Potprecha Cholvijarn Conversation on Buddha-Nature in Thai Buddhist Traditions
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Description & Participants
Samma Araham Meditation, Self and Nibbana: Equivalents of Buddha-Nature Discourse in Thai Buddhist Traditions
28 March 2022 · 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time
Dr. Cholvijarn and Dr. Karma Phuntsho will discuss similarities and disimilarities in debates about interpretations of the ultimate in Thai and Tibetan Buddhisms.
Potprecha Cholvijarn is the author of Nibbāna as True Reality beyond the Debate, a book about the recent debate in Thailand over the nature of nibbāna (nīrvāna), the unconditioned, whether it is attā (self) or anattā (not-self). Western Buddhist studies, especially of recent years, have assumed that Theravāda Buddhism straightforwardly teaches the doctrine of anattā: that Theravāda Buddhism rejects attā in all respects, including in the ultimate sense. However, as the well-known debate in Thailand, which reached its zenith in 1999, has shown, there appears to be a significant minority of Theravāda monks, respected by significant numbers of Theravāda laity, arguing that nibbāna is attā.
In the book, Dr. Cholvijarn compares the Thai debate to the Tibetan Rang Stong and Gzan Stong dispute and concludes that "they reveal two similar trends found in the history of Buddhist thought, one positing a substantial absolute beyond all conceptualization, and the other rejecting all kinds of substantial absolute. Both trends are found at various points in the history of Buddhism in different traditions."
Potprecha Cholvijarn received his Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Religious Studies and a Doctorate in Buddhist Studies from the University of Bristol. His interest in law led him to pursue a Bachelor of Law at Chulaongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. He is now working in a law firm in Bangkok, Thailand, and teaches as a special lecturer at the Thai Studies Centre, Chulaongkorn University.
