The Place of Animism within Popular Buddhism in Cambodia: the Example of the Monastery

“Since the ancient Cambodia the main enduring characteristic in the elaboration Khmer religious thought was the search for harmony between animistic foundation and Indian philosophico-spiritual contributions”, writes the author. ​“With the adoption of Theravada the system acquires its ultimate enrichment. While preserving the elements of its Brahmanic inheritance, Theravada succeeded in inculcating a strong preoccupation with moral and spiritual matters, even among the most common strata of the society.”

In this short yet vivid description of the typical Cambodian monastery (vihear), the author shows how local spirits (anak ta, bray...) are present in the sacred territory delimited by the sima. About the bray spirit (often inhabiting the racing pirogue stored within the monastery), he remarks: ​“Here we see how a female spirit of inauspicious death arrogates, so to speak, Buddha’s supernatural powers to herself. Indeed it is the vihar itself which shelters a bray and accepts her as a guardian.”