Journal of International Buddhist Studies https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs <p align="justify">The Journal of International Buddhist Studies (JIBS) is an open-access journal. We publish substantive academic articles on various topics in Buddhist Studies. All the articles published are peer-reviewed by at least two experts via the double-blinded review system. The Journal features academic articles in the broad field of Buddhist Studies. It aims to foster dialogue and exchange of ideas among Buddhist scholars and practitioners worldwide. JIBS serves as a platform for disseminating innovative and impactful research, promoting academic rigor, and original contributions in Buddhist Studies. A review committee consisting of academic specialists in relevant fields will screen all manuscripts. The editorial board reserves the right to recommend timely revisions, if necessary, before final acceptance for publication. Articles in JIBS should be between 5,000 to 8,000 words, meet international standards of academic excellence, and provide new insights and information in Buddhist Studies.</p> <table style="width: 90%;" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" align="center"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="style44" align="right" valign="middle" bgcolor="#FFFAF4"><span style="font-size: small;">Full Edition Title:</span></td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"> </td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"><span style="font-size: small;">Journal of International Buddhist Studies</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style44" align="right" valign="middle" bgcolor="#FFFAF4"><span style="font-size: small;">The frequency of Issue:</span></td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"> </td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD">Twice a year in June and December</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style44" align="right" valign="middle" bgcolor="#FFFAF4"><span style="font-size: small;">e-ISSN:</span></td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"> </td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"><span class="style43" style="font-size: small;">2586-9620</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style44" align="right" valign="middle" bgcolor="#FFFAF4"><span style="font-size: small;">Publication Type:</span></td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"> </td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"><span class="style43" style="font-size: small;">Online (starting from 2019)</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style44" align="right" valign="middle" bgcolor="#FFFAF4"><span style="font-size: small;">Publisher:</span></td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"> </td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"><span style="font-size: small;">Buddhist Research Institute, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style44" align="right" valign="middle" bgcolor="#FFFAF4"><span style="font-size: small;">Language:</span></td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"> </td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"><span style="font-size: small;">English</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="style44" align="right" valign="middle" bgcolor="#FFFAF4"><span style="font-size: small;">Since:</span></td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"> </td> <td class="journalInfo" bgcolor="#FDFDFD"><span style="font-size: small;">2009</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div id="content"> <div id="journalDescription"> <h3><span style="color: #c07f00;">Aims and Scope</span></h3> </div> <div> <p align="justify"> <strong><span style="color: #684501;">Journal of International Buddhist Studies (JIBS)</span></strong> is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original academic articles that foster dialogue and understanding among Buddhist scholars worldwide. It serves as a platform for disseminating innovative and impactful research, promoting academic rigor and intellectual inquiry within Buddhist studies.</p> <div> <p align="justify"><strong> </strong>The scope of JIBS encompasses a wide range of topics related to Buddhism, including philosophy, psychology, ethics, meditation, mindfulness, social engagement, interfaith dialogue, and the intersection of Buddhism with other disciplines such as science, psychology, and education. JIBS welcomes submissions from researchers, scholars, and practitioners from around the world on topics including:</p> </div> </div> <div> <p align="justify"><strong> </strong><strong><img src="https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/public/site/images/kriangsak/leaf.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> <span style="color: #684501;"> Buddhist Practices on Mental Health and Well-being: </span></strong>This topic explores how Buddhist teachings and practices align with scientific findings and psychological theories, offering insights into mindfulness, meditation, and the effects of Buddhist practices on mental health and well-being.</p> <p align="justify"><strong> <img src="https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/public/site/images/kriangsak/leaf.