How Important Is The Supreme Patriarch?

[garro]

I know that the present supreme patriarch is quite old, and so is no longer able to be completely innolved with the Thai Sangha. I was just wondering about how much power a supreme patriarch actually has? Is it possible for the supreme patriarch to be a great reformer? Has this happened in the past?

[Sarathi]

He could be, but the Patriarch's are always rather old, which does not bode well for reform. There was a decision to replace the executive of the Council of Elders with a younger, more dynamic body called Mahakanisorn, but it was scuppered by Ajahn Maha Bua, who wanted all the authority to lie with Dhammayut only. If that had gone ahead, there would have been some proper reform, tempered House of Lords style by the steady hand on the tiller of the Elders coucil. Maybe one day. Right now the S. Patriarch holds no power, and his duties have been divided amongst the other Elders (Somdeths) who are more physically capable.

[seonai]

I had the honour of meeting the S. Patriarch some years ago and had a short, interesting conversation with him in English and Thai

[chutai]

Right now the S. Patriarch holds no power, and his duties have been divided amongst the other Elders (Somdeths) who are more physically capable.

Figures I suppose. As the continuation from the first patriach deems that the physically (and mentally) disabled are disallowed from taking the yellow robe - even if someone has something as minor as webbed fingers. Still, whatever - whichway it all seems to lack compassion somewhat.

I'm not sure about the mentally disabled bit (hard to tell at first) but the exclusion of the physically disabled certainly needs reforming, imho.

[sabaijai]

In the 70s, when Ven Sangharaja (Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara) was still actively teaching, I studied vipassana and buddhadhamma in group sessions with his holiness twice weekly. My fellow students included Catholic priests and nuns, Tibetan lamas and European Buddhist monks. The sessions were discontinued in the 1980s as Wat Bowon's proximity to the developing Khao San Rd scene led to a steady stream of Western dabblers whose temple decorum embarrassed the SP's Thai devotees. Even today, however, one of the Sangharaja's closest confidantes is an American monk living at Wat Bowon, one of the last Western monks (perhaps the last?) to be permitted to reside there.

Ven Sangharaja was not a reformer, and in fact what impressed me most about his approach was his strong but very well-argued orthodoxy.

The current acting Sangharaja is Somdet Kiaw, abbot of Wat Saket. He's set to assume full Sangharaja status when Somdet Phra Nyanasara passes away, and if/when that happens (the automatic transmission is being questioned by some in the clerical establishment, particularly high-ranking Thammayut ), the position will pass from the Thammayut Nikai to the Maha Nikai.

[seonai]

It was Somdet Phra Nyanasara that I met. It must have been cool to study with him SJ. By the way do you know Phra Dhammanando in Wat Ben ?

[sabaijai]

It was Somdet Phra Nyanasara that I met. It must have been cool to study with him SJ. By the way do you know Phra Dhammanando in Wat Ben ?

Only via email, and the brilliant documentary about him, Act Normal. Coincidentally last weekend I visited a wat in Lampang that he recommended, Wat Tha Ma-O. Before Ven moved to Wat Ben to continue his Pali studies (though the actual courses are at Wat Rakhang), he lived here and at Wat Phra Phutthabaht Tak Pha in Lamphun, I believe. He's a very active poster at e-sangha.

[seonai]

He is a good teacher and a good friend of mine too. Wonderful sense of humour and very knowledgable. He logged me on to e-sangha but I unsubscribed as there were too many emails

[chutai]

Only via email, and the brilliant documentary about him, Act Normal.

I'd like to get a copy of this film. I've tried the Act Normal website but it's no longer available. Any idea where I can buy or download it. Thanks.

[sabaijai]

Only via email, and the brilliant documentary about him, Act Normal.

I'd like to get a copy of this film. I've tried the Act Normal website but it's no longer available. Any idea where I can buy or download it. Thanks.

I would suggest contacting the director, Olaf de Fleur, via his myspace.com page.

[seonai]

Chutai also see here

[seonai]

Sabaijai would it be possible to create another thread on Robert? I've just watched that UTube clip and there are many issues. One most apparent is that Robert ordained at the age of 17 and was a dilligent and funny student until being in Iceland where he felt human urges take over an eventually married a woman fron Kasakstan (he stayed with me en route to visit her home town). But as with real Buddhism he discovered that all was not sweetness and light and chose to go back to the Sangha.

Please try to split this topic Mods...

[seonai]

See here too http://www.poppoli.com/an_trailer.html

[sabaijai]

See here too http://www.poppoli.com/an_trailer.html

See also the Movies About Buddhism thread, where I reviewed the DVD of Olaf's film.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...25&start=25

Seonai, feel free to start a new thread on Ven Dhammanando.