp Clifford Bax Ananda Metteyya in The Middle Way Vol 43 1 p 23 a b Metteyya 1911 Crow 2008c p 6 Robinson Johnson amp Thanissaro 1996 p 16 William 1923 p 76 Crow 2008c p 5 a b Kuruppu 2004 a b Harris 1998a Chp 1 The Search for Truth inc fn 5 a b c Kuruppu 2007 Sutin 2000 pp 163 268 amp 269 Crow 2008c pp 6 7 Bodhi amp Nanamoli 2009 MN 36 p 341 The Greater Discourse to Saccaka a b c d e Metteyya 1910 p 171 Harris 1998a cites The Buddhist Review Vol 1 1909 p 3 Harris 1998a cites Minute Book December 23 1914 The Buddhist Society London a b c d e f g h i Harris 2006 p 151 Metteyya 1910 p 172 a b Harris 1998a cites The Buddhist April 28 1923 p 6 Metteyya 1910 p 173 Metteyya 1910 p 174 Metteyya 1910 pp 174 175 Metteyya 1910 pp 175 A A Publication 1911 a b Metteyya 1911b Harris 2006 p 151 cites Pereira 1923 6 a b Harris 1998a cites The Buddhist 28 April 1923 p 6 a b Melton 2000 p 170 a b Harris 1998a Ch Years of Crisis Harris 2006 p 151 cites Buddhist Review 8 1916 217 9 Harris 2006 157 158 cites Bennett 1923 124 Harris 2006 p 153 cites Bennett 1923 6 Harris 2006 p 151 inc citation Humphreys 1968 14 Humphreys 1951 p 87 cites The Wisdom of the Aryas p xxi a b Harris 2013 p 83 Britannica 2021 Encyclopedia of Buddhism Arya 2021 Encyclopedia of Buddhism Arya Sangha 2021 Harris 2013 p 83 Harris quotes a meeting of Bruton and Bennett at this time also taught me the lofty ethic and stern ascetic philosophy of his faith Bennett amp Metteyya 1923 see introductory dedication Harris 2006 p 148 cites Bax 1968 23 Harris 2013 p 80 notes Dr Hewavitarana that brother of the Anagarika Dharmapala a b c Harris 1998a Chp 1 Years of Crisis cites Humphreys Sixty Years pp 16 17 Harris 2013 pp 82 83 a b Fernando 1997 para 14 Harris 1998a Chp 1 Years of Crisis see end of Humphreys quote a man whom history may some time honour for bringing to England as a living faith the Message of the All Enlightened One Harris 1998a Ch 1 Owen 2004 p 32 Harris 1998a cites Minute Book 3 December 1909 The Buddhist Society London Bax 1925 Sec XX p 290 Bennett amp Metteyya 1929 p vi See Harris amp Crow in references amp further reading Harris 2013 pp 83 89 Harris 2013 p 89 a b Story 1962 p 87 a b Bennett amp Metteyya 1923 p 20 a b Tricycle 1997 Sources editThis article contains a list that has not been properly sorted This list needs to be alphabetized See MOS LISTSORT for more information Please improve this article if you can December 2022 Mysteries of the Unknown 1989 Ancient Wisdom and Secret Sects Littlehampton Book Services Ltd ISBN 9780705406772 Antes Peter Geertz Armin W Warne Randi R 2004 New Approaches to the Study of Religion Volume 1 Regional Critical and Historical Approaches Walter de Gruyter ISBN 9783110176988 Asprem Egil 2012 Arguing with Angels Enochian Magic and Modern Occulture State University of New York Press ISBN 9781438441917 Bennett Allan Metteyya Ananda 1929 The Religion of Burma and Other Papers A M S Press Inc ISBN 9780404167905 Bennett Allan Metteyya Ananda 1923 The Wisdom of the Aryas Kegan Paul Bennett Allan 1889 Liber MMCCMXI No 2261 Class C A Note on Genesis by V H FRA Adeptus Minor A model of Qabalistic ratiocination Specially adapted to Gnana Yoga With a preface and notes by Crowley Bodhi Bhikkhu Nanamoli Bhikkhu 2009 Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha Wisdom Publication ISBN 9780861710720 Buswell Jr Robert E Lopez Jr Donald S 2014 The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism Princeton University Press ISBN 9780691157863 Campbell Colin D 2018 Thelema An Introduction to the Life Work amp Philosophy of Aleister Crowley Woodbury Minnesota Llewellyn Publications ISBN 9780738751047 Churton Tobias 2014 The Biography Spiritual Revolutionary Romantic Explorer Occult Master and Spy Watkins Media ISBN 9781780283845 Colquhoun Ithell 1975 Sword of Wisdom MacGregor Mathers and The Golden Dawn SBN 399115348 New York G P Putnam s Sons Crow John L 2008a Invited Book Chapter Venerable Ananda Metteyya s Buddhist Mission to the UK in Dharma to the UK A Centennial Celebration of Buddhist Legacy ed Dr Mahinda Deegalle London World Buddhist Foundations ISBN 978 0951895726 Crowley Aliester 1983 777 Seven Seven Seven and Other Qabalistic Writings of Aliester Crowley York Beach Maine Samuel Weiser Inc ISBN 9780877286707 Curtice J Clery E Perry M 2019 The National Centre for Social Research PDF NatCen ISBN 9781527244481 Archived from the original PDF on 11 