EDITORIAL

'Lotto monk' has become the rule not an exception

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- It's a familiar story of conspiracy, betrayal, temptation and above all - greed; Thai Buddhism is getting trapped in commercialism

Reading a front-page story on a monk hounded by "extortionists" after he won the first prize of the government lottery, one can't help but wonder how many Buddhist principles have been violated in this single real-life tale. The abbot of a well-known temple in Chon Buri, who won more than Bt50 million in prize money, may not bother to find out, however. He has been busy talking to the police and the press, deploring how his amazing stroke of luck drew so many "bad people" into his life.

According to Phra Khru Sunthorn Silawat, he bought the lottery from a seller he said had kept "pestering" him to buy it. After winning the first prize, the seller and some other people started asking the abbot to pay them money. He said they also accused him of not paying for the lottery tickets. As the plot thickened, almost a dozen people lodged complaints with the police demanding the monk pay a combined total of more than Bt400,000.

Behind every big lottery win lies similar claims of secret arrangements, betrayal or conspiracy. The monk's story stands out simply because he is not supposed to be involved. There is no need to say that Buddhism is all about detachment from materialism, worldly wealth to be exact. That he bought the lottery, took the winning money and then tried to hold on to it defied the reasons why he was in the monkhood in the first place. The "extortionists" may be "bad people", but, being laymen, they probably had the luxury of being consumed by greed.

That Phra Khru Sunthorn Silawat is by no means a junior monk and that his temple is a famous religious sanctuary in Chon Buri only add to the questions. Cynics, however, may not be surprised at all. Thailand is no stranger to controversies involving renowned temples or highly popular and senior-ranking monks. One may argue that the closer you seem to nirvana, the greater the temptation. If we are to believe that theory, we have to believe that Phra Khru Sunthorn Silawat did not mean to buy the lottery, but was persuaded to buy it, and that all wealthy temples started off with a pure intention to teach detachment, only to succumb to greed themselves.

We know something is seriously wrong when Phra Khru Sunthorn Silawat was not even asked the questions he should have been asked. And if the questions have been asked, they have not been asked loud enough. He featured in press stories more like a victim, which he would have been, without the saffron robe.

Perhaps it's unfair to say Thai society has turned a blind eye. To feel resigned may sound more like it. The abbot's case is not the "tip of the iceberg", a little white spot above the water's surface. The whole iceberg is already out there. The likes of him have become an elephant in our living room. With religious commercialism so rampant and virtually untouchable, an industry worth tens of billions of baht if not a lot more, who cares about a monk trying his worldly luck by buying a lottery? When one of the most famous Thai temples teaches that the more money you donate to it, the higher up the heaven you'll go after you die, detachment and selfishness get badly mixed up.

They say religion is flawed only because man is flawed. They say religion everywhere has been abused or exploited. They say worse than using religion to rake in cash is making people kill in the name of religion. They say Buddhism and fanaticism have never crossed paths and we, therefore, should feel lucky about that. These can be the excuses to make us feel a little better about the fact that commercialism has engaged Thai Buddhism without much mercy. The entanglement has killed nobody, but should we feel relieved about it, not knowing how many souls it has taken away?

-- The Nation 2012-12-02

They say religion everywhere has been abused or exploited

Personally I think it is the fact that the exponents of religions are the abusers of its followers, gullible folk conned into sponsoring a leader who promises all in return for those sponsors letting the leader live in luxury.

Invent and chat to an imaginary friend is all you need to found your own belief you'll soon find some gullible fools to join you.

It was always said that talking to imaginary friends was a sign of babyhood, senility or madness.

How come that view doesn't prevail with all religious beliefs ?.

Karl Marx got it about right

• 
  

• 
  Religious distress is at the same time the exp

ression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions.
Karl Marx, Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right

Usually all one gets from the above is “Religion is the opium of the people“ (with no ellipses to indicate that something has been removed). Sometimes “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature“ is included. If you compare these with the full quotation, it’s clear that a great deal more is being said than what most people are aware of.

