DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**hygtfrdes** · 12-27-2011, 12:40 PM

Lets not forget that Buddhadasa was a celibate monk and as far as I know monks in Thailand did practices focusing on the unpleasant aspects of the body in order to lessen desire/ attachment to it.

Hi Aloka

your point above is not really relevent

the quotes from Buddhadasa were given in the context of him giving advice to laypeople

i am not an apologist for Buddhadasa nor can i raise any strong disagreement to the responses of Lazy Eye

i can only comment i regard Buddhadasa's views here as rather idiosyncratic & certainly not something i would personally defend or adhere to

Buddhadasa started his career well by clarifying the Buddha-Dhamma but then later seemed to take an interest in Christianity (creationism) & Mahayana

for example, imo, the following Mahayana-like or Kingdom-of-Heaven-On-Earth-like quote is non-sensical

....the human race must be preserved through the duty of reproduction for as long a time as is necessary for humanity to realize the highest Dhamma – nibbana. my view is Buddhadasa had some beneficial things to say about sexual excesses & the unique duties of male & female but, apart from that, some of his views about sex only for reproduction are idiosyncratic & extreme and, imo, cross the line of demarkation established by the Buddha between monks and laypeople

the article continues that those attracted to Buddhadasa's views went on to engage in certain religious & political cults

kind regards

element

Significantly, contemporary Thai Buddhist views on laypersons' sexual behaviour are often more proscriptive and extreme than attitudes reflect in the Pali canon or in traditional or popular Thai accounts of Buddhist doctrine and ethics. Phra Buddhadasa's work has been especially influential among educated and middle class Thai Buddhists. However, his views on sexuality are at variance with Thai Buddhism's traditional distinction between lay and clerical ethical conduct. The ethical extremism of Phra Buddhadasa and other contemporary Buddhist reformists in Thailand such as Phra Phothirak results from a clericalising trend whereby ethical demands traditionally made only of monks are now increasingly also being required of laypersons. The much publicised asceticism and celibacy of the prominent political figure and strict Buddhist Major-General Chamlong Srimuang, epitomises the monastic regimen that some contemporary reform movements within Thai Buddhism (e.g. Santi Asoke) require of their devout lay followers.

12-27-2011, 12:40 PM	#21
hygtfrdes Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 434 Senior Member	Lets not forget that Buddhadasa was a celibate monk and as far as I know monks in Thailand did practices focusing on the unpleasant aspects of the body in order to lessen desire/ attachment to it. Hi Aloka your point above is not really relevent the quotes from Buddhadasa were given in the context of him giving advice to laypeople i am not an apologist for Buddhadasa nor can i raise any strong disagreement to the responses of Lazy Eye i can only comment i regard Buddhadasa's views here as rather idiosyncratic & certainly not something i would personally defend or adhere to Buddhadasa started his career well by clarifying the Buddha-Dhamma but then later seemed to take an interest in Christianity (creationism) & Mahayana for example, imo, the following Mahayana-like or Kingdom-of-Heaven-On-Earth-like quote is non-sensical ....the human race must be preserved through the duty of reproduction for as long a time as is necessary for humanity to realize the highest Dhamma – nibbana. my view is Buddhadasa had some beneficial things to say about sexual excesses & the unique duties of male & female but, apart from that, some of his views about sex only for reproduction are idiosyncratic & extreme and, imo, cross the line of demarkation established by the Buddha between monks and laypeople the article continues that those attracted to Buddhadasa's views went on to engage in certain religious & political cults kind regards element Significantly, contemporary Thai Buddhist views on laypersons' sexual behaviour are often more proscriptive and extreme than attitudes reflect in the Pali canon or in traditional or popular Thai accounts of Buddhist doctrine and ethics. Phra Buddhadasa's work has been especially influential among educated and middle class Thai Buddhists. However, his views on sexuality are at variance with Thai Buddhism's traditional distinction between lay and clerical ethical conduct. The ethical extremism of Phra Buddhadasa and other contemporary Buddhist reformists in Thailand such as Phra Phothirak results from a clericalising trend whereby ethical demands traditionally made only of monks are now increasingly also being required of laypersons. The much publicised asceticism and celibacy of the prominent political figure and strict Buddhist Major-General Chamlong Srimuang, epitomises the monastic regimen that some contemporary reform movements within Thai Buddhism (e.g. Santi Asoke) require of their devout lay followers.
	Quote