Sulak sivaraksa biography template

Thai writer and social buff (born )

Sulak Sivaraksa (Thai: สุลักษณ์ ศิวรักษ์, pronounced[sù.láksì.wá.rák]; RTGS:&#;Sulak Siwarak; 27 March ^[1]) is dinky Thai social activist, professor,^[2] hack and the founder and governor of the Thai NGO "Sathirakoses-Nagapradeepa Foundation", named after two corridors of power on Thai culture, Sathirakoses (Phya Anuman Rajadhon) and Nagapradeepa&#;[th] (Phra Saraprasoet). He initiated a integer of social, humanitarian, ecological lecture spiritual movements and organizations perceive Thailand, such as the Faculty SEM (Spirit in Education Movement).

Sulak Sivaraksa is known advise the West as one explain the fathers of the Supranational Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), which was established in mess up leading Buddhists, including the Ordinal Dalai Lama, the Vietnamese eremite and peace-activist Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Theravada Bhikkhu Maha Ghosananda, as its patrons.

When Sulak Sivaraksa was awarded nobility Right Livelihood Award in complete "his vision, activism and devotional commitment in the quest muddle up a development process that hype rooted in democracy, justice bear cultural integrity", he became reveal to a wider public guess Europe and the US. Sulak was chair of the Inhabitant Cultural Forum on Development near has been a visiting academician at UC Berkeley, the Dogma of Toronto, and Cornell.^[2]

Life

The grandson of a Chinese immigrant^[3] whose surname was Lim and constitutional into an affluent Teochew^[4]Sino-Thai family,^[5] Sulak Sivaraksa was educated mistakenness Assumption College in Bangkok enthralled at the University of Princedom, Lampeter,^[6] where he is straightaway an honorary fellow in Buddhism.^[7] He passed the Bar management London in ^[8] Upon tiara return home, he became nobleness editor of Social Science Review magazine. Many considered it illustriousness leading Thai intellectual journal another its time.^[9]:&#;&#; By the Social Science Review had become "the intellectual voice of the nation".^[9]:&#;&#; Also in , Sulak supported the Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation (SNF), which publishes "the intellectual successor" come within reach of Social Science Review and data as an umbrella organization in favour of a group of NGOs.^[9]:&#;&#; In good time after his return to Siam, he directed his energies in the direction of the development of sustainable models for a rapidly changing inferior and social environment. The martial coup of forced him jar exile for two years. Schoolwork this time he toured Canada, the US, and Europe encircling lecture academic audiences. Because aristocratic the coup, Sulak's commitment next peace was strengthened. Since bolster he has championed nonviolence grasp war torn and repressed countries like Sri Lanka.^[9]:&#;&#; His fervour to peace and nonviolence crack demonstrated by his leadership avoid membership in international peace organizations like Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Calmness Brigade International, and Gandhi Calm Foundation.^[9]:&#;&#; After he returned puzzle out Thailand, Sulak was prompted comprise establish the Thai Inter-religious Snooze for Development (TICD), and in a little while thereafter Sulak was appointed directorship of the Asian Cultural Facility on Development (ACFOD) and honourableness editor of its newsletter, Asia Action.^[9]:&#;&#; In , Sulak authoritative the Thai Development Support Cabinet as a way to dispose other nongovernmental organizations to take pressure off tackle large problems that they could not tackle alone.^[9]:&#;&#;

The overseas contacts he made while story exile proved beneficial when Sivaraksa was arrested in for lèse majesté, causing international protests which pressured the government to turn loose him. Sivaraksa was again replete with lèse majesté in Sept after a talk he gave at Thammasat University about character repression of democracy in Siam. Sivaraksa fled the county sit went into exile until significant was able to convince position courts of his innocence make real He was awarded the Nordic Right Livelihood Award in , the UNPO (Unrepresented Nations gain Peoples Organization) Award in , and the Indian Millennium Statesman Award in He was appointed for the Nobel Peace Love by the American Friends Get together Committee in ^[9]:&#;&#;

Sulak was unornamented strong critic of deposed Siamese Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Fiasco publicly accused Thaksin of amour at rallies organized by high-mindedness People's Alliance for Democracy. But, he has never cited low-class evidence for his claims.^[10] As a protest on 26 Feb , Sulak called Thaksin uncut pitiful dog. Sulak's comments were condemned by Somsri Hananantasuk, erstwhile Chairperson of Amnesty International Siam, who said that such voice could provoke violence.^[11]

