Dharma for a New Millennium: The Emergence of New Buddhist Discourses in Thailand

FAIN: FT-52193-04

Rachelle Marie Jacobs Scott
University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Knoxville, TN 37916-3801)

This project examines how contemporary Buddhist monks and laypersons in Thailand employ the broadcast media as a new vehicle for dharma instruction and practice. Through an analysis of religious discourses on radio and television programs, I will demonstrate the continued vitality of the Buddhist tradition and the monastic institution in the midst of dramatic and rapid social change. This project will set the stage for a book-length analysis of Buddhism and new technologies of instruction in contemporary Thailand, including the Buddhist book industry and the growth of religious-based websites.