The “Kammatthan Buddhist Tradition” of Mainland Southeast Asia: Where Do We Stand?

This review article explores the distinctive Tai–Khmer Buddhist tradition of meditation, so-called kammaṭṭhān(a) or yogāvacar(a) tradition in recent literature, initially identified by T.W. Rhys Davids in the late 19th century. French scholars like F. Bizot and British scholar K. Crosby have continued to study this tradition, revealing its unique practices and vernacular literature in mainland Southeast Asia. Crosby’s recent work, Esoteric Theravada: The Story of the Forgotten Meditation Tradition of Southeast Asia (2020), is critically examined in this study. The analysis assesses her new findings, discusses her sources, and offers reflections to enhance understanding within contemporary Buddhist studies.