Modern Thai Buddhism and Buddhadasa Bhikkhu: A Social History

Acknowledgements

The publication of this book marks the end of my long journey in Thailand and Australia, away from my home country, Japan. With no personal connection to either Thailand or the Western world, I embarked on the study of a Thai Buddhist monk, the report to be written in English. It was necessary to learn many things, in particular the languages, basic cultural assumptions and common practices of both Thailand and the West, contemporary Buddhism as it is lived, and extensive specific knowledge about Buddhadāsa’s thought and the historical context of his time. In the course of my research and writing, I had the benefit of the inspiring thought of many people and the kind help of many more. I was motivated to explore Buddhadāsa’s world by the inspiration gained from reading extensive studies on Buddhadāsa by three Western scholars: Prof. Donald K. Swearer, Dr. Peter Jackson, and Dr. Louis Gabaude. Prof. Swearer’s English translation was the first of Buddhadāsa’s sermons which I read during my undergraduate exchange study in Canada. When my command of the Thai language was still very limited, I learned more about Buddhadāsa from Dr. Jackson’s book and Dr. Gabaude’s thick French volume, for which the study of yet another language was required. Without the benefit of those scholars’ studies, it would have been much more difficult to grasp the deep philosophy of Buddhadāsa. As I consolidated my academic foundation, I found invaluable advice from great scholars of Thai Buddhism and history: the late Prof. Yoneo Ishii, Dr. Craig Reynolds, and Prof. Eiji Murashima. With his broad scholarship supported by joyful enthusiasm in Thailand and Southeast Asia, Prof. Ishii taught me how to depict an invisible past in a clear structure. Dr. Reynolds offered his precious time to read all of my earliest, still somewhat confused drafts, providing many insightful comments and great encouragement. Prof. Eiji Murashima gave me generous research support and advice based on his vast knowledge on modern Thai history, acquired through his life of dedication to thorough and precise research. viii Acknowledgements In Thailand, more than a hundred people kindly offered opportunities for interviews; among them especially Khun Metta Phanit, Achan Dr. Soemsap Damrongrat, and Achan Chitsai Phadungrat at Suan Mokkh; also Achan Sulak Sivaraksa, Pracha Hutanuwatr, and Venerable Phra Paisal Visalo, who kindly read the sections in which they appeared and offered encouraging comments about publishing the study as a book. I regret that this volume does not include a chapter on interreligious dialogue due to limitations of word count and time, even though the topic is of great significance in Buddhadāsa’s thought and in the Thai Buddhist public sphere. I have to apologize to those people, including Prof. Suwanna and Chaiwat Satha-Anand, for their kind advice and/or interviews for my research on this issue. Also in Thailand, Achan Malinee Kumsupa helped my understanding of Thai and my collection of materials, especially at the beginning stage of my research. In Australia, Dr. Royce Wiles offered his advice on religious and academic aspects of Buddhism, including , and also took on the burden of editing my thesis, from which this book has developed. Back in Japan, my colleagues in Kobe University, particularly Prof. Ken’ichi Sudo, Prof. Kyoichi Ishihara, Prof. Wang Ke, Prof. Mamoru Hagihara, Prof. Sachiko Kubota, and Prof. Yasushi Sadayoshi, kept supporting my work and provided moral support for this publication. Furthermore, Prof. Lawrie Hunter kindly proofread the final version of this long manuscript. Most importantly, Prof. Paul Kratoska’s support was essential for publishing this study in book form. Without his thoughtful understanding, this might never have become a reality. I would also like to express my deep gratitude to all those whose kind advice and generous cooperation in my interview research were the superb sources for my exploration of the modern Thai Buddhist public sphere and enabled me to complete the long process of preparing the manuscript. Finally, I sincerely thank my family, Takayuki Ito, Kikue Ito, and Chiyomi Ito, who were always supportive in allowing me to take frequent long overseas trips and to spend much time at my computer. I owe the completion of this study very much to them. Tomomi Ito Kobe, Japan February 2012 Acknowledgements ix ...