WORLD LOVER, WORLD LEAVER THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES AND THAI BUDDHISM by Seree Lorgunpai A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Divinity, New College, University of Edinburg for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. January 1995 WORLD LOVER, WORLD LEAVER THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES AND THAI BUDDHISM by Seree Lorgunpai A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Divinity, New College, University of Edinburgh, for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. January 1995 Ill DEDICATED to My parents, wife, son, brothers and sisters who entourage me to live on ABSTRACT The Book of Ecclesiastes is unique. This suggests that Qohelet's thought is not, as some scholars have maintained, dependent on other thinkers; of j his time. Qohelet interacts with and challenges wisdom tradition and other contemporary beliefs. His theology is not limited to Israelite religion. His concern is universal and not confined to the people of Israel. Although Qohelet does not interact directly with the teachings of the Buddha, this thesis argues that the theological content of Ecclesiastes can be profitably studied in comparison with Buddhism. Though the Buddha and Qohelet are separated from each other by time, geography and culture, they share a common focus on human suffering-dukkha in Pali, hebel in Hebrew. Thfe Buddha maintains that desire is the primary cause of human suffering; Qohelet Sees it as deriving from various causes, including human limitations, and the unpredictability of life. I The Buddha looks for a way to end human suffering, recognising thatj if human beings continue to be reborn in the world, they will continue to suffer. I He then suggests that human beings should break the cycle of rebirth (kamma) jand seek nibbdna or the state of emptiness. This state can be reached through strenuous meditation. Qohelet, on the other hand, believes that God has created this; world with a definite plan; however, humans lack the capacity to understand the present events of the world and are unable to predict the future. Qohelet advises human beings to enjoy life on a day-to-day basis, rather than hope for a better future. While admitting that there are many unpleasant things in this world, Qohelet still loves living in it. He is much more in and of this world than is the Buddha. Seeing that the pleasant thinlgs in this world are transitory {anicca) and illusory, the Buddha decided to leave the world behind. Qohelet is the world lover. The Buddha is the world leaver. This thesis has three main parts. Part one discusses the nature of the Book of Ecclesiastes in detail. Beginning with a general review of scholarly opinion on the book, the discussion continues with the status of its author, its audiences, its style and language, its structure and purposes. Though these discussions are not used in the comparison, they are important for understanding Qohelet's thought. Two chapters which are essential for the later comparison include a discussion of the key words of the book and its main teachings. Part two provides the history of Theravada Buddhism in Thailand and discusses the main concepts of Buddhism, including kamma, anicca, dukkha, anattd, meditation, arahant and nibbdna. Part three compare^ the two traditions. A detailed comparison is undertaken in the following areas: Qohelet's understanding of God and the Law of Kamma, the theological implication |of Hebel and Dukkha, Observation and Meditation as ways of encountering the world, the Sages and Arahants as interpreters, Work and Merit-making as human activities, and Joy and Nibbdna as responses to what humankind has been given. This thesis aims to help Thai Christians to find some common ground for dialogue with Thai Buddhists and to open up the much-neglected area of Jewish- Buddhist dialogue. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The sources of funding for this thesis have been generously provided by various trusts and organisations. My first and second year tuition fees were covered by the Miller Trust. Other expenses for the first and the second years were mostly provided by my parents, Sakol and Prontip Lorgunpai, ths New College Faculty of Divinity the Langham Trust and Bangkok Institute of Theology. The tuition fee and other expenses in my third year were fully covered by the Board of World Mission of the Church of Scotland. My fourth year expenses were provided by the Freeland Barbour Trust, the Speedie Bequest and the Langham Trust. In addition, Tyndale House, Cambridge, offered two weeks' residence and stucy facilities in Cambridge. The New College Scolarships Committee made it possible for me to attend the fifth International Conference on Thai Studies where I was able to gather useful material for this thesis. I acknowledge all of the above with gratitude. | All the faculty in the Department of Hebrew and Old Testament Studies, New College, played a part in encouraging me towards and sustaining me in further studies. I thank especially my two supervisors. Dr Peter Hayman gaye his