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> <span style="color: #684501;"> Buddhist Principles in Social Engagement and Ethical Decision-making: </span></strong>This area examines how Buddhist teaching can address social and environmental issues, promoting compassion, sustainability, and social justice. It explores topics such as engaged Buddhism, Buddhist perspectives on environmental ethics, and the role of Buddhist values in shaping ethical leadership and decision-making processes. </p> <p align="justify"><strong> <img src="https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/public/site/images/kriangsak/leaf.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> <span style="color: #684501;">The Concept of Buddhist Wisdom:</span></strong> Buddhist knowledge is collected, analyzed, synthesized, and compared among various wisdom traditions with an emphasis on Buddhist knowledge contained in the Tripitaka Buddhist scriptures to further Buddhist insights and practice.</p> <p align="justify"><strong> <img src="https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/public/site/images/kriangsak/leaf.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> <span style="color: #684501;">Other related Buddhist Studies:</span></strong> (Religious Studies, Social Sciences, and Arts &amp; Humanities)</p> </div> </div> The Buddhist Research Institute of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University en-US Journal of International Buddhist Studies 1906-6244 Marvel as Superhuman Power Performance (Iddhi-pāṭihāriya) in Dhammapada Scriptures https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs/article/view/3343 <p>This article aims to understand the power of miracles that appeared in Dhammapada scriptures from the <em>Therav</em><em>ā</em><em>da</em> Buddhist perspective. Notwithstanding, the author does not attempt to criticize the accuracy or credibility of the stories recorded as evidence in the Buddhist scriptures. Marvel as superhuman power performance or <em>iddhi-pāṭihāriya</em> in Pali depicts supernatural phenomena or extraordinary things. It is the product of human mental training grounded on the belief that certain phenomena are beyond the laws of nature and science. They cannot be proven by any scientific instruments. In real life, human beings invented innovations to fulfill their needs, imagination and dreams. They are just physical miracles created under the fundamental laws of physics of space-time. In <em>Dhammapada</em><em>ṭṭ</em><em>hakath</em><em>ā</em>, commentary to the <em>Dhammapada</em>, magical events appeared overwhelmingly throughout the books in which the author has selected just some of them to present and analyze in this paper. The Buddha himself, like all previous Buddhas, performs the twin miracle (<em>yamakapāṭihāriya</em>). Including his disciples who are qualified to perform miracles in different times and places. Moreover, non-Buddhist ascetics were also able to demonstrate these magics through the form of pseudo sciences (<em>tiracch</em><em>ā</em><em>navijj</em><em>ā</em>). It is worth noting that the Buddha laid down the Discipline to not allow monks to perform any miracles. What was the true reason? It is a great challenge for Buddhists to find the answers.</p> Sanu Mahatthanadull Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of International Buddhist Studies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2024-06-07 2024-06-07 15 2 1 14 Negotiating the Restoration of a Buddhist Temple in Loei Province: A Focus on Cultural Capital https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs/article/view/4049 <p>Despite being a predominantly Buddhist country, Thailand faces an issue with abandoned temples, which have increasingly become a burden for the National Office of Buddhism to maintain. This situation also underscores the absence of monks in certain areas despite the need of local communities for their Buddhist ceremonies and merit-making. Previous attempts to address this problem have not been very successful, which highlighted the need for alternative solutions. This qualitative study investigates the successful implementation of a temple restoration project in Loei Province, which is an interesting case due to its strategic cultural adaptation in design and the fact that it was led by a group of monks without traditional sources of authority, such as monastic seniority or ecclesiastical titles. Despite lacking these traditional forms of authority, the monks were able to leverage their negotiation skills to secure community support and execute the project. Through non-participant observation and in-depth interviews with various stakeholders, including the team of four Buddhist monks leading the restoration project, monastic authorities, government representatives, community leaders, and lay participants in an ordination ceremony, the case was studied and analyzed using Michael Benoliel's framework of negotiation capitals, which provides a holistic approach to understanding efforts of negotiators. The findings revealed that the temple restoration project could be understood as a negotiation strategy, with the monks strategically utilizing their cultural capital to systematically design a project that resonated with the community and garnered widespread support.