Engaged Buddhism in Southeast Asia: Building Civil Society and Support for Human Rights through Socio-Political Movements

Abstract

<p>In the Southeastern Asian nations of Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, Buddhism has a long history of intertwinement with political power, where is has served to legitimize many ruling regimes and has provided, in some cases, an influential moral structure for governance. The sangha (community of monastics) has traditionally been associated with spiritual matters, and while not believed to be wholly apolitical, has not generally sought to meddle in matters of the state. Over time however, the sangha has diverged from patterns of symbiotic association between the sangha and the state and has become aligned instead with the people, choosing to advocate for human rights and democracy in ethics-based movements now common enough to be termed (engaged Buddhism' or (socially-engaged Buddhism.' These movements, regardless of their political, economic, or social contexts, all share the following characteristics: support and influence from individuals of the sangha, a professed interest in defending the rights and interests of the people, and a use of Buddhist texts and scriptures to substantiate their allegiance to serving people versus the state. As a result, new communities of social action are being formed, the existence of which create the purpose for this inquiry. How do these social movements serve to promote human rights and democracy within the community that they serve? What is the textual basis in Buddhism for human rights and democracy?</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 16, 2010</p>