Model Essay: "The Thai Forest Tradition is the most appealing form of Buddhism in today's world." Evaluate this statement.

 

1. “The Thai Forest Tradition is the most appealing form of Buddhism in today’s world.” Evaluate this statement [15 marks - AQA]

For	Against
·        Seen to be accurate to the Buddha’s original teachings. ·        In Thailand many people have commented that the sangha has become corrupted with desire for status so this way is better. ·        Helps with craving and getting to final goal, likely to help people leave Samsara faster.	·        Takes an anti-textual stance, which many may disagree with. ·        Other forms may be more appealing: e.g. Triratna or Secular are more modern/work better in C21st. ·        Unrealistic to expect lots of people to renounce like this. ·        Could be criticised by traditional Thai sangha.

 

In this answer I will conclude that the Thai Forest Tradition is not in fact the most appealing form of Buddhism in today’s world, as I think that contemporary society better fits with the teachings of Secular Buddhism, particularly in the West. This is because Secular Buddhism fits better with modern science, rationalism and the Verification and Falsification Principles, which have become key to academia today.

Some may disagree with me as the Thai Forest Tradition responds to specific needs within Thailand and was founded with the intention of improving the Thai Sangha. This is because many believers in the 1900s and into today have begun to feel that the Thai sangha was straying from its original intentions and structure as set up by Gautama. Many people have commented that the Thai sangha, due to political ties and the capitalistic nature of the world today, has become focused on status and reputation, meaning that those who join the sangha may not be doing so with entirely spiritual intentions. As a result, the Thai Forest Tradition was founded to help the sangha get back to its original structure and intentions by being based on the lifestyle of Gautama in Ancient India: living the life of a wandering ascetic, sleeping in the forest, teaching those one comes across. Therefore it could be concluded that the Thai Forest Tradition is an important modern movement in Thailand designed specifically to improve the Buddhist sangha there, although this does beg the question whether or not this is true for the world as a whole, or just this specific country.

Many would argue that other forms of Buddhism that have developed in the contemporary period are more appealing that the Thai Forest movement, particularly because in many countries of the world life as a wandering ascetic would be almost impossible. For example, the climate (both physical and political) in Britain would make it almost impossible for someone to renounce, wandering in forests, relying on alms donations and not sleeping in a building. In this sense, the movement could be seen as unrealistic and impractical outside of Thailand, requiring practical developments to work in different places (hence the founding of the Amaravarti Tradition, the British adaptation of the Thai Forest Tradition in Hertfordshire). Therefore, people may prefer other movements, such as Triratna Buddhism – which is welcoming, ecumenical, and practical in regards to the modern lifestyle. It does not renunciation as a wandering ascetic, but inviting people to participate with as much commitment as they personally are able to give, suggesting that Triratna is a more realistic way to practice Buddhism in the C21st.

Many would argue nonetheless that the Thai Forest Tradition is most accurate to the Buddha’s original teachings, and emulates that way that he himself lived. This could be argued to be the best way of practising Buddhism in the C21st as it most closely relates to the earliest form of Buddhism, and could perhaps represent the lifestyle that Gautama envisaged all his followers adopting. Certainly, the founders and followers of the Thai Forest Tradition see themselves as taking on the most accurate form of Buddhism in today’s world. However, this could be criticised due to the generally anti-textual view that the Thai Forest Movement undertakes, whilst the monks are guided by the Vinaya (discipline) rules of the Pali Canon, strict deontological adherence to these rules is not done by the letter of the scriptures, and there is room for moral interpretation within the tradition, which may lead others to reject it.

Overall, I believe that Secular Buddhism is the most appealing form of Buddhism in today’s world. This is because Secular Buddhism, or “Buddhism without beliefs” (Stephen Batchelor) does not require unrealistic renunciation practices, rather it is designed to fit Buddhism within one’s contemporary lifestyle. Batchelor suggests that Buddhists in today’s world are free to undertake the practices that help them overcome suffering, without being forced to hold doctrinal beliefs or belief in the supernatural aspects of Buddhism which appear to by mythical when looked at through the lens of science and empiricism. I believe that this is much more universally applicable to the rational worldview and the lifestyles of those alive today, and that Buddhism is much more likely to thrive in this environment, as not many people will be up to the high practical demands of the Thai Forest Tradition. Secular Buddhism is more realistic, whilst continuing to uphold Gautama’s beliefs about ending suffering.