- Continue Browsing
- Your Basket is Empty
Categories:
Bestsellers,
Buddhism (general)
T. Lobsang Rampa & Other Characters of Questionable Faith by R.B. Russell
£45.99
Limited hardback edition
T. Lobsang Rampa’s autobiography, The Third Eye was an international bestseller in 1956, but the author had to face some awkward questions from critics. There were two possibilities; either he really was a Tibetan lama whose third eye had been physically opened (and who could reveal secrets of levitation, invisibility, gilded extraterrestrials, giant temple cats, etc), or he was really the eccentric son of a plumber from Plympton in Devon.
Rampa would explain himself by discussing transmigration, and over the next quarter of a century (and in another eighteen books) he would reveal the secrets of the human aura, astral travel, UFOs, life on Venus, and the hollow Earth (and hollow Moon), among many other alternative, New Age ideas. For Rampa, there was no wild, left-field belief that was not true.
R.B. Russell has written the first definitive biography of Rampa (also known as Cyril Henry Hoskin). The identity of Rampa may have been conclusively debunked by anybody who knew anything about Tibet, Buddhism, or basic scientific principles, but he would always claim that everything he wrote was true, and until his death in 1980 he doesn’t ever seem to have come out of character.
Russell’s biography of Rampa is accompanied in this volume by three further studies of alternative belief systems that have fascinated him over the years.
Following the biography of Rampa, Russell writes about the Millenarian church, the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, who believed their leader was Christ and immortal, and that the world would end in 2000. (Spoiler alert: we are still here, and nobody has seen the leader for several years.)
A further essay is a brief look at one of the Church of Scientology’s techniques for recruiting members, the Oxford Capacity Analysis test. Russell argues that the test is based on a series of small, apparently innocuous lies, but he shows that they are indicative of Scientology’s complete disregard for honesty or integrity.
The final essay looks at the Temple of Psychic Youth, the knowing attempt by Genesis P-Orridge to create a modern cult. Was it exploitative and manipulative, or simply an ironic experiment? And how did it backfire when the 1980s tabloids created the Satanic Panic?
The painting on the boards of this book is by Les Edwards. It was first published on the cover of As It Was!, T. Lobsang Rampa, Corgi, 1976.
If you like this, you might also like:
THAI OCCULT 2: Regions of Power by Jenx
out of stock - £120.00
Hand Numbered Limited Edition.
Signed by Author.
Printed in Thailand.
“Thai Occult 2: Regions of Power” is highly-anticipated sequel to Peter Jenx’s sold-out masterpiece, “The Thai Occult.” TTO2 takes the reader on a wild journey, exploring the amazing regional variations of Thai folk magic. What comes to light is not a dusty, monolithic tradition, but a fluid, adaptable system of spirit work that changes with the changing times. Brilliantly, Jenx lets the Thai ajarns tell their own stories in their own words, and what they reveal about the role of initiations, astrology, karma, corpses, and ghost-magic must be seen to be believed. Remarkably, Jenx also gives a detailed guide on how Westerners can participate in this powerful occult system by caring for and communicating with the spirits contained in amulets created by Thai sorcerers. As if this weren’t enough, the book contains a first-ever description of the sacred properties of certain herbs, metals, and alloys – to include the occult role of Mercury and the mysterious Leklai. Join Jenx to discover a powerful living current of sorcery which reflects the beauty and endless variety of Thai culture!
The Thai Occult 3 Book (Ajarn Apichai) by Jenx
out of stock - £120.00
Signed and hand numbered by author. Limited to 199 copies only.
A book on a single magician has not been made for many years, which is a nod to an exceptionally talented young magician, Ajarn Apichai.
The Thai Occult 1 book is the story of The Thai Occult practices, with a particular focus on the Lanna region. The Thai Occult 2 book provides a view of the regional variations, and The Thai Occult 3 looks at the Creation of Magic itself by focussing on the work of one Ajarn. We chose Ajarn Apichai for this task, because of the sheer quantity of Wicha he carries within him. This book looks at the effect an expanse of knowledge can have on a single magician, because of the combinations of magic he can draw upon depending on the task at hand. The world of magic that resides within Ajarn Apichai can be viewed as being as deep as the magic in the country itself. While this is the case with many Thai magicians, Ajarn was chosen because of the way he views Thai magic, and the way he uses the knowledge.When creating this book, the first task was to interview Ajarn Apichai about the creation of magic itself, and then how he uses the Supernatural Materials available to him. This book is not just a case of ‘the Thais use this’, it is an attempt to explain the sources of these materials, and the specific reasons for usage. Following that, we look at his function as an Ajarn and the Kruba Ajarns he studied under.
The difference between this book and the Tamboon Edition of 100 books to raise money for Temple Building is that it contains an extra 30 pages as we translated the kata book of Ajarn Apicjai’s current Master. Luang Phor Charuay holds the lineage knowledge of Luang Pu Suk, and this book introduces the first level of knowledge to any Thai person interested in studying with him.
Into the Mirror by Andy Karr
£19.99
Into the Mirror examines the materialism of the modern world through the profound teachings of Mahayana Buddhism and offers an accessible and powerful method for investigating the way our minds construct our worlds.
Into the Mirror combines contemporary Western inquiries into the nature of consciousness, with classical Buddhist investigations into the nature of mind, to offer deep insights into the nature of reality. Andy Karr invites the reader to make this a personal, experiential journey through study, contemplation, and meditation.
The first part of the book presents the Mahayana Buddhist approach to the path of freedom from suffering. It explores foundational teachings, such as the four truths, the notion of enlightenment, and the practice of meditation, from a fresh perspective. The second part deconstructs assumptions about mind and the material world using easily understood tools from contemporary Western philosophy. Part three presents a series of contemplative practices, ethics, and insights, starting with the Middle Way teachings on emptiness and interdependence, through Yogachara's subtle understanding of non-duality, to the view that buddha nature is already within us to be revealed rather than something external to be acquired.
Into the Mirror concludes with a call to cultivate compassion for beings and the environment right within this world of illusion.
© 2025 Watkins Books. WATKINS MEDIA LIMITED. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 9171151. COMPANY REGISTRATION ADDRESS: SHEPPERTON HOUSE UNIT 11, 89 SHEPPERTON ROAD, LONDON, ENGLAND, N1 3DF.