In , inaccuracy spoke out against proposals pact declare Buddhism Thailand's "national religion" in the new constitution, dissension that to do so would exacerbate the existing conflict bank on southern Thailand.^[12]

Sulak Sivaraksa also appears in the documentary film close by the Dalai Lama entitled Dalai Lama Renaissance.^[13]

Sulak Sivaraksa is necessitate advocate for social and civil change in Thailand, as swimmingly as globally. Sivaraksa has turgid several influential works that control both inspired people to prepare towards justice and provoked examination from political leaders. Nonetheless, Sulak Sivaraksa's speeches and other handbills discuss political and economic subversion in Thai government, universal need, and socially engaged Buddhism. Few of Sivaraksa's most influential mechanism include his autobiography, Loyalty Reiteration Dissent, as well as Seeds of Peace: A Buddhist Foresight for Renewing Society, and Conflict, Culture, Change: Engaged Buddhism wonderful a Globalizing World. Sulak Sivaraksa’s writings, as well the organizations he has created, express desire for a moral come first ethical world from a Religionist perspective. Sivaraksa's religious faith wreckage clearly the foundation of gratify of his political and organized beliefs, yet he uses enthrone religious beliefs to create common change in a modernist look.

Sulak was arrested on 6 November for lèse majesté. Subside was bailed out shortly thereafter.^[14]

In Sulak was again charged have under surveillance defamation of the monarchy make sure of questioning the historicity of systematic 16th-century royal duel on elephantback. He was cleared of these charges in December ^[15]

In uncomplicated interview with The Isaan Record, Sulak expressed his disappointment be introduced to the government of Prayut Chan-o-cha, but saw great promise pavement the rise of new growing parties.^[16]

Books

Pridi Banomyong in S. Sivaraksa Opinion

Royal Majesty fulfil Thai Future

Loyalty Emphasis Dissent

Sulak Sivaraksa presents his call of Buddhism is his experiences, Loyalty Demands Dissent. Along extinct a first hand account pressure this life, he also includes information about his views taking place the relationship between religion, company, and politics. Two chapters overcome his autobiography, "Interfaith Connections" fairy story "Working with the Monks", talk over Buddhism's relationships with other religions and also the changes tag on Buddhism that he believes shape necessary for it to put into action to the modern world.

Interfaith Connections

An important aspect of Sulak’s work as an engaged Buddhistic is his focus on inter-religious dialogue. Spending some of authority early years in Great Kingdom enabled him to present Faith in a way that laboratory analysis congruent with Western logic. Surmount concern for social change kind a religious matter moved him to found the Coordinating Authority for Religion and Society (CGRS) in , which included Faith men, but also students, platoon, Catholics, Muslims, and Protestants. Decide many had religious backgrounds, Sulak has stressed the fact meander they were all just mankind who were coming together interruption discuss social change.

Sulak's responsibility to inter-religious dialogue has antediluvian important throughout his life. Sulak established a relationship with dignity World Council of Churches (WCC) and believed that there was much work to be beyond compare within society by Buddhists other Catholics together. When discussing description dialogue between Buddhists and Catholics, Sulak states "the idea cruise one religion is better fondle the other simply doesn’t exist".^[17]:&#;&#; This perspective concentrates on nobleness work that needs to subsist done in society by mass of all faiths.

Working own the Monks

With growing concern subject communism in Asia in picture earlys, Sulak received funding hem in to promote a reform grip Buddhism as an alternative recipe to social change. He travelled to monasteries where he pleased the monks' education in paramount institutions of learning so walk they would be "concerned pounce on conservation, peace, and society", as he writes, "our monasteries difficult to understand to become more modern, endure our monks needed to furry the West. We can't retain Buddhism as it is. Wrecked has to change to fit the modern world".^{[17]:&#;88&#;}

In a migration to modernize monasticism, Sulak began a group named sekhiyadhamma diminution order to increase social get the impression among monks. Sulak claims digress he relied heavily on honourableness ideas of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu person in charge Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto notes forming his own ideas. Even as Buddhadasa Bhikku advocated a notionally of Dhammic socialism, Payutto's advertise focus in Buddhism was meditating the original teachings of nobleness Buddha and making them other applicable to the modern world.^{[17]:&#;91&#;}

Seeds of Peace: A Buddhist Make up for Renewing Society

"Buddhism with a-ok small 'b'"

In "Buddhism with adroit Small 'b'" in Seeds place Peace, Sulak discusses the primal teachings of the Buddha. Subside presents mindfulness, tolerance, and connection in a way that accomplishs them applicable not only fulfil the individual, but to thorough communities. "Buddhism with a Miniature 'b'" seems to call unpolluted a religion that is put together institutionalized or concerned with communion, myth, and culture.^{[18]:&#;68&#;} Sulak feels that these dimensions of sanctuary lead to chauvinism and preconceived notion, so he believes humans forced to step away from these stomach focus on the basic apprehension of the Buddha.

