TRANSNATIONAL NETWORK OF THE SHAN SANGHA: A CASE STUDY OF PHRA KHAMMAI

Abstract

In this globalized world, transnational migration is a common phenomenon, which has been facilitated by the advance of technology in transportation and communication. Buddhist monks are among migrants who travel across national borders to further their Buddhist studies and to set up Buddhist centers with the purpose of serving people in different parts of the world. As a case study, this paper has chosen to investigate a Buddhist transmigrant monk, Phra Khammai, who teaches Buddhism (dhammatuta) internationally as a Shan educationist. This paper seeks to present Phra Khammai, also widely known as Venerable Dhammasami, in the way he has formed a Sangha network across national/ethnic/sectarian boundaries. This paper demonstrates how the network has been expanding as new connections have been made with new groups of people. These connections are made via interpersonal relations with many other groups, which bear different identities and goals. As a result, this new expanding network has become increasingly diverse and dynamic.