By Natcha Patanasophon

 

Thai internet users took to social media on Monday morning sparked by the recent disrobing of a famous Thai monk to share their grievances with Buddhism and to note on the religion’s decline.

 

Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano was known as a liberal-leaning monk who attracted a huge audience of young people through his social media posts. He became a hit on his Facebook livestream with teachings against the commercialisation of Buddhism.

 

Unlike other Buddhist monks, Phra Maha Paiwan has reached out to young people as he mastered fluency in youth slang and poked fun at current affairs and politics.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/35384/defrocking-of-monk-known-for-his-thoughtful-social-media-posts-sparks-online-criticisms/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-11-29

 

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15 minutes ago, webfact said:

the commercialisation of Buddhism.

No wonder he was unfrocked.

Truth according to him is that it was his own decision to leave

1 hour ago, meechai said:

Truth according to him is that it was his own decision to leave

Source ?

 

If those are his words, can we eliminate coercion as a factor in that statement ?

 

thanks, ~o:37;

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano was known as a liberal-leaning monk who attracted a huge audience of young people through his social media posts. He became a hit on his Facebook livestream with teachings against the commercialisation of Buddhism

Buddhism in Thailand is a 100% commercial business.

It's a business making lots of baht!

31 minutes ago, EvetsKram said:

It's a business making lots of baht!

Especially if you have a flying saucer temple....

How sad this seems to me. I haven't followed or listened to or read this dudes stuff, I will endeavour to find some of his musings through some of my hip Thai friends. I can't help but think as I read of this punitive treatment of this bald headed dude this is yet another conformation of just how <deleted> the human race can be.

Reflection, humanity, humility, altruism, spirituality, truth and honesty, love, compassion are in such short supply and so assailed today.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Buddhism in Thailand is a 100% commercial business.

Same could be said about all things in the name of religion.

Monks are mainly either young and starry eyed about buddha or are scrounging dropouts from the community and/or are completely arrogant towards the rest of society that supports them.

Justification for my comments..... I am possibly the most non religious person on this planet and therefore destined for hell in the eyes of the religious.

 

3 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

Reflection, humanity, humility, altruism, spirituality, truth and honesty, love, compassion are in such short supply and so assailed today.

You don't need any religion for that.

10 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

How sad this seems to me. I haven't followed or listened to or read this dudes stuff, I will endeavour to find some of his musings through some of my hip Thai friends. I can't help but think as I read of this punitive treatment of this bald headed dude this is yet another conformation of just how <deleted> the human race can be.

Reflection, humanity, humility, altruism, spirituality, truth and honesty, love, compassion are in such short supply and so assailed today.

....in varying degrees. 

Especially applies to those particular Occidental types who consider themselves above such esteemed character, but never have attained any such practice. 

"Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano was known as a liberal-leaning monk who attracted a huge audience of young people through his social media posts."

 

Well there's your problem.

I live here already more than 2 decades and AFAIK, Buddhism in Thailand was always about money.
The best investment in Thai business.

 

Get yourself a bunch of 25cm long peices of rope and attach it around the wrist from everybody you know.
Collect 50 Baht from everyone where you attach a piece of rope around the wrist.
Having an old broom and a basket of water to chastice the people can be an asset.

To be fair it is not Buddhism which is the problem. The Saffron Mafia aka The Therevada Sangha have a stranglehold on the faithful, and they are only Thai men........

Seems to me like they want to stick to their archaic, strict, old fashioned ways, just like Catholic Church, and they didn’t appreciate his ability to talk like the youngsters, so they got rid of him. 
 

No wonder their numbers are dwindling. It’s either adapt or die out. Sooner or later they’ll realize that! 

Suppose he's made a fortune on onlyfans with the disrobing ???? 

I went off them when I spotted 2 senior looking monks betting at a muay Thai match many years ago with money they were taking out of white donation envelopes

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Buddhism in Thailand is a 100% commercial business.

No time for monks, or their religion.  In fact, I have no time for any religions, or their officials. Fantasists at best. 

1 hour ago, edwinchester said:

"Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano was known as a liberal-leaning monk who attracted a huge audience of young people through his social media posts."

 

Well there's your problem.

Can't say if he's Liberal [another invented political identity] or not, as this label and definition might be quite broad. 

Yet, if slightly questioning and challenging convention makes you political, than so be it. 

 

A reflective and comparative example of uppity and questioning Buddhists: Ajarn Sulak Sivaraksa

6 hours ago, orang37 said:

Source ?

 

If those are his words, can we eliminate coercion as a factor in that statement ?

 

thanks, ~o:37;

I think it was posted recently in this forum that he resigned because his Abbot was not 'promoted' for allowing him to continue he felt guilty so he resigned. However if he has a  following he can actually make money in a similar way to the evangelical pundits in the USA

1 hour ago, edwinchester said:

"Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano was known as a liberal-leaning monk who attracted a huge audience of young people through his social media posts."

 

Well there's your problem.

That is the problem ,all religions are losing their faithful ,and even less are taking it up  in the west the religions are trying to modernize ,attract young people ,they guy is trying to do the same .

I know religion in Thailand is asking monks on the 1st and 16th of the month for lucky  lottery numbers ,

In the Center of Korat they is a big Buddha statue ,day before final collage exams full of students asking  Buddha for good exam results .

But,a lot of Thais still like making merit and go to the Tempel on a regular basis . 

This guy is trying for changes ,but the ruling  San-Kar-Lar ,top man,say no like most things in Thailand set in its way, and it will not change ,but at least this guy was trying 

Probably the Buddhists top brass have been leaned on by the PM as the monk's videos were getting more likes than the PM's renditions of Des O'Connor songs

10 hours ago, orang37 said:

Source ?

 

If those are his words, can we eliminate coercion as a factor in that statement ?

 

thanks, ~o:37;

EDIT: Added Links below to letter to head monk at his Wat & Also Video

 

It was on his own FB feed one of his videos awhile back (in Thai) Sometime last month

ไพรวัลย์ วรรณบุตร

 

It actually was also due to his being passed over as head monk because he did not heed warnings about

his light hearted talks on FB to a younger crowd etc

 

Also his mother is suffering from cancer & as he is an only child he said he wanted to spend more time with her .

As a monk he could not touch even his own mother etc

 

 

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Probably the Buddhists top brass have been leaned on by the PM as the monk's videos were getting more likes than the PM's renditions of Des O'Connor songs

Partially true but not because the songs ????

Actually here is his letter although FB translate not great

Letter to head monk

 

Video with his explanation

 

https://fb.watch/9ANL0_tvkN/

 

So now he can touch his dying mother after leaving. 

Clearly the monk is spreading misinformation.  

4 hours ago, Harveyg said:

Clearly the monk is spreading misinformation.  

I don't believe that he, or his circle, are to blame or guilty for the spin and whatnot. 

Largely, the misinformation campaign derived from the usual places - the Sangharaja and close associates, hiso influential politicians with a mix of the ever compliant establishment media.

On 12/1/2021 at 3:17 PM, zzaa09 said:

I don't believe that he, or his circle, are to blame or guilty for the spin and whatnot. 

Largely, the misinformation campaign derived from the usual places - the Sangharaja and close associates, hiso influential politicians with a mix of the ever compliant establishment media.

I have to apologize. I should’ve kept that sarcastic statement to myself. I agree with you. I was merely comparing it to another more viral event I feel the same way about. 

On 11/29/2021 at 10:29 AM, mikebell said:

No wonder he was unfrocked.

Sacrilege ,  or the  equivalent in Thai / Buddhist  thought.....