Calls For Buddhists To Cease Inappropriate Activities In Temples

[Jai Dee]

Khunying Thipawadi calls for Buddhists to ban inappropriate activities in temples

Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister calls for Buddhist people and temples to prevent inappropriate activity or performance in temples. Meanwhile, PM’s Office has prepared to launch the “People Love Temple” Project in the Western Region on March 24th.

PM’s Office Minister Khunying Thipawadi Meksawan (ทิพาวดี เมฆสวรรค์) says the “People Love Temple” Project is aimed to promote significance of temples and increase awareness of Buddhism in Buddhist people. The project will teach them about Buddhist teachings to develop their mind. PM’s Office expects to draw more than 30,000 temples to participate in the project.

PM’s Office has carried out the “People Love Temple” pilot project in Lampang and Khon Kaen provinces. The project has promoted residents to use nearby temples as a venue for arranging religious activities.

Khunying Thipawadi expresses confidence that the “People Love Temple” Project will help strengthen Buddhist people’s mind and encourage Thai people care for one another.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 March 2007

[DFCarlson]

...to prevent inappropriate activity or performance in temples.

What "inappropriate activity or performance" are they talking about?

[ThaiGoon]

...to prevent inappropriate activity or performance in temples.

What "inappropriate activity or performance" are they talking about?

Traditionally we, Thais, use temples for several of our festivities especially in the rural areas. An recently, in these festivities, there have been a lot of obscene shows where girls in skimpy outfits walking around... So I guess the gov't wanna ban all that stuff now.

[Mid]

roll 'em out annually ,

next will be spaghetti straps at Songkran ......................

[Crow Boy]

...to prevent inappropriate activity or performance in temples.

What "inappropriate activity or performance" are they talking about?

Traditionally we, Thais, use temples for several of our festivities especially in the rural areas. An recently, in these festivities, there have been a lot of obscene shows where girls in skimpy outfits walking around... So I guess the gov't wanna ban all that stuff now.

That happened a while back when "she who must not be named" made the point that it was not appropriate - personally I agree. A temple is a place of worship and respect not a variant of a Soi Cowboy stage show. That said most village temples have much wider purposes for celebrations beyond the usual religious. They are places for gathering, without knowing any more detail it is hard and foolish to speculate what is meant. Will it include selling lottery tickets, birds, fish, snacks, drinks etc?

[ThaiGoon]

That happened a while back when "she who must not be named" made the point that it was not appropriate - personally I agree. A temple is a place of worship and respect not a variant of a Soi Cowboy stage show. That said most village temples have much wider purposes for celebrations beyond the usual religious. They are places for gathering, without knowing any more detail it is hard and foolish to speculate what is meant. Will it include selling lottery tickets, birds, fish, snacks, drinks etc?

I guess you can get more clarification on this from a Thai newspaper, but I'm pretty sure that's what Khunying Thipawadi meant.

P.S. Why would selling snacks and drinks..etc be considered inappropriate?

[Crow Boy]

That happened a while back when "she who must not be named" made the point that it was not appropriate - personally I agree. A temple is a place of worship and respect not a variant of a Soi Cowboy stage show. That said most village temples have much wider purposes for celebrations beyond the usual religious. They are places for gathering, without knowing any more detail it is hard and foolish to speculate what is meant. Will it include selling lottery tickets, birds, fish, snacks, drinks etc?

I guess you can get more clarification on this from a Thai newspaper, but I'm pretty sure that's what Khunying Thipawadi meant.

P.S. Why would selling snacks and drinks..etc be considered inappropriate?

selling or exhanging money on temple grounds is not appropriate behaviour. In some of the smaller, especially provincial temples, the abbot will not allow people sell the tribute buckets inside the temples but many do becuase they recycle them and make a split of the money between the seller and the temple.

[ThaiGoon]

I see. All right.

[roblin]

That happened a while back when "she who must not be named" made the point that it was not appropriate - personally I agree. A temple is a place of worship and respect not a variant of a Soi Cowboy stage show. That said most village temples have much wider purposes for celebrations beyond the usual religious. They are places for gathering, without knowing any more detail it is hard and foolish to speculate what is meant. Will it include selling lottery tickets, birds, fish, snacks, drinks etc?

I guess you can get more clarification on this from a Thai newspaper, but I'm pretty sure that's what Khunying Thipawadi meant.

P.S. Why would selling snacks and drinks..etc be considered inappropriate?

selling or exhanging money on temple grounds is not appropriate behaviour. In some of the smaller, especially provincial temples, the abbot will not allow people sell the tribute buckets inside the temples but many do becuase they recycle them and make a split of the money between the seller and the temple.

charing foreigners(except members of all religions(not a typo)) 100B entrance fee is appropriate behaviour for a buddhist temple?

[h90]

...to prevent inappropriate activity or performance in temples.

What "inappropriate activity or performance" are they talking about?

Traditionally we, Thais, use temples for several of our festivities especially in the rural areas. An recently, in these festivities, there have been a lot of obscene shows where girls in skimpy outfits walking around... So I guess the gov't wanna ban all that stuff now.

Most probably you are right. When I read it first I thought she means the monks watching Porno DVDs all the day long, buying the latest high end computers to play games were they kill all people...... Watching soccer with some nice beer....

But I guess as usually these things will be ignored as they can't be.

Another thing might be the monks supporting the army and make celebrations when new weapons arrive.....

[simon43]

I wish with all these projects they would at least use correct English. 'People love temple' is not correct English from where I come from, just as all the similar-sounding projects that are titled along the lines of 'noun' love 'singular noun'.

Just nit-picking...

Simon

[Richard W]

In some of the smaller, especially provincial temples, the abbot will not allow people sell the tribute buckets inside the temples but many do becuase they recycle them and make a split of the money between the seller and the temple.

Don't they do that when they're sold on the other side of the road from the temple?

charing foreigners(except members of all religions(not a typo)) 100B entrance fee is appropriate behaviour for a buddhist temple?

About as appropriate as charging for entrance to a church, as happens in England.

If people treat a religious site as a mere tourist attraction, why not charge them accordingly?

[WaiWai]

I wish with all these projects they would at least use correct English. 'People love temple' is not correct English from where I come from, just as all the similar-sounding projects that are titled along the lines of 'noun' love 'singular noun'.

Wouldn't the title be in Thai, with "people love temple" being just a translation for English language media ?

I rather like it, anyway .

These "shows" sound rather ridiculous. Are they what someone thinks tourists want ?

[wintermute]

I wish with all these projects they would at least use correct English. 'People love temple' is not correct English from where I come from, just as all the similar-sounding projects that are titled along the lines of 'noun' love 'singular noun'.

Just nit-picking...

Simon

Some alternatives: Sing-a-Song Temple. Temple sexy girl leo. Temple yaba fest '07. Sufficiency buddha economy Temple. People love Doraemon and Hello Kitty Temple

[Jai Dee]

Can we please show a little more respect for the Thais and their Buddhist beliefs.

As has already been said, in the rural areas of Thailand in particular, the local temple grounds are often used to celebrate local festivities and special occasions.

Cleaning up their act does not mean making it acceptable to tourists, or charging admittance, it simply refers to removal of the coyote dancers and alcohol consumption that have crept into some of these festivities.