The Crisis in Thai Buddhism

[buksida]

Found this rather interesting piece in a Burmese magazine ...

The Crisis in Thai Buddhism
If Thai Buddhism has been corrupted and lost its way, as critics are alleging, you would never know it by talking to Mod and her friends, whose devotion keeps them making merit and seeking solace at Wat Tha Mai, one of Bangkok’s scores of Buddhist temples, every weekend.

It’s still morning but the heat in Bangkok is already oppressive. Yet that doesn’t seem to deter large numbers of worshipers from turning up at Wat Tha Mai on their day off from work. The smell of incense and smoke are part of a palpable, chaotic atmosphere as people mill about, determined to donate their way into the good graces of some higher power.

Mod—her nickname means “Ant” in Thai—is typical of the people who come to the temple. An accountant in a prestigious international firm, she has come this morning to make merit so that “things might be better as it had been a rough start to the New Year.”

As Mod darts from one donation box to the next she pauses to slip 100 baht (US $3.35) into a box placed before a statue of the elephant god Ganesha. When pressed on the significance of the Hindu deity in a Buddhist temple, she struggles to place him in a Buddhist context but agrees with her friends nevertheless that he is holy and we should not question such mystical things. Ganesh is actually a central figure in Hinduism who broke off his right tusk to use as a quill to write the Mahabharata and subsequently the Baghavad Gita.

Mod’s experience that morning is emblematic of the admixture that is Thai Buddhism—made up of equal parts animism, Buddhism, Hinduism and plain superstition. But many, including the group known as the Forest Monasteries, lament the state of Thai Buddhism as being corrupt, power hungry and as dirty as the rest of the country. A series of scandals has turned up recently, including senior monks sexually abusing their novices. Many monks have been accused of the commercialization of the faith including fraudulent fund-raising.

The Thai Forest monks are known for their orthodoxy, conservatism and asceticism. They model their practice and lifestyle on those of the Buddha himself and his early disciples, keeping alive the practices of the historical Buddha, who frequently dwelt in forests, both during his spiritual quest and afterwards.

“How can we hope to have a good country when not even the religion is pure?” a member of the group told Asia Sentinel. “Some of what these monasteries are teaching is not even real Buddhism!”

At the central building in the temple where Mod worships, people have been waiting since before dawn to get their time before the abbot. Many have come from far and wide with various requests and ailments. Some pay with whatever meager savings they have for the chance that some miracle might cure their ailing son, daughters, mothers and fathers. Others are willing to drop seven-figure donations to get what they want.

Between accepting donations and chanting ancient Pali incantations that many in the congregation don’t understand, the monks thumb at their cell phones or ask their personal attendants to grab them refreshments.

Corruption within the Thai clergy has not been an uncommon or even recent phenomenon. In 1999, The Associated Press carried a story stating: “At its core, Buddhism is a religion that teaches the renunciation of desire for material comforts is the way to relieve suffering and find the path to wisdom. But instead of shunning material comforts, some senior monks live in plush quarters and drive Mercedes Benzes.”

Blessing public buildings—and even the occasional airplane—by throwing water on them in return for donations is not a part of Forest Monasteries religious practice. It occurs nowhere in the Tipitaka, the sacred Buddhist texts.

While real Buddhism might be a theological debate best reserved for another time, Thailand has caught the global headlines with a few unique Buddhism-related stories. The first came on the heels of the death of Apple mogul Steve Jobs when the Dhammakaya sect made a special television broadcast and claimed they have found his soul and presence in heaven.

They later went on to claim that Jobs had been reincarnated as a “divine being with special knowledge and appreciation for science and arts in some Utopia. In this Utopia he is around 35-40 years old with a head full of hair. He serves a role as a mid-level warrior philosophy and lives in a celestial palace.”

It should be noted that the Dhammakaya sect is one of the fastest growing groups in Thailand and currently holds widespread public appeal. Its supporters number in the hundreds of thousands and it has temples around the country and the world.

