Table of Contents


I.  Introduction:  Socially Engaged Buddhism in Thailand

II.  The Basics of Thai Buddhist Religion
  -Buddhism in its Thai Context
    -The Monarchy and Thai Buddhism
    -The Life of the Buddha
    -The Dharma
    -The Sangha
    -Important Buddhist Practices and Concepts
    Leading Buddhist Thinkers and Activists
    -Buddhadasa Bhikkhu:  Selected Quotes
      -Sulak Sivaraksa:  Leading Thai Buddhist Reformer
        -Article:  Who Are Contemporary Thai Buddhists?
          -Lecture:  A Buddhist Response to 9-11
        -Ajaan Saeng:  Thai Buddhism and Social Justice Issues in Historical Context
          -Presentation:  Christian Religion from a Buddhist Perspective
            -Response:  Buddhist Religion from a Christian Perspective, Dr. Bradley Holt

III. The Sights and Smells of Thailand
  -Incense, Animism, and Pollution
  -Elephants
  -Rice and Meat
  -Transportation and Traffic
  -Monks and Temples
  -Textiles, Jade, Teak, Silver, and Consumerism
    -A Meditation on Consumerism, by Jeanne M. Sommer
  -Flowers
  -Hill Tribe People and Ethnic Diversity
  -Thai Dancing

IV.  Women in Thai Buddhism
  -The Condition of Thai Women
  -Buddhist Teachings About Women
  -The Wife of the Buddha
  -Ordination of Thai Women Monks
  -Prostitution

V.  Important Site Visits
  -FEDRA
  -Rural Village Life in the Lawa Village of Ba Muang Gra
  -Forest Walk on Pu Lon Mountain with Phra Paisal
    -A Meditation on No Self
  -Santi Asoke
    -Pathom Asoke Buddhist Temple and the Boon Niyom Community
    -Short Autobiography of Sikkhamat Rin Fa
    -Than Sanon Kaen La Wattano
    -What Makes Santi Asoke Different?
  -Dharma Park/Venetia Walkey

VI.  Leading Individuals
  -Phra Amara, Wat Chedi Luang (Meditation and Education)
  -Phra Maha Boon Choey (Monknet)
  -Phra Paisal (Development Monk)
  -Phra Bua (Political Monk)
  Samaneri Dhammananda (Female Monk)
    -Chatsumarn Kabilsingh (Bangkok Post Article)
  -Mae Chi Prathin (Dhammacarini Girl's School)
  -Mae Chi Sansenee (Meditation and Media)
  -Khun Ouyporn Khuankeauw (Women's Peace and Justice)
  -Khun Sanitsuda Ekichai (Bangkok Post Feature Writer)
  -Khun Rosana Tositrakul (Holistic Health and Anti-Corruption)
    -Rosana Tositrakul (Bangkok Post Article)
  -Ajaan Parichart  (Feminist Buddhist Professor)
  -Ajaan Mark Ritchie (Sustainable Agriculture)
  -Ajaan Laurie Maunde (Sangha Metta Project:  HIV/AIDS)

VII.  Through Our Eyes (forthcoming)
  -Marta Eckert-Mills
  -Drew Heller
  -Kristin Galabrun
  -Todd Kindberg
  -Leigh Kopicki
  -Sarah Krueger
  -Joe Novelli
  -Kaeng Patchayotai
  -Kate Reese
  -Gillian Roos
  -Katrina Roth
  -Joy Vandervort-Sneed
  -Rudi Sommer
  -Carolyn Wallace
  -Hannah Sommer

VIII.  Essays
  By Jeanne Matthews Sommer
    -Jesus Loves Me This I Know:  For the Buddha Tells Me So
    Personal Reflection Essays
      -A Meditation on Consumerism
      -A Meditation on No-Self
    -Socially Engaged Buddhism essay (forthcoming)
  -Student Essays (forthcoming)

IX. Bibliography (forthcoming)

X.  Grandmother's Section (forthcoming)
  -Jeanne's family pictures
  -Fun shots of the Thailand student group

XI. Contact Information

XII.  Information about the Website (forthcoming)

XIII. LINK: WWC Religion Department

XIV. LINK: Interfaith Online

XV. LINK: The Legacy of Abraham