Thailand’s popular Buddhist monk and preacher, Phra Maha Sompong Talaputto, of Soi Thong Temple in Bangkok, has been found to be at fault by the Sangha Supreme Council for expressing political opinions, which is deemed inappropriate, PM’s Office Minister Anucha Nakasai said Tuesday.

 

The monk, who is well known for his humorous sermons, with sarcastic political overtones, was also found by the council to have advertised liquid fertilizer on social media.

 

Anucha said that he has instructed the National Office of Buddhism to ask the Sangha Supreme Council to consider a report on social media about Phra Maha Sompong’s recent criticism of the government’s handling of the COVID-19 situation in Thailand.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/well-known-thai-monk-found-at-fault-for-involvement-in-politics/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-05-05

 

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Liars fear the truth

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

was also found by the council to have advertised liquid fertilizer on social media.

Is that some sort of anachronism for the PM department saying he was talking sh.......

If he gets defrocked he can start or join a political party

I dont rememberany official objection to the mad monk who shut down Chaeng Wattana during the PDRC campaign. Could be wrong though.

 

2 minutes ago, nikmar said:

I dont rememberany official objection to the mad monk who shut down Chaeng Wattana during the PDRC campaign. Could be wrong though.

 

Al Monks are equal but some are more equal than others.

Just because he criticizes the Govt on its handling of the Covid, doesn't make his words political.  Just common sense.  

The more people share there opinion about the bad handling of the Covid crisis and vaccinations by this incompetent Government the better. Monks are people too and they may have an opinion. As well as the individual soldiers, policemen, and government workers. If the Government can't handle critics they have to change their policy or step down 

From the article:

Phra Maha Sompong has been a regular critic of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in his own style, via his sermons to his followers or in public fora.

 

I imagine this scenario:

PM: This monk criticizes me and uses jokes! My ego is hurt and I can't sleep at night. Tell the Supreme Boss Monk to shut this one up, or we cut your funding. And then go on our TV and tell the Thai public that this monk is acting totally un-monkish and should not be believed. 

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

If he gets defrocked he can start or join a political party

The orange party?

Instead of monks, I wish they would find MILITARY OFFICERS at fault of being involved in politics.

 

After all, it's not monks who have created Thailand's chronic political mess.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

has been found to be at fault by the Sangha Supreme Council for expressing political opinions, which is deemed inappropriate, PM’s Office Minister Anucha Nakasai said Tuesday.

So are Monks allowed to vote??

Interesting facts that I just learned about Buddhism that might apply here:

 

From The Basics of Buddhism

Quote

The Four Noble Truths comprise the essence of Buddha's teachings, though they leave much left unexplained. They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never met a Thai Buddhist who even heard of the 4 noble truths

thai sangha is sponsored by the state to the tune of 50% of it's budget, don't remember figure, some 5bln.

Some unruled temples don't get anything, so some others can get some 90% from the state - that is clear corruption of religion, but happens everywhere in the world.

the present head of sangha was simply nominated by the king, after a long standoff with the elected one by sangha

Time for a Buddha Isara update?

 

 

3 hours ago, nikmar said:

I dont rememberany official objection to the mad monk who shut down Chaeng Wattana during the PDRC campaign. Could be wrong though.

 

I believe that in 2018 Phra Buddha Isara (aka Issara then and Suvit Thongprasert now) was disrobed in connection with being charged with criminal violation of Section 29 of the 1962 Sangha Act. 

as disrobed, budha issara is still very much politically active, seen publicly collecting money and passing them to his master  

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thai-royalists-hold-rallies-to-counter-young-protesters-clamouring-for-monarchy-reform

The purpose of Taking The Orange is to remove one's self from the secular and to practice a spiritual path unfettered by the distractions of the mundane.

To become a monk, a holy man, and then to involve one's self in the banal quirks and oddities of everyday existence is the antithesis of becoming a monk in the first place.

Want to travel the road of life as an activist?
Then take off the robes.  ????

2 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

Never met a Thai Buddhist who even heard of the 4 noble truths

Then you've either never met a Theravada (Thai) Buddhist, or, you've just broken the fourth precept of laymen in order to spread discontent.  Sad.

6 hours ago, nikmar said:

I dont rememberany official objection to the mad monk who shut down Chaeng Wattana during the PDRC campaign. Could be wrong though.

 

Well that was different because he was supportive of the governments violent campaign against the people.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

........found by the council to have advertised liquid fertilizer on social media.

Liquid fertilizer? Is this a euphemism for BS?

There will be no dissent against us the freely elected government in a democracy.

1 hour ago, connda said:

Then you've either never met a Theravada (Thai) Buddhist, or, you've just broken the fourth precept of laymen in order to spread discontent.  Sad.

Most monks I have met don't know what the 4 noble truths or the 8 fold path are, ignorance posing as knowledge! Try asking your Mrs or the people next door!

The only problem here is that he was on the wrong side. I've done plenty of searching of the history between the government and the monk "high table". Throughout history, the government, usually the king and the Sangha, have worked together. Since Thailand has had a PM in the 30s, the Sangha, have often been behind those parties who are loyal to the king. To say the opposite is true, just goes against anything that has happened in the past. They are no different from any other religion and political head throughout history.

sangha was pretty independend till end of XIX centry, when monarchy was reformed along Bismark's Prussia and czarist Russia, where churches were under strict state control, to boost nationalism and statism (support for the state and for the ruling elite).

gradually it became just part of the ruling elite.

there are temples which are outside sangha, for example all female temples. They can't be ordeined in thailand, so have to travel to india for study and titles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhikkhunī

 

probably some forest monks (dark orange robes) are also outside or on the far edge from the mainstream 

 

10 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

If he gets defrocked he can start or join a political party

the Phra Phosphate party?  - definitely receive a Super following... 

take this over a catholic pedophile priest any day..

Everyone is having a go at them now.

Brilliant. Keep it up

 

On 5/5/2021 at 6:09 AM, scubascuba3 said:

If he gets defrocked he can start or join a political party

Nope. Has to sell some smack first...