About the interview
Dr. Cholvijarn and Dr. Karma Phuntsho discuss similarities and dissimilarities in debates about interpretations of the ultimate in Thai and Tibetan Buddhism.
Potprecha Cholvijarn is the author of Nibbāna as True Reality beyond the Debate, a book about the recent debate in Thailand over the nature of nibbāna (nirvāṇa), the unconditioned, whether it is attā (self) or anattā (not-self). Western Buddhist studies, especially of recent years, have assumed that Theravāda Buddhism straightforwardly teaches the doctrine of anattā: that Theravāda Buddhism rejects attā in all respects, including in the ultimate sense. However, as the well-known debate in Thailand, which reached its zenith in 1999, has shown, there appears to be a significant minority of Theravāda monks, respected by significant numbers of Theravāda laity, arguing that nibbāna is attā.
In the book, Dr. Cholvijarn compares the Thai debate to the Tibetan Rang Stong and Gzhan Stong dispute and concludes that "they reveal two similar trends found in the history of Buddhist thought, one positing a substantial absolute beyond all conceptualization, and the other rejecting all kinds of substantial absolute. Both trends are found at various points in the history of Buddhism in different traditions."
Potprecha Cholvijarn holds a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of Bristol, in the UK. He is currently a special lecturer at the Thai Studies Centre, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University.
Clips from the interview
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Background to the Nibbāna as Self or Not-Self Debate
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Sammā Arahaṃ Meditation Tradition and the Concept of Dhammakāya
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Canonical Basis for Nibbāna as Self in the Sammā Arahaṃ Meditation Tradition
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On How Other Theravāda Scholars and Masters View the Sammā Arahaṃ Interpretation of Self
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Concepts and Relationship between Āyatana, Nibbāna, and Dhammakāya
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Prominence of Thai Proponents of the Nibbāna-as-Self Perspective
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Teachings of Achan Man, Achan Maha Boowa, and His Teacher, Achan Sermchai
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On How the Dhammakāya Is Conceived of in the Sammā Arahaṃ Tradition
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Rational-Philosophical vs. Experiential-Mystical Aspects of the Thai Theravāda Tradition
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Difference between an Arahant and a Buddha in the Sammā Arahaṃ Tradition
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Prospect of the Idea of Nibbāna as Self Becoming More Widespread in Thai Buddhism
;
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On Book Recommendations for Learning More about the Sammā Arahaṃ Tradition
;
