BuddhadasaBhikku: Philosophical Worldview and 'Dog-without-a-tail’ Education

Abstract

Buddhadasa Bhikku had a determination to propagate religion by allowing the followers of each religion to access the true meaning of their religions, building better understandings between religions, and taking a step away from materialism. With his outstanding works, he had been regarded as, “Philosopher of the South”. As UNESCO sees his promotive attitudes on tolerance, peace, culture, and on creating a better understanding between mankind, Buddhadasa Bhikku, therefore, has been regarded as an important person of the world in education. In the process of spreading his teachings, he tried to comprehend “Words from the Buddha” and apply teachings from different sects, thinking outside the box, emphasizing on novelty and modernity, interpreting the teachings of Buddhism that good merits could be done and seen its success in this life not in the another life. He did not teach with emphasizing on Pali and Sanskrit, but he chose a language that suitable with modern world. In case there was a shortage of “words” to convey any specific meanings, Buddhadasa Bhikku created the theory of two languages (people's language and dharma language), establishing a “Dictionary outside of the Royal Academy” for his own use. He also criticized Thai education that it only aimed to follow the western precedent – focusing on building only knowledge but morality, making metaphor that we aimed to operate Thai people's feet to fit “western shoes” instead of sewing “western shoes” to fit Thai feet. Thus, it built selfish values as a proverb says, “to pull to get the longest end,” and he considered this kind of education “dog - without - a - tail”. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, therefore, proposed to “pin the dog’s tail” by adding morality to education and, among the people, to have a “good deeds collection card” to use for benefits as assigned by authority. He believed that morality would restore and “the world would be lightened up” if we all could do this.