The Utility of the Engaged Spirituality Framework: Insights from a Thai Buddhist Monk’s Social Aid Projects

Abstract

Engaged Buddhism, with its ethico-rational emphasis, does not always fully explain the complexity of Buddhist social engagement. The case of Buddhist monk Phra Phaisanprachathorn (Phobchok Tissawangso) from northern Thailand illustrates the utility of the engaged spirituality framework in understanding seemingly idiosyncratic cases that deviate from this emphasis. Phra Phaisanprachathorn has initiated extensive social aid projects, including a shelter for the homeless, a food kitchen, and a hospital, driven by his spiritual motivation. This qualitative study analyzed the sources of his spirituality and the means to sustain them using the engaged spirituality framework developed by Stanczak. Through in-depth interviews and immersive observation, the study revealed that Phra Phaisanprachathorn’s spirituality is rooted in a transcendent experience of connection with the Guanyin Bodhisattva and his moral virtue of compassion. These sources are maintained through spontaneous connection, daily practices, and eclectic improvisation. The findings confirm the value of the engaged spirituality framework in understanding other such cases and highlight the importance of transcendent spiritual experiences in Buddhist social engagement. Furthermore, a new category is introduced into the framework and thereby extends its scope.