Buddhadasa was a Thai monk who lived from 1906-1993 who sought to reform and modernize Thai Buddhism. He believed that laypeople could reach enlightenment, not just monks, and that superstition and magic should be removed. He was influenced by Zen Buddhism and wanted to establish a pure, calm mind known as "chit wang" that all could achieve. However, changing a 2,000 year old tradition like Theravada Buddhism was very difficult and not all accepted his reforms. Today, his monastery continues as a meditation retreat and though he did not fully change Thai Buddhism in his lifetime, he is greatly respected.

1. The monk who redefined Buddhism

2. Buddhadasa’s life
Lived 1906-1993.
Became a monk
at age 20.
Lived in the
countryside at
Suan Mokh for
many years.

3. Buddhadasa
thought the
Thai Sangha
was corrrupt
( )
He wanted to be
alone at Suan
Mokkh to think.

4. Anti-Superstition
Buddhadasa did not
believe in
superstition.(
)
He wanted to
remove superstition
and magic from
Thai buddhism.

5. Enlightenment:
Buddhadasa
believed that
laypeople could
reach
enlightenment.
Not only monks as
was believed in the
past.

6. Chit Wang
Buddhadasa
believed in
something called
“chit wang”. It
means a pure mind.
It is a form of
nirvana, and
everyone can get
there if they are
calm.

7. Afraid of Change
But it was very
difficult for him to
change Buddhism.
Theravada
Buddhism hasn’t
changed in 2000
years!

8. Zen Influence
Buddhadasa was
influenced by Zen
Buddhism from
China and Japan.
Some people did not
want Thai
Buddhism to have
zen influence.

9. Present Day Suan
Mokkh monastery.
Many people,
including farang,
come here for
meditation retreats.

10. Parinibbana?
Buddhadasa did not
have the natural,
peaceful death he
wanted.
He had a stroke , and
was on life support for
many weeks until he
died.
The king of Thailand
had great respect for
Buddhadasa.

11. Buddhadasa has not
successfully changed
Thai Buddhism, but he
is very respected by Thai
people.
Maybe his ideas will
become more popular in
the future.

12. Inspiration
Reading about the views
of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu
inspired me to stop
drinking alcohol and
smoking cigarettes. He
really changed my life.
I want to thank him.