In the above quotation Marx is saying that religion’s purpose is to create illusory fantasies for the poor. Economic realities prevent them from finding true happiness in this life, so religion tells them that this is OK because they will find true happiness in the next life. Although this is a criticism of religion, Marx is not without sympathy: people are in distress and religion provides solace, just as people who are physically injured receive relief from opiate-based drugs.

There one has it. Religion is no different to a course of medication which in many cases leads to full blown religious mania style drug addiction

There is no need to say that Buddhism is all about detachment from materialism, worldly wealth to be exact.

OK, so it looks like the author doesn't understand buddhist teaching either.

There is a difference between organized religion and teaching/faith. That there are organs in the buddhist religious organization which are not completely dedicated to the teaching of the Buddha is a bit obvious.

But this article strikes me more as voyeurism than a true opinion.

I was not aware that Buddhism was a religion or that monks took a vow of poverty.

I was not aware that Buddhism was a religion or that monks took a vow of poverty.

With pretty much any use of the word which is meaningful, Buddhism is very much a religion. And the vinaya prohibits monks' acceptance or use of money or their engaging in exchange.

After winning the first prize, the seller and some other people started asking the abbot to pay them money. He said they also accused him of not paying for the lottery tickets. As the plot thickened, almost a dozen people lodged complaints with the police demanding the monk pay a combined total of more than Bt400,000.

This is modern Thailand.

I was not aware that Buddhism was a religion or that monks took a vow of poverty.

With pretty much any use of the word which is meaningful, Buddhism is very much a religion. And the vinaya prohibits monks' acceptance or use of money or their engaging in exchange.

I agree it is a religion but Thais seem to make it up as they go along, and are more Animist, Brahmanist and superstitious than actually Buddhist.

The whole story has a ring of falsehood,

First the monk said he won 54 million+_ with 5 lotto tickets

The figures really do not seem to be possible with 5 winning tickets

Now many are chasing him for a share and he has to seek a hideyhole to get away from them (with the temples help)

and on and on goes the tales of woe of this huge sum, but nobody has mentioned possibility giving back to the community/people who have supported the temple and the monks who have sponged off of them for their livelyhoods.

We read/see and hear stories of monks fornicating with dogs, ladies of the night and other monks, riding in multi million baht autos, using money for personal use, playing cards for money, drinking whiskey, beer, etc as well as the accumulation of vast fortunes. This is just another TIT story that will be forgotten in a week or so.

well it just seems to be a story written and embellished by a really junior pi** off journo who wrote the story after he/she did not win themselves on the big lotto yesterday.

I thought Bahtism was the national religion.

Thais seem to make it up as they go along,

What's the evidence for that?

more Animist, Brahmanist and superstitious than actually Buddhist

That's like saying most mainstream Christianity isn't Christian but Platonist. That's rubbish: Christianity is what people do when then say "This is Christian". In the same way, Buddhism is what people do when they say "This is Buddhist". But assuming you're right, what would this ur-Buddhism be? If Thai-flavoured Buddhism doesn't qualify as Buddhist, I'm not sure that any other Theravadan schools will either and if they don't, I don't suppose any Mahayana or Vajrayana tradition is going to. So actual Buddhism is something which can be found only in the imagination. That's a strange kind of real.

Thais seem to make it up as they go along,

What's the evidence for that?

more Animist, Brahmanist and superstitious than actually Buddhist

That's like saying most mainstream Christianity isn't Christian but Platonist. That's rubbish: Christianity is what people do when then say "This is Christian". In the same way, Buddhism is what people do when they say "This is Buddhist".

Read more carefully, he isn't saying that Thai Buddhism is more Animist, but the Thai people are, and in my experience he has a point.

It is a well known fact that many alledged Buddhist monks are not of the breed that grew up with the dedication of the 'true' practicers. That is to say, many are ex-convicts and criminals who are in hiding, and use the dress-code of being a monk to hide their past evil doings - which does in no way qualify them a truist.

