THAI BUDDHIST SOCIAL THEORY

This book studies the social phenomena of Buddhism in Thailand. It presents a social theory of Thai Buddhism by critically analyzing the various aspects of Buddhism in Thai society from social, economic and political perspectives. It covers such topics as the characteristics of Thai religions, reform of Thai Buddhism, and schools of Thai Buddhism. It also includes Buddhist social theories such as Buddhadasa’s Theory of Dhammic Socialism, Buddhist Economic Theory, and Buddhist Social Ethics.

Buddhist Liberation Theology is presented as a provocative term to address socio-political problems from a Thai Buddhist perspective. Buddhist Theory of Human Nature is introduced as a focal point to compare the schools of Mahayana, Vajrayana, and Theravada Buddhism. Theory of Interfaith Dialogue between Christianity and Buddhism on human liberation is also included to analyze psychological and socio-political issues of human suffering.