Sulak Sivaraksa
The 21st Century Man Must Become Less Egocentric

This outspoken dissident, social activist, and Thai Buddhist monk speaks about why we need to go beyond traditional religious structures. He emphasizes that while religions can powerfully lead to a personal relief and release, what we need now is a deeper and more complex view that takes into account the interdependent factors that create inequity and suffering in our 21st century world.

Every religious tradition has its negative elements, which we must not ignore. But the positive element in every religious tradition is tremendous. It deals with the mystery of life. It deals with transcendental. We need that transcendental element. Through it, we will become less and less selfish. We will become more mindful and will want to serve others. But to serve others means that we must confront suffering.

Biography

Sulak Sivaraksa was born in 1933 in Thailand and has become one of the leading Buddhist activists in the world. Widely respected for his heroic stand against political and social corruption, he is the recipient of 1994 AFSC Nobel Peace Prize, the 1995 Right Livelihood Award, and the World Future Council.

Sivaraksa is the founder of the Sathirakoses-Nagapradeepa Foundation and the initiator of a number of effective social, humanitarian, ecological, and spiritual movements and organizations in Thailand, as well as beyond his native country’s borders. As one of the founding fathers of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, established in 1987 with the 14th Dalai Lama, Vietnamese monk and peace-activist Thich Nhat Hanh, and Theravada Bhikkhu Maha Ghosananda, Sulak has worked to unite Buddhist leaders across traditions and nationalities to affect a greater good.

Sulak is widely published and has developed models of sustainability for our rapidly changing social and economic environments. His work for greater democratic freedoms in his homeland and his outspoken personality forced him into exile from Thailand in 1976, and led to his arrest several times for lese majesty (defamation of the king). International support secured his release each time. Sivaraksa continues to campaign tirelessly for an engaged spirituality that is not afraid to confront international political, social, and economic issues directly.

Resources:

www.sulak-sivaraksa.org