Background
Buddhism is one of the important religions of the world. It originated 26 centuries ago after the Buddha discovered Dhamma and started teaching and propagating the Dhamma to humanity. It began in the South Asian region, later on expanding to Southeast Asia and East Asia, and more recently it has spread to all continents.
Established in 1853 as a university in the Thai Sangha, the main goal of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University has been to take a leading role among international Buddhist organizations as a center of excellence for education and research, and to contribute to a balanced and sustainable development of human beings, societies, and the environment. With the aim of promoting research and development of an applicable Buddhist knowledge integrated with various sciences, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University have already arranged the International Buddhist Research Seminar seven times in the past. This year, 2560 (2017), will see the 8th Seminar taking place.
Being the 111th birth anniversary of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, 2017 is a very special year for Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, as well as for Suratthani Rajabhat University, a university located in the province of the birth of Buddhadasa which initiated the 1st International Conference on Buddhadasa Studies in 2016. It is also a special year for the Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives Foundation, an organization dedicated to collecting, maintaining, and presenting the Dhamma teachings of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu worldwide in accordance with the Three Wishes of the late master: To help everyone penetrate to the heart of their own religion; to create mutual good understanding among religions; to work together to drag the world out of materialism.
On this special occasion of the 111th birth anniversary of Buddhadasa Bikkhhu in 2017, all three organizations have agreed to co-organize The 8th International Buddhist Research Seminar & The 2nd International Conference on Buddhadasa Studies on the theme of “Dhamma & Society” covering several fields including “Mind and Spirituality,” “Economics and Sustainable Development,” “Social and Political Perspectives,” and “The Works and Legacy of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.” As Thailand and societies across the globe currently face various critical issues, how will Buddha-Dhamma and Buddhadasa’s teaching, as well as any useful thoughts rooted in strong ethical and religious foundations, help us to understand these situations and take steps towards liberating our societies and ourselves?
Objectives
- To seek answers from Buddha-Dhamma for the harmonious development of mind, life, and society.
- To promote study, research, and development of a Buddhist knowledge applicable to help solving current problems of societies sustainably.
- To contribute to the dissemination of the teachings of the Buddha for the benefit of all mankind.
- To keep alive the legacy of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, who devoted his life to the Buddha.
Symbol
No matter how unique, innovative, or controversial, everything and everyone without exception meets in Dhamma, in nature, in ordinariness. In trying to share our understanding of Dham
The symbol used for this Seminar is a Bodhi leaf, a Dhamma symbol of the Buddha’s enlightenment. In the background are the Ayaka, or “five columns,” which are architectural features of a stupa in the Amaravati period. The Ayaka were used by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu to explain Dhamma. These five columns also symbolize the main theme and the three sub – themes of this seminar. The Bodhi leaf also refers to a society, which is consistent with the theme “Dhamma & Society”. The three lines underneath the Bodhi leaf represent the three organizations participating in the seminar.
News
In memory of a revered monk
If Buddhada Bhikkhu, Thailand’s most respected monk, were still alive, he would be happy to see that his engaged Buddhism is flourishing throughout Thailand and beyond.
“Buddhism is a universal religion, It can be put into practice by everyone, of every age and era,” the venerable monk wrote in his popular book “Handbook for Mankind”.
Had he lived beyond 1993, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu would be turning 111 this Saturday, May 27, a date his followers will commemorate with a weeklong series of international seminars, mediation and arts both in Bangkok and at his spiritual temple-home down south at Surat Thani’s Suan Mokh… Read more or download PDF
Books
A Single Bowl of Sauce : Teachings Beyond Good & Evil
~ By Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~
A collection of 12 teachings (re)published on the occasion of Tan Ajahn’s 111th anniversary. Translated from the Thai by several translators. First published by the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives, May 2017.
In this volume, I am delighted to find a pleasant mix of old pieces that many people have never seen, a few old things long out of print, some new translations, and pieces that have long been on the web and were ripe for fresh, revised publication. These many-sided examples of Tan Ajahn’s teaching supplement the longer works currently in print, such as the newly issued Under the Bodhi Tree, on dependent co-arising. In this volume, readers will find summaries of the key themes of Tan Ajahn’s Dhamma life and specific application of them to particular activities such as agriculture and economics, as befits the theme of this 111th Anniversary conference. May these introductions for new students and reminders for old students help us keep the Buddha-Dhamma Way in our hearts, words, and actions for the sake of all beings, especially those most vulnerable and threatened by out of control kilesa. May Buddhadāsas continue to appear so that the world will not be empty of arahant, nor be empty of humanity.
(Foreword by Ajahn Santikaro)
To read/download “A Single Bowl of Sauce : Teachings Beyond Good & Evil” in English as free e-Book.