The Steve Jobs story is not the only one that has gained international recognition. Every year millions of Thais buy lucky charms and amulets that are supposed to help in their everyday life. One story that garnered international press was the presence of amulets and tattoos blessed by monks, which hold special properties such as rendering the wearer bulletproof.

Many swear by the amulets, with some even claiming to have witnessed such tests first-hands. But when pressed to offer more proof the seller told this writer that it was illegal to try it out on people although he has many eyewitness friends. An independent test a few years ago by a reporter resulted in a very dead chicken with the vendor then claiming it only works on humans.

Regardless, these amulets and tattoos are amazingly profitable with bulletproof ones going for as high as 300,000 baht (around $10,000).

But while the international headlines may focus on the sensational aspects of Thai Buddhism, the local Buddhist supreme council has come under increased scrutiny and criticism after a period of sex and corruption scandals. Under the Buddhist canon, monks are not allowed to engage in sexual relations because it brings with it attachment and desire which leads to suffering.

Local Buddhism has even taken a page out of the Catholic playbook recently with several monks embroiled in legal battles for having abused their novices.

And while many Thais feel disillusioned about the way some of the Sangha, or monastic community, has behaved, many are reluctant to speak out. It is taboo in Thai culture to do so. Mod articulates this point.

“We were taught from a very young age that it is okay to not believe but it is not okay to disrespect. While we may not approve of certain things that monks do, they do not represent our religion as a whole. We are Buddhists and we know what we believe.”

As she makes her way with her friends to the central building where she will queue with countless other people looking to make their fortune through the purification of their karma, that point has never been clearer.


Source: Irrawaddy

Thought: I could never really get over the image of a monk with an iPhone.

[Terry]

I can never get over the number of ATMs at Wat Huay Monkol either......................................

[STEVE G]

Buddhist monk pictured on private jet has assets frozen
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... rozen.html

"AMLO ordered that 16 bank accounts held by the monk and his associates be frozen after discovering that typical daily transactions involved around 200 million Baht (£4 million). 10 of the accounts are held in the abbot's name."

[Arlo]

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/18/world ... t-set-monk


(CNN) -- To most of us, golden Aviator sunglasses, sleek wireless headphones, a Louis Vuitton bag and a private jet flight better suit the life of a Hollywood star than a holy Buddhist ascetic.

Yet Thailand's so-called "jet-set monk," 34-year old Luang Pu Nenkham, who claimed to be the reincarnation of a respected monk who lived several decades ago, is accused of ignoring his Buddhist vows of celibacy and a simple, moral living, as evidenced in video that showed up on youtube about two months ago. Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI), a division of the Ministry of Justice, tells CNN it believes the video was shot by one of the monks on the plane, passed around and posted anonymously.

Thai authorities, in an investigation, uncovered a mind-boggling list of assets that they say a man sworn to austerity should not possess.

Nenkham, now stripped of his religious leadership, owned at least 83 automobiles and a list of properties that include plots of land, houses and condominiums, according to the DSI. Thai authorities believe more properties have yet to be accounted.

Authorities also estimate at least 300 million baht, or nearly $10 million, have disappeared from Nenkham's bank accounts in recent days. Donations over the past decade, from poor supporters as well as rich backers, had helped Nenkham amass his total wealth, according to investigators.

On Wednesday, Thai authorities took action issuing a arrest warrant for the former holy man.

Nenkham, who also goes by the name Weerapol Sukpol, now faces charges of violating Thailand's computer crime act by posting "deceitful information," having sex with a minor and rape, authorities say. A female plaintiff who claimed Nenkham had sex with her when she was 14 years old submitted a request for a DNA test for her 11-year old son, says Tharit Pengdit, Director General of the Department of Special Investigation. They are still awaiting results. Nenkham's bank accounts also continue to be under investigation because of an unusually large amount of bank transactions, add Thai authorities.

