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Published on January 12, 2008

The discussion was focused on the pros and cons on the ban, with some participants insisting the contents were useful and contributed to the understanding of the Thai monarchy.

Speakers, including Annette Hamilton of University of New South Wales, Craig Reynolds of the Australian National Univer-sity, Kobkua Suwannathat-Pian of Universiti Pererguruan Sultan Idris/UPSI, and historian Nidhi Eoseewong, discussed the book at the conference.

Supporting the idea of translating the book into Thai, Reynolds said that such a move was not a "big deal".

At least six observers were sent from the authorities to monitor the panel - one of the three discussion panels on the Thai monarchy.

One speaker admitted after the discussion that due to the sensitivity of the topic, some issues were neither explained nor discussed publicly at the conference.

Reflecting on "The Future of Buddhism in Thailand", Dr Donald K Swearer, a visiting professor of Buddhist Studies and director of the Centre for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University, said: "Thai Buddhism, like the nation-state and Thai society more generally, faces the challenge of an increasingly diverse, globalised and fragmented world."

With the rise of Internet use, there are more than 2,000 Thai Buddhist sites where you can just plug in a PC and get everything you need, he said.

Nissara Horayangura, an independent researcher at Thai Studies Programme of Chulalongkorn University, presented a paper on "Living the Dhamma" and said that more lay people had begun practising meditation - especially among the urban, educated, middle-upper class - not only for mundane happiness but for the liberation from suffering or nibbhana (enlightenment).

Aree Chaisatien,

Pravit Rojanaphruk,

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation