| An Amulet/Good Luck Charm meaning "an object that | | | | a well-respected temple, costs 10,000 baht or more, |
| protects a person from trouble", is a close cousin of | | | | (300-325 dollars), more than a month's wages for |
| the Talisman, from the Greek, which means "To initiate | | | | many Thai's. |
| into the mysteries", consists of any object intended to | | | | The nation of 65 million people, most of whom remain |
| bring Good Luck and/or protection to its owner. | | | | very superstitious despite the rapid modernization of |
| Potential Amulets include: gems or simple stones, | | | | places such as Bangkok, has spent more than 20 |
| statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants, animals, | | | | million baht (625,000 to 650,000 dollars) on the Amulets |
| etc., even words said on certain occasions, - for | | | | Good Luck Charms this year, newspapers say. |
| example - Namo Tassa Bhagahato Arahato Samma | | | | The scale of the phenomenon is now so large the |
| Sambuddhasa, are used to repel evil or bad luck. | | | | Thai Revenue Department is looking into ways of |
| Amulets and Talismans vary considerably according to | | | | taxing Amulet sales despite a convention that |
| their time and place of origin. A religious amulet might | | | | donations or money going to Buddhist temples are |
| be the figure of a certain god or holy monk. In Thailand | | | | exempt from tax. |
| one can commonly see people with more than one | | | | An Amulet/Good Luck Charm is instilled with magical |
| Buddha image hanging from their necks. Every | | | | qualities that keep away bad spirits. Usually worn |
| zodiacal sign corresponds to a gem that acts as an | | | | around the neck or seen in ring form, amulets are also |
| Amulet, but these stones vary according to different | | | | seen on dashboards and rear view mirrors of cars. |
| traditions. | | | | Amulets/Good Luck Charms are particularly big in |
| An ancient tradition in Chinainvolves capturing a cricket | | | | Southeast Asia. |
| live and keeping it in an osier box to attract Good Luck | | | | Buddhist amulets/good luck charms have been worn |
| (this tradition extended to the Philippines). | | | | for centuries in Thailand. Nowadays it seems almost |
| Figures of elephants are said to attract Good Luck | | | | every Thai has at least one. The Amulets are said to |
| and Money if one offers bank notes to them. | | | | ward off evil spirits and bring Good Luck and |
| In India small bells make demons flee by their sound in | | | | Prosperity. In Buddhist countries Amulets are blessed |
| the wind or when a door or window opens. Amulets | | | | by monks, usually one held in high regard by Thai |
| are also worn on the upper right arm to protect the | | | | society. |
| person wearing it. In fact this method was more | | | | The prestige of an Amulet/Good Luck Charm is based |
| popular in ancient India than wearing it as a pendant or | | | | on: |
| around the neck. | | | | Who made it? |
| Buddhism has a deep and ancient Talismanic tradition. | | | | Where it was made? |
| In the earliest days of Buddhism, just after the | | | | The material it was made from |
| Buddha's death in circa 485 B.C., amulets bearing the | | | | The beauty of the Amulet |
| symbols of Buddhism were common. Symbols such | | | | It's reputation for bringing Good Luck |
| as conch shells, the footprints of the Buddha, and | | | | Thai amulets are not just made on a factory assembly |
| others were commonly worn. | | | | line. Instead most amulets from Thailand are made by |
| After the second century B.C. Greeks began carving | | | | long time monks, who use their experience to cast |
| the actual image of the Buddha. These were hungrily | | | | spells, make sacred scripts (included in the amulet) and |
| acquired by the native Buddhists in India, and the | | | | create magical pictures for them. |
| tradition spread. | | | | One of the lesser know facts about Thai Buddhist |
| In addition to protection against supernatural powers, | | | | amulets/good luck charms, is the monks use ashes of |
| amulets are also used for protection against other | | | | old and sacred handwritten books as part of their |
| people. For example, soldiers and those involved in | | | | magical ingredients. Each Thai amulet/good luck charm |
| other dangerous activities may use Good Luck | | | | is really unique and each serves the purpose of |
| Charms to increase their luck. | | | | protecting the one who wears it. |
| Amulets can be found among people of every nation | | | | Those who wear protective amulets/good luck |
| and social status. They can be seen in Jewelry-artisan | | | | charms generally believe that an impersonal power is |
| fairs, museums, shops and homes. | | | | inherent in them. Although many rational and scientific |
| To gain "maximum" power, the amulet and its | | | | minded people may scoff at those who wear them, |
| ingredients have to be prayed over by monks for | | | | millions of people world wide still wear them and |
| days. A top-of-the-range gold-leaf edition Amulet from | | | | believe in their powers. |