About Dr Martin Seeger

From 1997-2000 Dr Seeger was ordained as a Buddhist monk in northern Thailand and subsequently earned his MA and doctorate in Thai Studies at the University of Hamburg. Much of his research focuses on the life and work of the Thai Buddhist thinkers Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (1906-1993) and Phra Payutto (b.1939). He has also done research on development monks in the northeastern region of Thailand and continues to work on "female saints in Thai Buddhism". At the moment, he works on a research project with the title "Hagiographical Processes and Religious Symbolism in Modern Thai Buddhism".

Key Publications and Activities

Publications

• "Thai Buddhist Studies and the Authority of the Pali Canon" (revised version) (2011), in: Volker Grabowsky (ed.), Southeast Asian Historiography: Unravelling the Myths: Essays in Honour of Barend Jan Terwiel, Bangkok: River Books, pp. 128-141.
• “Foreword” [khamnam], in: Phra Brahmagunabhorn (P.A. Payutto) (2543 [2010]), “Clarifying the Questions of Dr Martin Seeger: The Buddha’s Vinaya and Bhikkhunis” [top doktoe matin phutthawinai thueng phiksuni], Bangkok: Samlada. [4 pages]
• "'Against the Stream': the Thai female Buddhist saint Mae Chi Kaew Sianglam (1901-1991)", in: South East Asia Research, Volume 18, Number 3, September 2010, pp. 555-595(41).
• "Theravada Buddhism and Human Rights: Perspectives from Thai Buddhism" (2010), in: Carmen Meinert and Hans-Bernd Zöllner (eds.), Buddhist Approaches to Human Rights: Dissonances and Resonances, Bielefeld: transcript Publishers (Serie Globaler Humanismus), pp. 63-92.[http://www.transcript-verlag.de/ts1263/ts1263.php]
• "The Changing Roles of Thai Buddhist Women: Obscuring Identities and Increasing Charisma", in: Religion Compass, 3 (2009), pp. 806-822. [http://www.blackwell-compass.com/subject/religion/article_view?parent=section&last_results=section%3Dreco-buddhism&sortby=date&section=reco-buddhism&browse_id=reco_articles_bpl165&article_id=reco_articles_bpl165].
• "Phra Payutto and Debates on 'On the Very Idea of the Pali Canon’ in Thai Buddhism", in: Buddhist Studies Review, 26 (2009), pp. 1-31. [http://www.equinoxjournals.com/ojs/index.php/BSR/article/view/6374]
• "The Relocalization of Buddhism in Thailand", in: Journal of Buddhist Ethics, 29 (2008), pp. 78-176 (together with Michael J G Parnwell). [http://www.buddhistethics.org/15/parnwell-seeger-article.html]
• "The Bhikkhuni-Ordination Controversy in Thailand", in: Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, 29 (2006 [2008]), pp. 155-183.
• "The Revival of the Theravada Nun Order in Thailand: Scriptural Authority and Cultural Resistance", in: Proceedings of First International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha: Bhikshuni Vinaya and Ordination Lineages, University of Hamburg, July 18-20, 2007, 13 pages.
• "khwamthathai lae kanphatthana kanrian kanson phasa thai nai thana phasa tang prathet" [The Challenges and Development of Learning and Teaching Thai as a Foreign Language], in: Journal of Human Sciences (Chiang Mai University), 8 (2007), pp. 37-45.
• "Thai Buddhist studies and the authority of the Pali Canon", in: Contemporary Buddhism, 8 (2007), pp. 1 - 18.
• "Die thailändische Wat Phra Thammakai-Bewegung" in: Klaus-Dieter Mathes and Harald Freese (eds.), Buddhismus in Geschichte und Gegenwart: Erneuerungsbewegungen,  Vol. XI (2006), Hamburg: Asien-Afrika Institut (Universität Hamburg), pp. 121-139.
• "How long is a Lifetime? Buddhadasa's and Phra Payutto's Interpretations of paticcasamuppada in Comparison", in: Buddhist Studies Review 22 (2005), pp. 107-30.
• Phra Dhammapitaka und die Pali-Kanon-Debatte in Thailand: Ein Beitrag zur Untersuchung des modernen Buddhismus [Phra Dhammapitaka and the Pali Canon Debate in Thailand: A Contribution to the Study of Modern Buddhism], 2005, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Hamburg - Carl von Ossietzky, Hamburg.[http://www.sub.uni-hamburg.de/opus/volltexte/2005/2342/]