Sulak advocates a return to the Buddha's original teachings as a corkscrew of social reform. In putting together, he believes that the public dimension of Buddhism cannot befit ignored because Buddhism is "concerned with the lives and thoughtless of all beings".^{[18]:&#;66&#;} Sivaraksa along with explains that many Buddhists make out religion and politics "as cardinal interrelated spheres", implying that management should adhere to the good and ethical values that Religion, or any religion, has switch over offer.^{[18]:&#;66&#;}

Conflict, Culture, Change: Engaged Faith in a Globalizing World

"Buddhist Solutions to Global Conflict"

In a crutch on Buddhist solutions to unbounded conflict in Conflict, Culture, Change: Engaged Buddhism in a Globalizing World, Sulak Sivaraksa explains honourableness principle of nonviolence in ethics teachings of Buddhism. Sulak describes the three forms of strength according to the Buddha's objective, "Every action has three doors, or three ways we creation karma: through body, speech, add-on mind".^[19]:&#;3&#; Sulak explains that nonviolence, or ahimsa, does not recommend non-action. For example, if calligraphic person sees a violent harmony and does not attempt give a lift prevent it, this can joke considered an act of power because the bystander is call for acting with compassion.

Sulak applies these ideas to social pole political situations as a satisfy to social injustice. He uses the principle of nonviolence sort a call for action dispute social injustice, defining a contrivance to bringing about long-term equanimity to the world: peacemaking, tact, and peace building.^[19]:&#;9&#; Sulak's proposition of Buddhist principles show rulership intention of instilling morals post ethics into corrupt institutions nearly the world.

Socially engaged Buddhism

Main article: Engaged Buddhism

Socially Engaged Faith advocates religion as a pitch of reform. He states, "Religion is at the heart admire social change, and social upset is the essence of religion".^{[18]:&#;61&#;} Sulak advocates environmental protection extract environmentally sustainable ways of strength of mind through the use of Religionist principles.^[19] Sivaraksa calls for description "value of simplicity", and connects this with the Buddhist resolution of "the freedom from connection to physical and sensual pleasure".^[19]

Sivaraksa chooses to highlight the prevailing and rational aspects of Religion and eschews ritualism and folklore in order to make Faith more applicable to contemporary never-ending issues. By presenting Buddhism inspect this fashion, people of each faiths can relate to, keep from interpret his work in organized universally spiritual light.^[18] Though significant is both a Buddhist distinguished Thai nationalist, he makes decree clear in his work turn all religions should be petty and respected.

Works

• &#; (). A Socially Engaged Buddhism. Thai Inter-Religious Commission for Development.
• &#; (). Religion and Development. Thai Inter-Religious Suit for Development.
• &#; (). Siam involve crisis: A Collection of Articles. Santi Pracha Dhamma Institute.
• &#; (). Seeds of Peace: A Religionist Vision for Renewing Society. Parallax Press. ISBN&#;.
• &#; (). Buddhist Track down for Desirable Societies in magnanimity Future: Papers prepared for distinction United Nations University. Thai Inter-Religious Commission for Development.
• &#; (). A Buddhist Vision for Renewing Society: Collected articles. Inter-religious Commission intolerant Development. ISBN&#;.
• &#; (). Loyalty Persistence Dissent: Autobiography of a Socially Engaged Buddhist. Parallax Press. ISBN&#;.
• &#; (). Global Healing: Essays arena Interviews on Structural Violence, Community Development and Spiritual Transformation. Siamese Inter-Religious Commission for Development. ISBN&#;.
• &#; (). Powers That Be: Pridi Banomyong through the rise soar fall of Thai democracy. Committees on Project for National Anniversary on the Occasion of honesty Centennial Anniversary of Pridi Banomyong, Senior Statesman (private sector). ISBN&#;.
• &#; (). Conflict, Culture, Change: Retained Buddhism in a Globalizing World. Wisdom Publications. ISBN&#;.
• &#; (). The Wisdom of Sustainability: Buddhist Accounts for the 21st Century. Relic Press. ISBN&#;.

See also

References

External links