A Buddhist Model in Promoting Bioethics Education in Cambodia

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The 8th Asian Bioethics ConferenceBiotechnology,
Culture, and Human Values in Asia and Beyond

• A Buddhist Model in Promoting Bioethics Education
  in Cambodia
• Chanroeun Pa
• Cambodian Centre for Applied Philosophy and
  Ethics
• Cambodian Mekong University
• Email chanroeunkh_at_gmail.com
• 19-23 March 2007
• Century Park Hotel, Bangkok

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Outline of Presentation

• Buddhism in Cambodia
• What is Our Bioethics Education Project
• Who Are Our Target Group?
• What Do We Teach?
• How Do We Teach?
• Lessons Learned From The Project

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1. Buddhism in Cambodia

• Theravada Buddhism, also known as Hinayana has
  become an official state religion since 13th
  century.
• Yet, Cambodia is a pluralistic religious society

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• There are almost 14 million people in Cambodia
  (2006)
• 95 of the population is Buddhist.
• In Cambodia, Buddhism traditionally has played
  very important roles. Pagoda used to be a
  cultural and educational centre. Buddhism becomes
  the way of life of the people

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• Though some impacts of globalization and
  modernization on the lives of Cambodian people,
  Buddhism still continues to be the basis for the
  value system and a part of Cambodian culture.

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Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda
(1926-2007) A revered Cambodian
Buddhist  monk and international peacemaker, died
on Monday, March 12, 2007of natural causes.
Niwano Peace Prize (Japan, 1998) and the Rafto
human rights award (Norway, 1992)
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• 2. What is Our Bioethics Education Project?
• It is a joined project between two Buddhist
  Organizations (Khemarak Students Association and
  World Youth Buddhist Cambodia) and the Cambodian
  Centre for Applied Philosophy and Ethics
• It is an informal or public bioethics education
  which is the combination of Buddhist teaching,
  local knowledge and formal Bioethics
• This training is provided three times a year
• The duration of this training is 8- 12 days

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• The objectives of the project
• - To provide ethical training and Buddhist
  education to the youths and other interested
  people
• - To promote a sense of living in a moral
  community in the minds and actions of the
  people.
• - To raise the public awareness about
  ethical issues related to everyday life and
  science technology

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• 3. Who are our target groups?
• High school students
• General Public (lay people)
• There are around 250 participants (both young
  and old) in each training
• They need to stay in the pagoda for the whole
  training period under the control of the
  trainers (senior monks and nuns)

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• Participants are requested to ordain as a monk
  (for boys) and nun (for girls)

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They need to live their lives as monks and nun
during the training period
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• They need to live their lives as monks and nun
  during the training period

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• 4. What Do We Teach?
• Buddhism
• Dharma
• Meditation
• Introduction to ethics
• Buddhist ethics
• Self-improvement
• Social Justice
• Environmental ethics
• Real-life problem solving (decision-making,
  practical thinking, making judgments, taking
  action)

• Human dignity
• Daily safety
• Prevention and cure of disease
• Smoking, drinking drug abuse
• Solidarity
• Responsibility

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5. How Do We Teach?

• Lecturing
• Sermon
• Discussion
• Negative brain storming
• Participatory approach
• Participation in community related activities
• Testing and evaluating etc.

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6. Lessons Learned From The Project

• Youth learned and reflected well during the
  ordaining and training period
• There are some changes in their behavior and
  everyday practices
• Students should not teach only knowledge, skills,
  but also attitude
• Religion, particularly Buddhism, plays an
  important role in restoring the sense of living
  in a moral community in the minds and actions of
  the people.
• Public Bioethics is an effective mean in
  challenging people to shape their lives in the
  changing world.

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Welcome to Cambodia!
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Thank You!