Translations

Bhikkhu P.A. Payutto (2554), A Brief Introduction to the Buddha-Dhamma, translated and edited by Bhikkhu Nirodho and Martin Seeger, Bangkok: Phli-dhamm Publishing.

Book Reviews

Prapod Assavavirulhakarn, The Ascendancy of Theravāda Buddhism in Southeast Asia, Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai, xix + 272 pp. (reviewed in: South East Asia Research, Volume 19, Number 3, September 2011, pp. 664-669(6))

Lectures, Seminars and Other Activities

• "satri kap kanpatibat tham nai sangkhom thai yuk mai" [Women and Buddhist Practice in Modern Thai Society], lecture to PhD students, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Monastic University, Wat Mahathat, Bangkok, 05 August 2011.
• "Reversal of Female Power, Transcendentality, Supernaturality and Gender in Thai Buddhism: Hagiographies and Veneration of Thai Buddhist Female Saints", The 11th International Conference on Thai Studies, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 27 July 2011.
• "'Culture Shock' and Development of Cultural Awareness in the Study of Thailand", seminars for international students (together with Adcharawan Seeger), Assumption University (Suvarnabhumi Campus), 11 July 2011.
  
• "Transitions and Changes of Ideas and Images of Nature in Thai Buddhism", Symposium 'Climate Change in India and Southeast Asia: How are Local Cultures Coping?', Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI) Essen, 17 June 2011.
  
