Thailand tries to suppress ‘terrorism’ that tarnishes Buddhism

The Thai government last week announced that it would apply a more proactive strategy to handle scandals and scandals related to the country’s monks and clergy, before they become pressing public issues. essay.

This is considered a strong change in Thailand to protect Buddhism from scandals. In the past, Thailand’s National Office of Buddhism (NOB) often only handled problems after they emerged and caused discontent among the people.

“From now on, NOB will proactively look for signs of trouble related to the clergy and handle them before they become more serious,” said Chousak Sirinil, the Prime Minister’s Office official in charge of NOB, said.

Mr. Chousak added that authorities will increase efforts to crack down on illegal activities in temples, such as gambling and drug addiction, and prevent abuse of places of worship for illegal purposes. The government will also apply stricter measures to handle violations of Buddhist teachings, including monks’ violations such as breaking precepts or abusing social networks.

The move was taken by Thai officials after public opinion in the country was shocked by the police searching and discovering a total of 73 bodies at two meditation facilities in Pho Thale and Bang Mun Nak districts, both in Phichit province. , the north of the country. These two meditation facilities are both related to monk Saifon Phandito, who is being questioned to clarify the origin of the bodies.

Monk Saifon Phandito confirmed that the bodies belonged to followers and relatives who had agreed to let the monks keep the bodies for meditation. However, the method of meditation with corpses still causes a lot of controversy in public opinion because it may violate legal regulations on burial and cremation of the dead.

Faith in Buddhism in Thailand has recently declined somewhat following a series of scandals involving monks. Last year, after there was information about a sex scandal involving the famous monk Phra Khom, Thai police raided and searched the Wat Pa Thammakhiri temple led by him and were shocked by what they discovered. Okay.

At the temple nestled among the hills on the outskirts of Bangkok, officials found many suitcases full of cash, gold bars buried on the hillside, and documents recording transfers totaling $2.2 million. comes the account of monk Phra Khom’s sister.

Earlier this year, Thailand sentenced Phra Khom to 468 years in prison. Six other monks involved in this scandal were also sentenced.

The case shocked the whole country, but this is not the first time Thailand has discovered a “cow tiger”. Almost every week, authorities in this country receive reports about monks possessing drugs, driving drunk, engaging in corruption, committing acts of violence, even rape and murder.

Not to mention smaller scandals, such as the case of young monk Phra Kato, who was very famous on social networks because of his handsome appearance, being discovered having sex with a model in early 2022. Phra Kato was kicked out. temple, then was accused of “stealing” the donation money to pay hush money for his mistress, something he denied.

When such news became familiar, faith in the clergy was seriously dented. This is considered a serious issue in Thailand, a country where 90% of the population follows Buddhism and 280,000 monks receive special respect.

In an interview in August 2023, Phra Paisal Visalo, abbot at one of the country’s most respected monasteries in Chaiyaphum province, worried about how many of these monks kept the precepts.

“There are a lot of scandals. I think Thai Buddhism today, especially among monks, is in a crisis of faith. If there is no urgent reform of religious organizations, I’m afraid Buddhism In Thailand there is no future,” Mr. Visalo said.

Scandals in temples do not just stop at isolated cases. Thailand has discovered cases of entire temples being corrupted, seriously affecting local believers and Buddhists.

In November 2022, all 4 monks, including the abbot, at a pagoda in Phetchabun province were discovered positive for methamphetamine, forced to return to secular life and go to rehab. The temple was empty, there were no monks left for people to make offerings to, so monks from other places had to be invited to perform the ceremony.

A year earlier, all four monks, including the abbot, at a pagoda in Chumphon province were also arrested when authorities conducted a drug raid. Police found meth and drug paraphernalia in the monks’ bedrooms.

“It’s unimaginable that all the monks in a temple are addicted to drugs. When the story broke out, people felt their faith was betrayed,” said Terdsak Pudwanna, the local village chief.

Villagers have deposited their loved ones’ ashes at the stupa in the temple grounds for generations. The police searched the temple when Ladawan, a local resident, was holding his father’s funeral here. “I feel sad, extremely sad, because the stupa is the resting place of our ancestors,” she said.

Concerns about the “shaming” situation in Thailand began in the 1990s, when the country was shaken by sexual allegations against the famous monk Phra Yantra Amaro Bhikku.

A decade later, monk Wirapol Sukphol caused public outrage after a video of him sitting on a private plane, carrying a designer bag, and counting wads of money spread on YouTube. Sukphol was later convicted of money laundering and sexual abuse.

Abbot Phra Paisal Visalo is concerned that many Thai monks are falling into the consumer culture around them. “They used to guide Buddhists to find inner peace, but now they follow Buddhists on the path to getting rich,” he criticized.

Thailand’s lack of transparency in temple management and auditing is considered one of the reasons why “tiger monks” take advantage of religion for personal gain.

Donations from about 43,000 temples in Thailand are estimated to amount to 4 billion USD per year, not to mention 170 million USD in support from the government, but monitoring and auditing this cash flow is almost impossible.

In the case of Wat Pa Thammakhiri on the outskirts of Bangkok, monk Phra Khom did not establish a financial board or appoint a financial manager, in order to “manipulate funds and merit in large quantities without no one knows”.

Phra Khom’s large-scale embezzlement was only exposed when this monk made an elementary mistake. Phra Khom called and instructed the disciples in the temple to hide the embezzled assets while being questioned in the police station. Authorities rushed into the temple soon after and were shocked by what they witnessed.

By law, temples in Thailand must disclose their annual accounts to the NOB, but not all temples comply, admitted NOB leader Intaporn Jan-Iaem.

The Supreme Sangha Council of Thailand (SSC) is the highest authority on all religious matters in the country’s sangha. NOB has little authority to conduct its own investigations, and that’s something Intaporn’s leadership wants to change.

“If the monks commit a crime, NOB can only send information and evidence to senior monks of the SSC for review. The investigation process is extremely slow,” he said. “NOB should have the right to summon monks for questioning immediately, without waiting for any council.”

Those who support the status quo argue that the current system is good enough to control “terrorism”, as long as the abbots are willing to enforce the sangha law.

Abbot Phra Paisal Visalo disagreed, saying that the Buddhist management system in Thailand was too old.

“Monks breaking the precepts and breaking the law are not punished, so monks committing crimes have become common. Thailand needs a comprehensive reform. Some Buddhist teachings have been forgotten, especially is true happiness within each person, which goes beyond material joy. This needs to be restored and emphasized in the reform focus,” the monk said.

In the reform effort, Chousak, an official in the Prime Minister’s Office overseeing NOB, said officials will closely monitor and handle monks preaching with distorted commandments and teachings.

“Those who disguise themselves as monks to break the law will face legal consequences, while genuine monks who are dedicated to their vows when practicing and behave according to Buddhist teachings will be better protected.” , Chousak asserted.