Charles Henry Allan Bennett Occultist, Buddhist Date of Birth: 08.12.1872 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Charles Henry Allan Bennett

Charles Henry Allan Bennett, also known as Allan Bennett, was an occultist, Buddhist, and a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. He was born in London, England. After his father's death when he was a child, Bennett was raised by his mother in accordance with the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.

Bennett developed a strong interest in chemistry after completing his schooling and achieved significant success in this field. He was even invited to join an expedition to Africa, but he declined the offer. Throughout his life, Bennett continued to explore the secrets of the exact sciences, including mathematics and physics, with a particular focus on electricity.

It is known that Bennett and George Cecil Jones were the teachers of the renowned mystic Aleister Crowley during their time in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Bennett joined the Golden Dawn in 1894, despite his impoverished state and numerous health issues. He was regarded as one of the most intelligent members of the order and actively studied mysticism and white magic, although he strived for enlightenment in general rather than the pursuit of magical secrets.

At one point, Crowley provided Bennett with shelter, as Bennett was living in poor conditions. In return, Bennett taught Crowley the fundamentals of magical arts and attempted to ignite his interest in white magic. Despite their radical differences in lifestyle, with Bennett being an ascetic and advocate of abstinence, while Crowley embraced a libertine lifestyle, their collaboration remained fruitful.

In 1900, Bennett embarked on a journey to Asia to treat his asthma and study Buddhism. He initially arrived in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where he studied Hatha Yoga for a period, and then became a Buddhist monk in Burma (now Myanmar). In 1902, Crowley visited Bennett and was shown several Hatha Yoga techniques. During that time, both Crowley and his mentor, Bennett, had a favorable view of Buddhist practices.

Bennett returned to England in 1908 and began preaching Buddhist doctrines in his homeland. Crowley, who had moved away from Buddhism by then and turned to his own version of hermeticism called Thelema, did not appreciate Bennett's new spiritual teachings. Bennett himself did not find Crowley's new doctrine appealing and remarked that "no Buddhist would consider it reasonable to abandon the crystal clarity of their teachings for such ignorance." Although Crowley attempted to reconcile with his teacher, his efforts were in vain.

There is evidence to suggest that Bennett had plans to relocate to California, primarily for health reasons. However, the outbreak of World War I caused him to abandon his plans. The rest of Bennett's life was spent in poverty and obscurity. He passed away in England on March 9, 1923.

Many credit Allan Bennett with introducing Buddhism to the Western world. He is remembered for his two books, "The Wisdom of the Aryas" and "The Religion of Burma," which still hold relevance today. Bennett became the second Englishman to be ordained as a Theravada Buddhist monk and was the founder of the first Buddhist mission in the United Kingdom.