July 2019 Retrieved 15 April 2021 Deegalle Mahinda 2018 Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhism in London Religiosity and Communal Activities of a Diaspora Community Chp In South Asians in the Diaspora Brill doi 10 1163 9789047401407 004 ISBN 9789047401407 Grant Kenneth 1972 The Magical Revival London Frederick Muller Limited Edition Starfire Publishing Limited 2010 ISBN 9781906073039 Harris Dr Elizabeth J 1998b What Buddhists Believe Oneworld Publications ISBN 9781851681686 Howe Ellic 1985 The Magicians Of The Golden Dawn A Documentary History of a Magical Order 1887 1923 The Aquarian Press ISBN 9780850304268 Kaczynski Richard Wasserman James 2009 The Weiser Concise Guide to Aleister Crowley San Francisco CA Red Wheel Weiser ISBN 9781578634569 Leo Vincey Crowley Aleister 1911 The Rosicrucian Scandal Vincey Leo is a Crowley pseudonym in this parody text London Privately Printed Melton Gordon J 2000 Encyclopedia of Occultism amp Parapsychology 5 2v Thomson Gale ISBN 9780810385702 Metteyya Ananda 1902 The Upasampada ordination of Bhikkhu Ananda Maitriya Oliver Ian P 1979 Buddhism in Britain London Rider ISBN 9780691157863 Owen Alex 2004 The Place of Enchantment British Occultism and the Culture of the Modern Chicago University Of Chicago Press ISBN 9780226642017 Robinson Richard H Johnson Willard L Thanissaro Bhikkhu 1996 The Buddhist Religion A Historical Introduction Fourth Edition Wadsworth Publishing ISBN 9780534207182 Shrine Terry Pesala Bhikkhu 2009 Honour Thy Fathers A Tribute to the Venerable Kapilavaḍḍho and brief History of the Development of Theravada Buddhism in the UK PDF Wembley Middlesex UK a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Silacara Bhikkhu 1922 Lotus Blossoms Theosophical Publishing House republished Literary Licensing LLC 15 October 2011 ISBN 9781258146825 Symonds John 1951 THE GREAT BEAST The Life of Aleister Crowley First Impression ed London Rider and Company Tweed Thomas A 2000 The American Encounter with Buddhism 1844 1912 Victorian Culture amp the Limits of Dissent USA The University of North Carolina Press ISBN 9780807849064 Wilson Colin 2005 Aleister Crowley The Nature of the Beast Great Britain Aeon Books Ltd ISBN 9781904658276 Wright Arnold 1910 Twentieth century impressions of Burma its history people commerce industries and resources London Durban Perth W A Lloyd s Greater Britain Pub Co Online Version Cornell University Library p 64 Batchelor Stephen 1994 The Awakening of the West Parallax Press ISBN 9780938077695 Bax Clifford 1925 Inland far a book of thoughts and impressions London Heinemann Crowley Aleister Symonds John Grant Kenneth 1989 The Confessions of Aleister Crowley An Autohagiography England Penguin Group ISBN 9780140191899 Crowley Aleister Beta Hymenaeus Kaczynski Richard 1998 The Revival of Magick and Other Essays Oriflamme 2 New Falcon Publications ISBN 9781561841332 Gilbert R A 1983 The Golden Dawn Twilight of the Magicians Aquarian Press ISBN 9780850303575 Gilbert R A 1986 The Golden Dawn Companion A Guide to the History Structure and Workings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Aquarian Press ISBN 9780850304367 Harris Elizabeth J 2006 Theravada Buddhism and the British Encounter New York Routledge Taylor amp Francis Group ISBN 9780415371254 Hecker Dr Hellmuth Nanatusi Bhikkhu 2008 The Life of Nanatiloka Thera The Biography of a Western Buddhist Pioneer Kandy Sri Lanka Buddhist Publication Society ISBN 9789552403187 Humphreys Christmas 1956 A Buddhist Students Manual Ref 1529505993LMA The Buddhist Society Humphreys Christmas 1951 Buddhism Middlesex Penguin Books Kaczynski Richard 2010 Perdurabo Revised and Expanded Edition The Life of Aleister Crowley eISBN version North Atlantic Books ISBN 9781583945766 Regardie Israel 1986 The Eye in the Triangle An Interpretation of Aleister Crowley Falcon Press ISBN 0941404080 Sutin Lawrence 2000 Do what thou wilt a life of Aleister Crowley St Martin s Press ISBN 0312252439 William Loftus Hare 1923 Mysticism Of East And West Studies in Mystical and Moral Philosophy Great Britain Butler amp Tanner Williams Duncan Ryuken Moriya Tomoe 2010 Issei Buddhism in the Americas University of Illinois Press ISBN 9780252035333 Crow John Lowell 2008c The Bhikkhu and the Magus PDF 2008 International London UK University of Amsterdam Fernando Dr Tilak S 1997 Celebrates the United Kingdom Buddhist Day 89th anniversary London UK World