Journal of Contemporary Buddhist Society = JCBS

Innovative media models to preserve Buddhist heritage in the Dvaravati period context

2025-06-28T22:16:50+07:00

This research aimed to 1) study the body of knowledge related to Buddhism in the Dvaravati context and 2) develop a model of creative media innovation for preserving the Buddhist heritage in the Dvaravati context. A qualitative research methodology was employed, with data collected through documentary research, including historical records, archaeological evidence, relevant academic works, and in-depth interviews with 12 key informants who are experts in Buddhism, archaeology, cultural studies, and creative communication. Contextual observation and content analysis were also conducted.

The findings revealed that the body of knowledge regarding Buddhism in the Dvaravati era can be categorized into four major aspects: (1) the propagation of Buddhism in the Suvarnabhumi region, (2) characteristics of Buddhism during the Dvaravati period, (3) Buddhist art and architecture that reflect Indian and Sri Lankan influences blended with local styles, and (4) religious values and beliefs integrated into daily life, showing the deep connection between Buddhism and the people's way of life. The developed model of creative media innovation integrates digital technology with Buddhist knowledge in the form of multimedia. This model effectively presents content in an engaging, accessible, and culturally meaningful way, promoting both learning and the appreciation of Buddhist values. The results of this study can be applied as a guideline for producing innovative Buddhist media that supports the preservation and dissemination of Buddhism in modern society.

Baptism and karma correction according to Buddhist scriptures

2025-06-17T23:17:47+07:00

This book is titled “Atonement for Sins, Correcting Karma According to Buddhist Scriptures” written by “Phra Phawana Phisan Methee Wi. (Prasert Mantasevi)”. He sees that “sin” is not something that everyone desires, regardless of their religion or whether they are irreligious or wicked people. They will always feel bad when they are branded as sinners or criticized for “committing sin”, even if they are about to slit a chicken’s neck. This is because sin is the name of evil, badness, which leads to suffering and ruin in their future lives. For those who have religion, they are afraid that they will end up in hell. For those who do not believe in the next world, they are afraid that the happiness, comfort, and hope they have in the present will be ruined and impoverished by sin. Many criminals, even when they are arrested and prosecuted with clear evidence, still try to evade the charges that they did not do, that they are being bullied. Even though they are not afraid of the punishment they will receive according to the law, they are afraid of being branded as “sinners, evil people”. For this reason, the enlightened wisdom of the Lord Buddha clearly knows that sin causes all living beings to fall to hell, whether they believe it or not, because this is the law of nature. Regardless of any belief or religion, when rational people believe in the enlightened wisdom of the Buddha, they tend to think back and worry about their past sinful mistakes.

Buddhism in the eyes of Chinese pilgrims

2025-06-28T22:14:40+07:00

The book titled “Buddhism in the Eyes of Chinese Pilgrims” was translated and edited by S. Thammawisai. The original text is the writing “Buddhism in India as Described by the Chinese Pilgrims AD 399-698” written by Kanai Lal Hazra, which was published in Dhammajak, totaling 15 episodes. The editorial team of Dhammajak has collected and published this book, which has 201 pages. The overall content of this book is the story of 3 Chinese pilgrims who traveled to India: Fa Xian, Xiang Zang, and Yi Jing, including stories about Buddhism from various perspectives from the records of the 3 pilgrims, which reflects the image of Buddhism in India at that time. The reviewer was interested in the book “Buddhism in the Eyes of Chinese Pilgrims” because its content is both historical and Buddhist. The content reflects the way of life of ancient Indians, showing Buddhist culture and traditions, allowing one to understand the social costs of that era. The reviewer had previously studied the topic of social costs in social science, which was one of the inspirations for wanting to read and study this book.

BUDDHIST-BASED RECREATION: A NEW DIMENSION IN ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THAI ELDERLY

2025-01-28T15:44:52+07:00

Thailand has officially entered an aging society, making the promotion of older adults’ quality of life a critical challenge. Spiritual and cultural dimensions, though essential, are often overlooked, despite Buddhism being a core foundation of Thai life and especially significant for older adults who deeply value religious teachings and practices. However, the integration of Buddhist principles into recreational activities remains underdeveloped and lacks systematic study, even though it holds high potential to enhance holistic well-being in physical, mental, social, and intellectual dimensions. This article aims to synthesize and propose the concept of “Buddhist recreation” as an integrative framework that merges Dhamma with recreational activities to enhance the quality of life among the elderly in Thai society. Through literature review and case studies, such as the Silp Song Tham project, the Buddha Art Gallery, and community-based programs, the article highlights practical applications of Buddhist teachings, including the Four Noble Truths, the Four Divine States (Brahmaviharas), and the Four Bases of Social Solidarity (Sangahavatthu) within recreational activities encompassing art, culture, and social participation. The article also analyzes key success factors, such as leadership development, network building, and the design of responsive and inclusive activities. Furthermore, five policy recommendations are proposed, including the integration of Dhamma into recreation, the development of community support systems, intersectoral collaboration, the promotion of innovation and research, and the cultivation of social awareness. These proposals have the potential not only to guide the implementation of Buddhist recreation at the local level but also to contribute to national frameworks that support the sustainable development of elderly well-being in Thailand.

Suvarnabhumi : Study and interpret from scriptures

2025-04-24T20:41:28+07:00

Suvarnabhumi is a land of one of the civilizations of the Eastern world, similar to the ancient Chinese and ancient Indian civilizations. It is a trading center where Indian merchants traveled to trade. It is the land where Buddhism was first established outside of India, led by Phra Sonathera and Phra Uttarathera, which occurred after the 3rd Buddhist Council in the 3rd century, with Phra Mokkalliputtissa Thera as the president, under the patronage of King Ashoka the Great. It is considered the first of the 4 eras of Buddhism in Thailand, called the Theravada era of the Asoka period.

Studying and interpreting the history of the spread of Buddhism to Suvarnabhumi using the Samantapasadika, Mahavamsa, and Dipavamsa scriptures has led to various issues, such as the sending of monks to proclaim Buddhism in various places, Phra Sonathera and Phra Uttarathera as Buddhist missionaries, Raksa woman - water giantess - demon, Phra Sonathera and Phra Uttarathera are just legends or real people in history and the development of the monarchy system according to Indian beliefs.

The Self in Question: A Comparative Study of Descartes’ Cogito and Buddhist Philosophical Views

2025-05-26T12:30:43+07:00

Descartes’ cogito affirms a permanent thinking self that is foundational to modern Western thought, emphasizing rational autonomy and dualism between mind and body. Conversely, Buddhism denies the existence of a permanent self, viewing identity as a transient aggregation of experiences. This perspective underlies a broader ethical framework promoting compassion and interconnectedness. By contrasting Descartes’ individualistic rationalism with Buddhist impermanence, the analysis explores how each tradition influences understandings of consciousness, morality, and human identity. While Descartes locates selfhood in rational thought, Buddhism challenges fixed identity constructs, advocating self-transcendence through meditation and ethical action.