Abstract
In this chapter, the hybridization of Thai Buddhism in the contemporary globalization period will be assessed through the so-called Dhammakaya case. Dhammakaya will be analyzed as one of the controversial approaches in relation to Hinnayana Buddhist doctrines, using the opinion of two experts on Hinnayana Buddhism—Buddhadasa and P.A. Payutto —as resources. An interview of another intellectual monk, Phra Paisal Visalo, has also been included. This chapter attempts to assess the information discussed on digital social media such as Twitter, Internet, and Instagram related to the Dhammakaya Temple and its abbot. Content and contextual analyses will be conducted. The research findings will be discussed against the background of modernization, Thai Buddhist culture, and digital communication in Thailand.
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Notes
- 1.
1 The abbot of Wat Luang Por Sodh Dhammakayaram in Ratchaburi Province.
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Malikhao, P. (2017). Analyzing the “Dhammakaya Case” Online. In: Culture and Communication in Thailand. Communication, Culture and Change in Asia, vol 3. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4125-9_2
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