How Is The Situation Of Buddhism In Thailand?

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How is the situation of Buddhim in Thailand? It wax or wane.

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[fabianfred]

Since the dhamma taught by the Buddha Gotama was predicted to last for five thousand years.... and we are over half-way... I would say it is waning.

The large number of Westerners becoming interested in Buddhism is good, but the quality of the teachings may be lessening, as new sects or divisions or schools spring up there will be changes made to the true dhamma, not all for the good.

Monks in Thailand are getting less strict about their keeping of the rules of training, so the lay people will start to lose faith in them.

30 years ago Luang Por Jaran complained at how difficult it was to find a true monk who was serious about practicing as he should.

[Paul123456]

Yeah, I have no doubt that Buddhism in waning. It seems many monks are not interested in following the path of Buddha, nor in developing their minds, nor in keeping to the guidelines that Buddha laid out for his followers.

Lay people have less and less respect for monks and Buddhism and less and less understanding of Dhamma. The actions (and inactions) of monks contribute to this, as does the direction of society that is increasingly valuing money, possessions, greed / whilst devaluing family, compassion, good behaviour, wisdom, nature, etc.

It is a sad state, but perhaps just a swing.

In the end, we control only our own brains and actions and so the solution is for people to develop their own practice and minds - there is no other way.

[camerata]

It is a sad state, but perhaps just a swing.

Waxing, waning, swinging - good choice of words. The monkhood for example has been in a far worse state than this in the past and they (the rulers of Thailand) managed to clean it up. Right now we can see the incredible popularity of the Dhammakaya sect based in large part - and despite its faults - on an exemplary monkhood.

[toptuan]

Perhaps this post belongs better in this thread...