</p> Phonphat Permpitayangkura Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of International Buddhist Studies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2024-07-26 2024-07-26 15 2 15 31 Stories of Remarkable Empowering: Some Reflections on the Therīgāthā https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs/article/view/3532 <p>The role and place of women within the earliest form of Buddhism have been questioned and analyzed by scholars frequently. In this paper, this subject will be revisited in the light of the <em>Therīgāthā </em>(a part of the Pali Canon), a text attributed to women who had chosen the path of Buddhist renunciation. Women are mentioned occasionally in the Pali Canon in texts other than the <em>Therīgāthā</em>, but comprehending their exact status remains challenging. The <em>Therīgāthā</em>, with its 522 verses set within 73 poems, sets a different mood and opens new paths of understanding. This paper will attempt to comprehend the experiences of the women themselves based on their reflections and attitudes as personified within this text. It will particularly demonstrate that these women were self-empowered: they were aware of their circumstances and equipped to deal with the challenges that confronted them. The different ways through which the strength and confidence of the women in directing their lives and initiating change can be envisioned in the <em>Therīgāthā</em> will be exemplified through three key themes that are embodied in the poems. The paper will also compare and contrast briefly the idea of ‘power’ drawn from other texts of the Canon with similar ideas in the <em>Therīgāthā</em>. Finally, some challenges will be assessed and conclusions will be drawn on why the conjecture of ‘remarkable empowering’ may indeed be a truism.</p> Pragati Sahni Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of International Buddhist Studies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2024-08-15 2024-08-15 15 2 32 47 The Transformation of the Manorah Story into Religious Performance: A Study of the Social and Spiritual Roles of the Manorah Master https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs/article/view/3758 <p>This article presents research on the transformation of the Buddhist Manorah story into a work of Southern Thai dance theatre and explores its changing social and spiritual roles. The main objectives are to study the transformation of the Manorah story into religious performance, to study the Manorah master, to study modernity, causes, and changes. The research setting was in Nakorn Si Thammarat and Trang. The research studies the threats of modernity affecting Manorah masters and investigates how Manorah can survive in the modern world in conjunction with Buddhism through different case studies. This qualitative study mainly uses two research models: Descriptive and Explanatory research. The content analysis and data collection are from a review of Jataka’s story and the fieldwork. The findings are that Manorah’s beliefs and practices have been syncretized well with Buddhism. Also, Manorah in related literature, had distinctive characteristics and concrete values from legends. The roles of spirit medium and ritual practices from the Manorah master are at the gate of co-existence and hybridization. Manorah can survive in the modern world within the Buddhist community. The study concludes that traditional Manorah masters can coexist with modernity and maintain the Manorah ceremony in the community. The new generation of Manorah can also be community leaders by maintaining aspects of internal peace.</p> Sudthaporn Ratanakul Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of International Buddhist Studies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2024-09-23 2024-09-23 15 2 48 66 Taixu’s Concept of “Buddhist Minister” in Relation to the Formation and Profession of Buddhist Chaplaincy in the US https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs/article/view/4702 <p>In the early 20th century, Master Taixu proposed the concept of “Buddhist Minister” to provide specific plans for reforming Buddhism in China—enhancing its social recognition and engagement. In his proposal, qualifications for becoming a Buddhist minister were in line with the “Three Stages of Formation,” “Four Levels of Learning,” and “Three Levels of Practicing.” The proposal includes a specific paradigm of “Neo-Buddhology,” that is, applied Buddhology in theory and practice. In the early 21st century, Professor Richard Osmer from Princeton Theological Seminary proposed the practical theological concepts of descriptive-empirical, interpretive, normative, and pragmatic paradigms in response to the extension of Christian church ministry into secular contexts. Under these four tasks of practical theological paradigm, the formation and profession of Buddhist chaplaincy in the US was developed. This article introduces Master Taixu’s concept of a Buddhist Minister. It analyzes the influence of Professor Osmer’s practical theological paradigm in the professional formation of Buddhist chaplaincy. Finally, this article discusses the potential enrichment and advancement of Buddhist chaplaincy in the US using Master Taixu’s applied Buddhological paradigm. Such changes may inspire Buddhist and Christian dialogues with regard to religious/spiritual social services in the US.</p> Guan Zhen Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of International Buddhist Studies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2024-11-14 2024-11-14 15 2 67 87