Buddhist Foundation Archived from the original on 27 December 2007 Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly 1 1 Rangoon Burma International Buddhist Society 1903a a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint untitled periodical link Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly 1 2 Rangoon Burma International Buddhist Society 1903b a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint untitled periodical link Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly 1 3 Rangoon Burma International Buddhist Society 1904a a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint untitled periodical link Connolly Peter 1985 Buddhism in Britain Religion Today 2 2 3 6 doi 10 1080 13537908508580570 Metteyya Ananda 1913 Right Understanding Buddhist Review 5 Metteyya Ananda 1910 The Order of The West Letter The Buddhist Annual of Ceylon 1929 Colombo Bastian and Co Crow John L 2009 Spreading The Light of Asia To Europe Ananda Metteyya s Buddhist Message to the West Keynote Lecture World Buddhist Foundation UK Buddhist Day Celebrations London England BuduMag Crow John Lowell 2008b Allan Bennett amp the Emergence of Buddhism in the West Insight The Journal of the Theosophical Society of England 49 3 Harris Dr Elizabeth J 1998a Ananda Metteya the First British Emissary of Buddhism PDF The Wheel Publication 420 422 ISBN 9552401798 Story Francis 1962 Early Western Buddhists Extracts from The Buddhist Review 1909 1914 PDF The Wheel Publication 42 43 Kandy Buddhist Publication Society 2007 Online Version Harris Dr Elizabeth J 2013 Ananda Metteyya Controversial Networker Passionate Critic Contemporary Buddhism doi 10 1080 14639947 2013 785727 S2CID 144077833 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Humphreys Christmas November 1972 Ananda Metteyya With Some Observations on the English Sangha The Middle Way London the Buddhist Society Min Nitra Soe 2018 A Study on U Shwe Zan Aung A Prominent Writer Who Made the First Translation of Buddha Abhidhamma into English PDF Journal of the Myanmar Academy of Arts and Science 16 7 Archived from the original PDF on 8 May 2022 Metteyya Ananda 1903 The Law of Righteousness Buddhism An Illustrated Quarterly Review 1 3 Metteyya Ananda 1911 Training of the Mind The Equinox Spring Crowley Aleister 1909 The Psychology of Hashish pseudonym Oliver Haddo Equinox 1 2 Rhys Davis Bringing the Dhamma to the West extract KDN No 0878 84 PDF Voice of Buddhism 21 2 Jalan Berhala Kuala Lumpur Buddhist Missionary Society December 1984 Archived from the original PDF on 8 May 2022 T P s Weekly 1 May 1908 The First Buddhist Monk in England London Walbrook amp Co OCLC 5002964 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Cite magazine requires magazine help Whats On 1908 The Man in the Yellow Robe an Intimate Study Perdurabo Aleister Crowley June 13 London England p 17 Retrieved 11 April 2021 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Cite magazine requires magazine help none Light of the Dhamma Vol 03 no 3 World Fellowship of Buddhists 1956 Aberdeen Daily Journal 29 September 1908 Bhikkhu Ananda Metteyya PDF version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link News Collection April to May 1911 1911 The Occult Review May Country Life June 10 The Birmingham Daily Mailbirmingham England April 26 The Standard London April 26 The Daily Chronicle April 27 The Daily News April 27 The Daily Mirror April 27 The Daily Telegraph April 27 The Evening News April 27 The Globelondon England April 27 The Irish Independent Dublin Republic Of Ireland April 27 The Daily Telegraph Sheffield Yorkshire April 27 The Times April 27 The Jarrow Express And Tyneside Advertiser England April 28 The Bucks Standardnewport Pagnell England April 29 Lloyd s Weekly News April 30 The Daily News Perth Western Australia May 29 version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Oakland Tribune 21 May 1911 Probe Men To It PDF version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link The Dundee Evening Telegraph and Post 23 April 1908 English Buddhist A MacGregor Who is Not a Scot A Strange Incident PDF version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link The Exmouth Journal 29 April 1911 Rosicrucians in Court Judge likens trial to scene in Alice in Wonderland Libel action that failed PDF Exmouth Devon England version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link The