Nenkham is now believed to be in the United States and in California, according to an "intelligent source," says DSI. The fugitive owns a Buddhist retreat some 75 miles south of Los Angeles.

We have been unable to reach Nenkham for comment. On Thursday, CNN went to where the monk is believed to be staying. While they offered no official statement, one resident monk said Nenkham had not been seen at the retreat in three months. A second monk said Nenkham had not visited for a year.

As the manhunt for the fugitive monk gathers steam, Thailand's Department of Special Investigations tells CNN it has requested 114 financial institutions, land and transport departments to seize all of his assets. Thai authorities have also requested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to revoke Nenkham's visa, DSI's Pengdit told CNN, and will ask U.S. authorities to arrest and remand him into Thai custody.

[Dannie Boy]

Hopefully he will get everything he deserves!!

[Takiap]

I seriously doubt he is the only rogue one going about. If people were to start digging, I'm sure a lot of dirt would be dug up, but it's not likely to happen any time soon, and for a host of reasons.

[bsdk1960]

I seriously doubt he is the only rogue one going about. If people were to start digging, I'm sure a lot of dirt would be dug up, but it's not likely to happen any time soon, and for a host of reasons.

and I don't think the thai society could cope with it since it's such a big part of their life and belives that it would destroy millions of peoples lives.

[Somchai Turdsak]

it would destroy millions of peoples lives.

Thais are very good at truth avoidance when necessary. Any uncomfortable aspect of life can conveniently be softened or eliminated by simply believing an alternate truth, otherwise known as a fantasy. They slip seamlessly between reality and fantasy as the situation dictates.

Truth is an abstract term anyway, so why put so much faith in it?

[usual suspect]

The temple in Issan that my wife attends (in the next village to hers) has a monk there who on see me arrive in my 7yr-old Ford Ranger asked if he night just have a quick drive in it..?
After a 5 minute drive up the road & back he was thankful & blessed me with some holy water (as they do).
1 month later he's the owner of a brand new Isuzu pick-up! (waiting time for the Ford was to long). He also got one of those 'tuk-tuk' farm trucks within the month..that's for the temple tho'.
But these vehicles, the land for the temple, the building (& all it's work) has come from the poor farmer's donations...& in the surrounding villages they are POOR farmers.
But the Thais will never stop giving money!..it's their way.
Another example (closer to HH) Over at Nong Plub (West of HH) there was a big ceremony to witness the fitting of the head-gear on the very top of the statue the new temple has built of the Lord Buddha.
My Mrs could not believe how much money & gold (donated by business men) was being stuffed inside this 'top-section' (the pointy-bit) before a big telescopic crane (assisted by the monk on his microphone) hauled the item right up to it's lofty perch atop of the Buddha's head.
Of course each hefty donation was broadcast to the masses there,& names named.
BUT, when I cycled by there a month ago the head of that statue was on the ground (& the wealth inside). So my guess is that as soon as the people had left the the temple that day..the order was given to the crane driver to bring that cache of dosh back from the head up there, & back into the loving, caring, tender bank accounts of the waiting monks at ground level.. T.I.T.

[bsdk1960]

yes, it's a shame how every religion takes adventage of the people and especially the poor ones.

[Takiap]

Yes, they do take advantage, but how is it that some people realize that while others don't. I can't put it down to education because I was brought up to respect religions. Obviously something changed along the way, because these days I couldn't care less.


I remember being up in Isaan several years ago and the extended family and countless others were getting ready to go and see a very special monk. After asking a few questions, I stated very clearly that I would not be see dead in his company. Nonetheless, when we got there.........well let's just say he was indeed living in the jungle/bush, but what a life of luxury. Certainly more material comforts than I have, not to mention that he had electric despite the fact that he was miles away from the nearest home. Thankfully, the last I heard was that he was in prison.

I have nothing against any religion, but a con artist is a con artist, no matter how he/she is dressed.....for further clarification, please see my signature.

[turtle2012]

Have there been any complusions about this locally in Hua Hin after the latest news reports?