• "Gender, Bodily Relics and Amulets: a Comparative Study of Two Female Saints of Modern Thai Buddhism", Guest Speaker; Concluding Address, 'Women and Religion: Doctrinal, Historical and Social Perspectives': 'A BIRTHA Post-Graduate Conference', Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Bristol, 20 November 2010.
• "kansueksa phra phutthasatsana therawat khong nakwichakan chao tawan tok" [The Western Academic Study of Theravada Buddhism],  MA Seminar, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Monastic University, Wat Mahathat, Bangkok, 20 July 2010.
• "'Against the Stream': the Thai Female Buddhist Saint Maechi Kaeu Sianglam (1901-1991)" Buddhist Forum, SOAS, 26 March 2010.
• "Sainthood and Gender in Thai Buddhism", MA in Thai Studies/Public Lecture, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 21 November 2009.
• "Female Saints in Thai Buddhism", Bachelor of Arts Programme in Buddhism, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Monastic University, Wang Noi, Ayutthaya, 16 November 2009.
• "Western Approaches to the Study of (Theravada) Buddhism: A Historical Overview", MA Seminar, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Monastic University, Wang Noi, Ayutthaya, 9-11 November 2009.
• "Female saints in Thai Buddhism", 'Cultuur in Perspectief' (MA), Department of Languages and Cultures of South and East Asia, Ghent University, 25 March 2009.
• "Female saints in Thai Buddhism: (Re-)Searching the female in Buddhist hagiography", Ghent Centre for Buddhist Studies, 24 March 2009
• "Female Saints in Thai Buddhism", 'Approaches to Researching Religion' Seminar, Leeds Social Sciences Institute (LSSI), 5 March 2009.
• "Weibliche Heilige im thailändischen Buddhismus", Asia-Africa Institute, University of Hamburg, 29 January 2009.
• "Theravada and Human Rights: Perspectives from Thai Buddhism", International Symposium 'Buddhism and Human Rights: Theory - Practice - Outlook', Asien-Afrika-Institut, University of Hamburg, 21 November 2008. [http://www.buddhismuskunde.uni-hamburg.de/fileadmin/pdf/Sammel1Panel1engl.pdf]
• "Authority, Identity and Pluralism in Theravada: 'On the Very Idea of the Pali canon' in Thai Buddhism’", BASR Annual Conference with the UKABS Annual Conference, St John University, York, 2 September 2008.
• "The Changing Roles of Women in Thai Buddhism", 'Cultuur in Perspectief' (MA), Department of Languages and Cultures of South and East Asia, Ghent University, 6 May 2008.
• "The Revival of the Theravada Nun Order in Thailand: Scriptural Authority and Cultural Resistance", First International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha - Bhikshuni Vinaya and Ordination Lineages, University of Hamburg, 19 July 2007 [Dr Seeger's Abstract: http://www.congress-on-buddhist-women.org/index.php?id=59; Congress homepage: http://www.congress-on-buddhist-women.org]
• "khwamthathai lae kanphatthana kanrian kanson phasa thai nai thana phasa tang prathet" [The Challenges and Development of Learning and Teaching Thai as a Foreign Language]; Guest Speaker for the 'Training Project: Teaching Thai on an Advanced Level to Foreign Students', Chiang Mai University, 20 March 2007
• "New Approaches in Thai Buddhist Studies and the Authority of the Pali Canon", "Breaking the Bonds": Unravelling the Myths of Southeast Asian Historiography, Symposium in honour of Professor Baas Terwiel, Asia-Africa Institute, University of Hamburg, 25 November 2006
• "Die thailändische Wat Phra Thammakai-Bewegung", Buddhismus in Geschichte und Gegenwart, Weiterbildendes Studium, University of Hamburg, 21  December 2005.
• "The Bhikkhuni Ordination Controversy in Thailand", Postgraduate Seminar Programme, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Bristol, 8 November 2005.
• "Phutthasatsana kap lokaphiwat" [Buddhism and Globalization] Sripatum University, May 2004.
• "Monastic Life and Meditation Practice in Theravada-Buddhism" (in German), Department of Ethnology, University of Freiburg, January 2004.

Conference Organisation

United Kingdom Association for Buddhist Studies Conference 2010 "Historiography, Adaptation and Contemporary Practice", University of Leeds, 6-7 July 2010 (Principal Conference Organiser)

Funded Research Projects

• ASEASUK Research Committee on South East Asian Studies, July 2010 - June 2011, 'Thai Maechis and Access to Higher Monastic Education in Thailand' (£ 2,300)
• ASEASUK Research Committee on South East Asian Studies, May 2008 - January 2009, 'Female Saints in Thai Buddhism' (£ 3,100)
• British Academy, 2007, 'The Revival of the Theravada Nun Order in Thailand: Scriptural Authority and Cultural Resistance' (£ 2,330)
• Economic and Social Research Council, July 2005 - February 2006 (jointly with Dr Michael J G Parnwell), 'The Buddhistic Underpinnings of Neo-Localism in North-East Thailand' (£8,600)
• PhD Scholarship from the University of Hamburg, April 2002 - March 2004, 'Phra Dhammapitaka und die Pali-Kanon-Debatte in Thailand'
• Supplementary research scholarship granted by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), July 2002 - October 2002, 'Phra Dhammapitaka und die Pali-Kanon-Debatte in Thailand'

Visiting Fellowships

• Visiting Fellow, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Monastic University, Wat Mahathat, Bangkok, July to August 2011
  
• Visiting Professor, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Monastic University, Wat Mahathat, Bangkok, July to August 2010.
• Visiting Professor, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Monastic University, Wang Noi, Ayutthaya, October to December 2009.

Awards

"Friends of Thailand" Award 2010 for his outstanding 'academic contributions to creating awareness of Thailand'

Grant