It is in all likelihood that these same are the ones who we often see smoking, drinking and not acting in the 'true' was a monk is expected to.

I would suspect that the lottery winner comes under the address of the above.

-mel.

The temples are rife with 'lottery' both above ground and underground type issues, just like many Christian churches I've attended are rife with business and politics. If I was a believer in organized religion, I'd find it disgusting.

It is a well known fact that many alledged Buddhist monks are not of the breed that grew up with the dedication of the 'true' practicers. That is to say, many are ex-convicts and criminals who are in hiding, and use the dress-code of being a monk to hide their past evil doings - which does in no way qualify them a truist.

It is in all likelihood that these same are the ones who we often see smoking, drinking and not acting in the 'true' was a monk is expected to.

I would suspect that the lottery winner comes under the address of the above.

-mel.

drinking is off limits. smoking is not.

every religion is about money, power and control. Bad apples are everywhere.

Buddhism, Christian and others when they not stick to the original teachings have always distorted the truth. It's mainly political concepts.

It took me decades to find and decipher the Gospel of Thomas, which was banned by religious staff. It's the most revealing one and not far from the teaching of Lord Buddha.

The truth will set you free!

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After winning the first prize, the seller and some other people started asking the abbot to pay them money. He said they also accused him of not paying for the lottery tickets. As the plot thickened, almost a dozen people lodged complaints with the police demanding the monk pay a combined total of more than Bt400,000.

This is modern Thailand.

This is just one example of the difficulty the world is facing now, the rise of greed as formerly poor societies become wealthier and come into daily contact with consumerism.

It quickly destroys the old values, certainly within one generation, leaving people with nothing but a desire to get rich and if by chance they do, they don't know what to do next.

The hollowing out of the old culture and substituting trash culture, materialism and greed is the reason why we are witnessing Thai society falling apart.

"They say Buddhism and fanaticism have never crossed paths and we, therefore, should feel lucky about that." I think this myth needs to be scrutinized. Zen Buddhists took an active role in promotion the Japanese nationalist/militarist stance leading up to WWII, also bear in mind the 4th President of Sri Lanka was assassinated by a Buddhist monk because he being a Christian did not was not fit to uphold the belief that Sri Lanka was the birthplace of Theravada Buddhism was integral part of the Nationalist identity. Violence and murder has been a defining shaper of the cultures of Burma, Thailand and Cambodia with their constant internecine warfare and destruction and looting of one another's temples. China also has long history of rivalry between Buddhism which was viewed as a foreign religion and Confucism/Taoism where they mutually destroyed each others monasteries and religious centers…… and then there is the issue of the Rohingyas. The jewel may be in the lotus but it is covered by the mud of Nationalistic smugness, and self righteous indignation- genocide seems to be as acceptable to Buddhist societies as any other.

In my limited knowledge of Buddhism, The Buddha gave away all his wealth to

lead a simple ,better life,he said do not worship me,and that you do not need

to build Temples to pray and meditate in.give up all worldly things.

If only people could have just followed exactly what he said the world would

be a much better place to live for everyone,

All religions (i know Buddhism is not a religion ) are corrupted by greed ,power,

money is the new religion ,build bigger Temples,Mosques,Cathedrals,Churches,

to glorify who,why was preaching under a tree not good enough.

Regards Worgeordie

Read more carefully, he isn't saying that Thai Buddhism is more Animist, but the Thai people are, and in my experience he has a point

What is Thai Buddhism if not what Thai people do when they say they're being Buddhist? So my question remains. What is this essential Buddhism Thais fall short of? Does Thai Buddhism involve beliefs and practices which differ from the kind of stuff you'll hear on your Gil Fronsdal podcasts from IMC? Well, to the extent that you can talk about Thai Buddhism in that kind of undifferentiated sense (i.e. not very far at all), yes. But that doesn't mean it's less Buddhist; that's a crazy leap to make.

we are witnessing Thai society falling apart.

