'Enoughness': A Thai Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy”

24. Juni 2013

Prof. Dr. Donald K. Swearer (Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard Divinity School) 

The philosophy of ”sufficiency economy” (sethakit phòphiang) became prominent in Thailand after H.M. King Bhumibol’s 1997 address in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis in which his majesty enunciated the principle: ”sufficient economy means to have enough to support ourselves.”  Since that time a considerable literature on the subject has been published, including the 2007 UNDP Thailand Human Development Report on Sufficiency Economy. This lecture will explore the extensive application of phòphiang (”enoughness”) from agriculture to industry to education, and its transformation into an iconic term, defining what it means to be Thai in the 21st century.  Donald K. Swearer directed the Center for the Study of World Religions (CSWR) at Harvard Divinity School from 2004 to 2010 after retiring from Swarthmore College as the Charles and Harriet Cox Professor of Religion. Currently he is a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the CSWR. His research and publications have focused on Buddhism in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand. Recent monographs include: The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia, 2nd ed. (2009), Becoming the Buddha: The Ritual of Image Consecration in Thailand (2004), Sacred Mountains in Northern Thailand and Their Legends (2004).

In cooperation with the Department of Southeastasian Studies

Termin: Montag, 24. Juni 2013, 18:15-19:45 Uhr
Ort: Universität Hamburg, Emund-Siemers-Allee 1 Westflügel, Raum 221