NEWS INDEX Archives 2004 October

Thai philosopher-activist to discuss Buddhism and the law

Mark Reutter, Business & Law Editor
217-333-0568; mreutter@uiuc.edu

10/15/04

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Sulak Sivaraksa, a noted philosopher and activist from Thailand, will discuss Buddhism and the law on Thursday (Oct. 21) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

His talk, based on his practice of making Buddhism relevant to modern society, will begin at 4 p.m. in Room D at the Law Building, 504 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Champaign.

The event, sponsored by the Program in Asian Law, Politics and Society in the College of Law, is free and open to the public.

“He was trained as a lawyer in England,” said Tom Ginsburg, a professor of law at Illinois and the director of the program. “In the 1960s, he returned to Bangkok and started a journal, The Social Science Review, which became the country's premier intellectual magazine and a vehicle for criticism of various military governments. He has been put into jail several times for criticizing the government.”

Sivaraksa describes himself a “radical conservative” and encourages people to remain true to their traditions in the face of globalization and consumerism.

He has been a central figure in Thailand’s NGO (non-governmental organization) movement and founded the International Network of Engaged Buddhists.

In a recent interview, Sivaraksa said: “When ‘Buddhism’ became popular in the West, it became the notion that Buddhists should meditate, be calm and tranquil, divorced from society. This is very different from the way I was brought up in my country where, firstly, Buddhism means practicing sheela – not exploiting yourself or others.

“This very first step links you to society. The next step is meditation, to sow the seeds of peace within. Practicing these, you attain prajna, understanding of reality. And when you understand without selfishness, prajna became karuna, compassion.”

According to Sivaraksa, Western education puts too much stress on proof and facts. “How do you scientifically prove goodness? Or beauty? … Education must teach people to become aware and realize their potential,” he told Indian journalist Swati Chopra.

Twice nominated for the Nobel Prize for peace, Sivaraksa will give an overview of his ideas on law, spirituality and social activism.

He will also speak to the Transnational Studies Group at 10:30 a.m. Friday (Oct. 22) in Room 336 of Lincoln Hall, 702 S. Wright St., Urbana.