valuable time to read the whole book of Ecclesiastes in Hebrew verse by verse with me. All the discussions we had were very meaningful. His supervision of my work has always been unstinting and meticulously careful. I am grateful both for his encouragement and for his constructive criticism. Dr Frank Whaling pointed me to many useful books on Buddhism and even lent me some of his personal copies. He always encouraged me to do something different from other scholars in the area of comparison. The staff of the New College Library have been unfailingly friendly and flexible in the help they provided, especially Norma Henderson who often gave extra effort to find material for me. The staff of the Computer Support team have been veryj helpful. I am thankful for many good friends whom I have known at New College. Tim Meadowcroft, Robert Solomon, Rory McKenzie and their families have given my family moral support and meaningful advice for living in Edinburgh. David Alexander, David Mitchell, Bruce McDonald, Neil McDonald and James MacLeod gave me encouragement and many useful suggestions. Terry Mclntvre was always available to proof-read my work. I am thankful for many Christian friends who earnestly prayed for my family and the completion of my project. I am thankful for Thai students in Edinburgh who regularly shared news from Thailand, played badminton, and had Thai meals with me. I really appreciate their friendship. My colleagues at Bangkok Institute of Theology have taken extra responsibility to keep the Institute running while I have been doing my research in Edinburgh. My mother regularly called us from Thailand to ensure that we lad nothing to worry about back home. She always sent special supplies to us. Even my dear son Jonathan has made a number of adjustments so that I could study. I thank him for his cheerful spirit and lively manner which keep me active all the time. His joyful nature affirms Qohelet's message that there is nothing better than enjoying life. His curiosity, asking "Why?" all the time, stimulates my creativities. | Above all I honour my beloved wife, Sunee. She shared rhy frustation when we first arrived in Edinburgh. In our first year here, she patiently looked after Jonathan and went about finding a suitable school for him. In the second year she took on a part-time job to ease financial pressure. Her cheerful manner and her patience kept me working on this project. She has always looked after the well-being of the family. After a long day of study, she always provided me with tasty Thai and Chinese foods I always enjoy her cooking and I totally agree with Qohelet that, after hard work, there is nothing better than to eat and to drink ABBREVIATIONS A. Anguttara-Nikdya ANET Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, ed. by J. B. Pritchard, 2nd., Princeton, 1955 Aram. Aramaic b. Babylonian Talmud BDB Brown, Driver, and Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon BH Biblical Hebrew BHS Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia BTB Biblical Theology Bulletin CBQ The Catholic Biblical Quarterly Cant. Canticum (Song of Songs) ; 1 Ch. (Chr.) 1 Chronicles 2 Ch. (Chr.) 2 Chronicles ; Dan. Daniel Deut. Deuteronomy Eccl. Ecclesiastes Ex. Exodus Ezek. Ezekiel EvQ The Evangelical Quarterly ET The Expository Times ETL Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienes Gen. Genesis GKC Gesenius, F. W. Hebrew Grammar, rev.by E.Kautzsch; 2nd English edition, edited and translated by A. E. Cowley. Oxford, 1910L Hab. Habakkuk Hag. Haggai ICC International Critical Commentary i IDB Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, ed. by G. A. Buttrick, 4|vols., Nashville, 1962 ; Int Interpretation Is. (Isa.) Isaiah JBL Journal of Biblical Literarure Je. (Jer.) Jeremiah \ Josh. Joshua ' JQR Jewish Quarterly Review \ Vll J SOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament J TS Journal of Theological Studies Judg. Judges 1 Kgs. 1 Kings 2 Kgs. 2 Kings Lev. Leviticus Lam. Lamentations LXX The Septuagint M. Majjhima Nikaya MR Mishnaic Hebrew NEB The New English Bible Neh. Nehemiah NIV The New International Version of the Bible Prov. Proverbs Ps. Psalms 1QS Rule of the Community (Dead Sea Scro 1) lQSa Rule of the Congregation (Dead Sea Scroll) RSV The Revised Standard Version of the Bible S. of S. Song of Songs 1 Sam. 1 Samuel 2 Sam. 2 Samuel Sir. Sirach SJT Scottish Journal of Theology TDOT Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament ed. by G. J. Botterweck and H. Ringgren, Grand Rapids, 1974- TrinJ Trinity Journal Vin. Vinayapitaka VT Vetus Testamentum ZA H Zeitschrift fur Althebraistik ZA W Zeitschrift fur die Alttestamentliche Wi. 'senschaft Zech. Zechariah ZTK Zeitschrift fiir Theologie und Kirche CONTENTS DECLARATION ii DEDICATION iii ABSTRACT iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v ABBREVIATIONS vi CONTENTS viii INTRODUCTION x PART ONE Chapter One: Review of Scholarly Opinion on Ecclesiastes 1 Chapter Two: Qohelet as a Wise Man 14 Chapter Three: Reconstruction of the Audiences of Ecclesiastes 25 Chapter Four: Some Aspects of Style and Language in Ecclesiastes.