02/11/2025
Living the Handbook of Mankind: A Layperson’s Journey from Boardroom to Bodhi with Dr.Nattavut Kulnides
Monday 03 November 2025 at Baan Aree Foundation, Bangkok: 18.30-20.00 hrs.
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Nattavut Kulnides for an evening of sharing and reflection on November 3rd, 2025 at Baan Aree, the beautiful location so generously made available to us by the Baan Aree Foundation.
Is a path to enlightenment only for monks? Can those of us navigating careers, families, and worldly responsibilities also walk the path to liberation? Join us for an intimate conversation exploring these questions through the lens of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's beloved "Handbook for Mankind"—a book that has profoundly shaped the speaker's three-decade journey as a lay practitioner.
Dr. Nattavut will share a practical framework for living Buddhism at three levels:
1: Living happily with society's moral code—cultivating contentment, ethical conduct, and a peaceful mind in daily life
2: Living happily through mindfulness—developing concentration and awareness that guides our choices and actions moment by moment
3: Walking the Noble Path—pursuing the samma (right) path toward enlightenment while still fulfilling our worldly responsibilities
This is not a traditional Dhamma talk from a teacher, but rather a candid sharing from a fellow traveler on the path—complete with struggles, doubts, and discoveries. As someone who balances executive leadership with spiritual practice, family life with meditation retreats, Dr. Nattavut offers a rare perspective on what it means to live the Handbook's teachings in the complexity of modern life.
Whether you're a beginner curious about Buddhism, an experienced practitioner seeking inspiration, or someone wrestling with how to integrate spiritual practice into a busy life, this session invites you into a conversation among friends. Bring your questions, your skepticism, and your aspirations.
Everyone is welcome, from beginners to experienced meditators. We meet to support and encourage each other in our practice.
Programme:
6:00 pm Baan Aree opens
6:30 pm Sharing: "Living the Handbook of Mankind"
7:20 pm Brief guided meditation
7:30 pm Q&A and open discussion
7:50 pm Session ends
8:00 pm Baan Aree closes
Baan Aree is a Thai Buddhist Center, please wear something that is comfortable to sit in, and avoid tight-fitting clothes, shorts, sleeveless tops, and short skirts. As Thailand is mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother, the Thai government asked people to cooperate in wearing black or non-vibrant tones for a period of 90 days, if possible.
There may not be sufficient drinking water on site, therefore you may bring your own water in a closed container. No other food/drinks are allowed in the main room.
As is usual with Buddhist teachings, there is no charge for this event. However, the Little Bangkok Sangha follows the Buddhist custom of Dana (generosity). The teachings and the venue are offered as an act of generosity, and those receiving them can, if they wish, reciprocate by making donations. These go towards the teacher’s and venue’s costs. Boxes for Dana will be provided.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Nattavut Kulnides walks an extraordinary path between two worlds. As CEO of a management consultancy and Executive Coach to Fortune 100 companies, he works with institutions like the IMD Business School in Switzerland. Yet he has also ordained twice in the Theravada tradition—in 1994 under His Holiness the late Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, and for an entire Vassa (Rains Retreat) in 2010 under Phra Ajarn Nuanchan Kittipanyo (Phra Khru Vinaithorn), a recognized Vipassana Master.
For three decades, Dr. Nattavut has practiced alongside his responsibilities as an executive, husband, and father—making his life a living experiment in a profound question: Can laypeople fully engaged in worldly duties also walk the path to enlightenment? Deeply influenced by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's "Handbook of Humankind," he serves as a volunteer facilitator at Suan Mokkh Bangkok, where he has guided over 300 executives through mindfulness training.
With a certificate in Applied Neuroscience and Psychology from King's College London and a Doctorate Degree in Innovation from the University of Manchester, Dr. Nattavut is frequently invited as a guest speaker on mindfulness and modern Buddhism, bringing a unique perspective: that of a practitioner who has chosen to test the Dhamma's transformative power in the midst of the world, not in retreat from it.
We plan a live broadcast of this talk on our Facebook group and the Baan Aree YouTube channel:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/littlebangkoksangha
https://www.youtube.com//streams
It is also recorded for later viewing.
Please see this map for directions:
https://goo.gl/maps/1FuCuvCtNdPMAL4F9
