Article discussing sacred places - particularly California missions and Thai Buddhist wats - and the challenges of preservation.
THAI Online Library
Social, Spiritual & Ethical Issues
Contacting spirits and poisons: Suffering and healing in northern Thailand
This study examines beliefs about becoming sick through physical contact with spirits (phii) and poisons (pit), and outlines diagnosis and treatment by direct and indirect touching of sufferers' bodies. Based on fieldwork conducted in Khon Mueang village in Mae Jaem District in Chiang Mai from 1995.
Thai Folk Wisdom as a Challenge to Thai Law
An article that discusses Thai folk wisdom in relation to democracy and formal Thai law.
Taking a Stand
A western Buddhist monk looks at some traditional Buddhist teachings with a critical eye. Examines meat-eating and vegetarianism in terms of Buddhist concepts such as metta-karuna, suffering, attachment etc.
Sacred Power Transmission among Thai Folk Healers
Academic paper that studies the ways the sacred power of “Mor Yao” (Phu Thai folk healers) are transmitted and the network formation between healers and their patients and followers.
Clinical and Hygienic Concerns of Lord Buddha
A research paper on health issues related to Buddhist texts and the life of the Buddha.
Protection of Traditional Knowledge
A Thai-government brief of the reasons for protecting traditional knowledge in current day Thailand.
The Use of Traditional Medicine in the Thai Health Care System
World Health Organization paper on the use of traditional medicine in the Thai healthcare system. From the Regional Consultation on Development of Traditional Medicine in the South East Asia Region, Pyongyang, DPR Korea, 22-24 June 2005.
Buddhism and Medical Ethics: A Bibliographic Introduction
A research paper on Buddhist ethics and issues of medicine, morality, death, dying, abortion and euthanasia. Originally published in Journal Buddhist Ethics, Volume 2, 1995.
Linguistic Perspectives of Thai Culture
A research paper detailing ways in which language and social norms interact and reflect each other in Thai society. Paper originally presented to workshop of social science teachers at University of New Orleans, USA (Summer 1994).