A Study and Analysis of the Major Educational Philosophies of Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu and Somdej Phra Buddhakosajarn (P.A. Payutto)

Abstract

This article presents a philosophical analysis of the key educational concepts of Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu and Somdej Phra Buddhakosajarn (P.A. Payutto), both of whom are highly influential figures in Thai Buddhist education. The study reveals that, although their approaches, language, and specific principles differ, they share a common emphasis on the central role of morality and ethics in education. Both thinkers critique the current trajectory of the Thai education system, which increasingly neglects moral cultivation in favor of technological advancement and competition modeled after Western systems. They argue that such a direction risk eroding the spiritual and ethical foundations of society. Instead, they advocate for an education that nurtures the mind and contributes to the sustainable resolution of social problems, rather than merely equipping individuals to survive in a modern, competitive world.