Homeward Mail 1908 Buddhist Mission to England April 25 London England The Maha Bodhi and the United Buddhist Word June 1908 Britains First Buddhist Temple PDF Colombo Ceylong version by The 100th Monkey Press The Motherwell Times 2 October 1908 Buddhist Monk A MacGregor Mission to Spread Ideas PDF version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link The People s Journal 20 June 1908 A Buddhist Priest In Britain PDF version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 7 September 1908 Mail Notes PDF version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link The Somerset and West of England Advertiser 1908 Buddist Mission To England April 30 England The Straits Times Singapore 19 May 1908 Buddhist Mission Rangoon Lady Bears Cost of Monks English Tour Efforts to Convert Britain PDF version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link The Teesdal Mercury 1913 The Earl of Mexborough is a Buddhist by belief July 2 PDF Teesdale Mercury Online Archive The Wiltes and Gloucestershire 29 April 1911 Remarkable Libel Action PDF version by The 100th Monkey Press a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Yorkshire Telegraph and Star 1908 BUDDHIST MISSIONARY ARRIVES April 23 Sheffield Kuruppu Rajah 2007 Deshabandu Alec Robertson A Master of Buddhist Eloquence by Kuruppu President of Servants of the Buddha Society Sri Lanka The Island Online Edition Archived from the original on 4 March 2008 Kuruppu Rajah 2004 Deshabandu Alec Robertson ardent devotee of the Dhamma by Kuruppu President of Servants of the Buddha Society Tuesday January 6 Sri Lanka Lanka Daily News Daily News 1911 Mystical Ritual and Incense May 11 Perth Western Australia p 5 Retrieved 11 April 2021 Senanayake Prof Manouri P 2021 Servants of the Buddha turns 100 Sri Lanka Sunday Observer Archived from the original on 8 May 2022 The Annals of Psychical Science 1908 Buddhism in London Ananda Metteya Echoes and News PDF London Retrieved 11 April 2021 Brunton Ph D Dr Paul 1941 A Pioneer Western Buddhist Ceylon Daily News Retrieved 11 April 2021 Ariya puggala Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica 2021 Retrieved 18 April 2021 Encyclopedia of Buddhism Arya 2021 Define Arya Retrieved 18 April 2021 Encyclopedia of Buddhism Arya Sangha 2021 Define Arya Sangha Retrieved 18 April 2021 Theosophy Wiki 2017 William Loftus Hare 1868 1943 A A Publication 1909 A NOTE ON GENESIS A A Publication 1911 THE TRAINING OF THE MIND Metteyya Ananda 1911b An outline of Buddhism or Religion of Burma Archived from the original on 14 November 2021 Kitto Robert 2005 Christmas Humphreys 1901 1983 by Kitto Trustee of Blavastsky Trust The Blavatsky Trust Oxford Reference 2011 Buddhist Society from A Dictionary of Buddhism Retrieved 11 April 2021 Parachin Victor M 2020 The Man Who Brought Buddhism to Great Britain Allan Bennett Buddhistdoor Global Archived from the original on 8 May 2022 The Buddhist Society 2017 The Buddhist Society History Archived from the original on 6 June 2017 Retrieved 11 April 2021 Golden Dawn Research Ctr 1998 Golden Dawn Biographies Allan Bennett 1872 1923 Golden Dawn Research Ctr Website Archived from the original on 11 May 2008 Frater Orpheus 2021 Aleister Crowley amp Gayatri Zero equals Two Archived from the original on 8 May 2022 Tricycle 1997 Allan Bennett Theravada Monk and Pioneer Publisher Tricycle Archived from the original on 8 May 2022 Further reading editBrunton Paul May 1941 A Pioneer Western Buddhist PDF Ceylon Daily News Crow John L 2008 The Unity of All Life Ananda Metteyya s View of Nature The Middle Way Journal of the Buddhist Society via Academia edu Crow John L 2008 Venerable Ananda Metteyya s Buddhist Mission to the UK Dharma to the UK A Centennial Celebration of Buddhist Legacy World Buddhist Foundation via Academia edu Crowley Aleister 1979 The Confessions of Aleister Crowley An Autohagiography London Boston Routledge amp Kegan Paul ISBN 0 7100 0175 4 Chapters 27 33 Harris Elizabeth J 1998 Ananda Metteya The First British Emissary of Buddhism The Wheel Publication No 420 422 Kandy Sri Lanka Buddhist Publication Society Parachin Victor M 23 March 2020 The Man Who Brought Buddhism to Great Britain Allan Bennett Buddhistdoor Global Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Henry Allan Bennett amp oldid 1222086896, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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