Buddhadasa's Movement: an Analysis of Its Origins, Development, and Social Inpact
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Buddhadasa's Movement: An Analysis of Its Origins, Development, and Social Inpact Dissertation zur Erlangung des Grades eines Doktors der Sozialwissenschaften vorgelegt im WS 1991/1992 an der Fakultät für Soziologie Universität Bielefeld Verfasserin: Suchira Payulpitack Jakob-Kaiserstr. 16a/315 4800 Bielefeld 1 Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Evers Bielefeld, im Oktober 1991 Contents List of Tables, Figures, and Maps i Notes and Translation ii Acknowledgements iii Pages Chapter 1 Introduction Studying Buddhadasa's Movement ...................................................................... 3 Studies in the Sociology of Religious Movements................................................ 7 Data Collection, Organization, and Aims of the Study ........................................17 Chapter 2 Social Change and Religious Movements in Thailand Mongkut and His Religious Reforms in the Nineteenth Century..........................21 Socio-Political Change and Religious Development -- 1886-1932 .......................................................................................................26 Constitutional Era (1932-)..................................................................................41 Religious Movements in Contemporary Thailand................................................56 Chapter 3 Life History of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu Family, Childhood, and Education......................................................................72 Early Life as Buddhist Monk..............................................................................82 Life at Suan Mokkh............................................................................................92 Chapter 4 Buddhadasa and His Interpretation of Buddhism Buddhadasa's Reinterpretation of Buddhism .....................................................104 Buddhadasa and Criticism of Theravada in Thailand .........................................120 Buddhism from a New Perspective...................................................................125 Chapter 5 Origins and Growth of Buddhadasa's Movement Origins and Objectives......................................................................................140 Development of the Movement ........................................................................143 Expansion of the Movement.............................................................................154 Suan Mokkh as a Centre of Ideology................................................................167 Chapter 6 The Movement and Its Followers Characteristics of the Buddhadasa Movement...................................................178 Social Background of Buddhadasa's Followers.................................................183 Why the People Join the Movement..................................................................191 Chapter 7 Social Impact of the Buddhadasa Movement: A Case Study Introduction .....................................................................................................202 General Background of the Village Community................................................206 Religious Beliefs and Village Life .....................................................................210 Life Experiences of Phra Pongsak Techadhammo.............................................214 Deforestation at Mae Soy Sub-District .............................................................220 Beginning the Conservation Project at Mae Soy ...............................................221 Recognition......................................................................................................246 Chapter 8......................................................................................................... Conclusion 249 Bibliography.......................................... 265 i Pages List of Tables Table No. 1: Suan Mokkh Visitors for 1983 ................................................................175 Table No. 2: Exchange of recorded tapes at Suan Mokkh ............................................176 Table No. 3: Distribution of Buddhadasa's Sampled Followers by Region ....................183 Table No. 4: Place of Origin: Rural versus Urban.........................................................184 Table No. 5: Sex Distribution of Buddhadasa's Followers ............................................185 Table No. 6: Marital Status of Buddhadasa's Followers................................................186 Table No. 7: Age Distribution......................................................................................187 Table No. 8: Age on Joining the Movement.................................................................188 Table No. 9: Educational Attainment ...........................................................................189 Table No. 10: Occupation.............................................................................................189 Table No. 11: Income Distribution (in Baht) .................................................................190 Table No. 12: Reasons which most influenced committment to the Movement..............191 Table No. 13: First Means of Acqaintance with Buddhadasa's Teachings ......................192 Table No. 14: Previous Religious Interest .....................................................................193 Table No. 15: Year of Joining the Movement................................................................193 List of Figures Figure 1: An example of a chart of working groups/organizations within ........................... Buddhadasa's movement List of Maps # 1: Map of Thailand .......................................................................................................iv # 2: Map of Phumrieng Sub-District ...............................................................................78 # 3: Map of the North Region of Thailand ....................................................................204 # 4: Map of Mae Soy Sub-District ................................................................................205 ii Notes and Translation Words associated with Buddhism in this study are used in Pali form, the terms of which are used to refer to the Theravada tradition. The equivalent Snaskrit terms, which are used in Mahayana Buddhism will also be listed. Pali Sanskrit dhamma dharma kamma karma sutta sutra tipitaka tripitaka Periodization Sukhothai 13th — 15th centuries Ayudhaya 1350 — 1767 Thonburi 1767 — 1782 Bangkok 1782 — Bangkok Period The First Reign Rama I Yotfa 1782 - 1809 The Second Reign Rama II Loetla 1809 - 1824 The Third Reign Rama III Nangklao 1824 - 1851 The Fourth Reign Rama IV Mongkut 1851 - 1868 The Fifth Reign Rama V Chulalongkorn 1868 - 1910 The Sixth Reign Rama VI Vajiravudh 1910 - 1925 The Seventh Reign Rama VII Prachathipok 1925 - 1935 The Eigth Reign Rama VIII Ananda 1935 - 1946 The Nineth Reign Rama IX Phumiphon 1946 - iii Acknowledgements The debts of gratitude which I owe to many people in the completion of this thesis can never be fully repaid by words alone. Special thanks are first due to my supervisor Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Evers, who encouraged the study and offered many insights into my work. I am also deeply indebted to the kindness of Dr. Sharon Siddique, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore. Her useful advice and criticisms from the begining of my writing, moral support, and tireless rereadings of drafts of this thesis , saved me many months of struggling in the fog. Dr. Rüdiger Korff, who served as my second supervisor, posed many questions that guided my field research in Thailand. I greatefully acknowledge many scholars whose help have given depth to the scope of this work; particularly Prof. Dr. Pataya Saihu, Prof. Dr. Donald K. Swearer, Dr. Diana Wong, and Dr. Louis Gabaude. Their advice has provoked and broadened my thoughts and ideas. When I struggled to see things in black and white they have always found and shared their own colourful perspectives. I am also greateful to Prof. Dr. Mongkol Detnakharin and Dr. Ronald D. Renard for their help in improving my writing skills. For my field research I am deeply indebted to Buddhadasa Bhikkhu who gave me his time and knowledge. I also owe a great deal to the monks and nuns of Suan Mokkh who advised me on the profound aspects of Buddhism and taught me the dhamma in both words and deeds. A very special word of thanks is also due to Ajarn Pongsak Techadhammo and the villagers of Wang Nam Yad who kindly answered my endless queries. Finally, I would like to acknowledge Payap University for allowing me a five-year leave, and the Ecumenical Scholarship Program (Ökumenisches Studienwerk e.V.) for the financial assistance which made it possible for me to study in Germany. All these people have been my teachers and benefactors; however the faults in what follows are my own. Chapter 1 Introduction The cultural and social structure of society is formed by a complexity of factors. One of the fundamental factors is religion.1 From a sociological point of view religion can be seen as the source of dynamic social change. Max Weber, in his famous study, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, demonstrated the influence of religious development on the transformation of society.2 Thai society has been historically shaped by Theravada Buddhism. Since the beginning of the thirteen century, Theravada Buddhism has played an important role as a state religion in this country. The influence of Buddhism on Thai society has, undoubtedly, a long