Olcott's “Buddhist Catechism”, composed in 1881, is one of Henry Steel Olcott's most enduring contributions to the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and remains in use there today. The text outlines what Olcott saw to be the basic doctrines of Buddhism, including the life of the Buddha, the message of the Dharma, and the role of the Sangha. The text also treats how the Buddha's message correlates with contemporary society. Olcott was considered by South Asians and others to be a Buddhist revivalist.