You may be but I'm not. Sure, consumerism - or what it really is, capitalism - brings with it many awful things but it also brings lots of great things: The spread and deepening of democratic ideas and individual liberty, rising gender equality, mass education, etc. etc. It's easy to look back 20 or 50 or 100 ideas and think everything was wonderful but a life of grinding poverty, slavery and premature death doesn't have an awful lot going for it, even from a spiritual perspective.

"They say Buddhism and fanaticism have never crossed paths and we, therefore, should feel lucky about that." I think this myth needs to be scrutinized

Yes, although you don't even need to leave the country. Santi Asoke anyone? Or Kittivuddho? Or indeed a lot of what goes on in the South.

Edited December 2, 201213 yr by Zooheekock

It is a well known fact that many alledged Buddhist monks are not of the breed that grew up with the dedication of the 'true' practicers. That is to say, many are ex-convicts and criminals who are in hiding, and use the dress-code of being a monk to hide their past evil doings - which does in no way qualify them a truist.

It is in all likelihood that these same are the ones who we often see smoking, drinking and not acting in the 'true' was a monk is expected to.

I would suspect that the lottery winner comes under the address of the above.

-mel.

drinking is off limits. smoking is not.

To who?

After winning the first prize, the seller and some other people started asking the abbot to pay them money. He said they also accused him of not paying for the lottery tickets. As the plot thickened, almost a dozen people lodged complaints with the police demanding the monk pay a combined total of more than Bt400,000.

This is modern Thailand.

This is just one example of the difficulty the world is facing now, the rise of greed as formerly poor societies become wealthier and come into daily contact with consumerism.

It quickly destroys the old values, certainly within one generation, leaving people with nothing but a desire to get rich and if by chance they do, they don't know what to do next.

The hollowing out of the old culture and substituting trash culture, materialism and greed is the reason why we are witnessing Thai society falling apart.

I agree with you but I would not single Thailand out.

I believe that this is true the world over.

Greed over Sugar, Oil, Tobacco, Pharmaceutics, Food, you name it, it's driven by greed and it is what wars have always been about and ever will.

Shame on us all for allowing it.

After winning the first prize, the seller and some other people started asking the abbot to pay them money. He said they also accused him of not paying for the lottery tickets. As the plot thickened, almost a dozen people lodged complaints with the police demanding the monk pay a combined total of more than Bt400,000.

This is modern Thailand.

You mean greed didn't exist in ancient Thailand ?

"They say Buddhism and fanaticism have never crossed paths and we, therefore, should feel lucky about that." I think this myth needs to be scrutinized. Zen Buddhists took an active role in promotion the Japanese nationalist/militarist stance leading up to WWII, also bear in mind the 4th President of Sri Lanka was assassinated by a Buddhist monk because he being a Christian did not was not fit to uphold the belief that Sri Lanka was the birthplace of Theravada Buddhism was integral part of the Nationalist identity. Violence and murder has been a defining shaper of the cultures of Burma, Thailand and Cambodia with their constant internecine warfare and destruction and looting of one another's temples. China also has long history of rivalry between Buddhism which was viewed as a foreign religion and Confucism/Taoism where they mutually destroyed each others monasteries and religious centers…… and then there is the issue of the Rohingyas. The jewel may be in the lotus but it is covered by the mud of Nationalistic smugness, and self righteous indignation- genocide seems to be as acceptable to Buddhist societies as any other.

That's a very good point. Particularly the Zen influence on the Japanese military machine of WW2 was very extreme. In fact, Zen was part of warrior training in Japan for centuries, although only the concentration / selflessness / awareness elements and not the whole compassion aspect. In fact, Bodhidharma is credited not only with founding the Zen Buddhist tradition but also inventing kung <deleted>. You also make an excellent point on the recent military struggle in Sri Lanka, which in general was promoted by many Buddhist "monks" as a way to "protect" the Buddhist traditions of the nation. Certainly not as extreme as the Crusades and such, but Buddhism has in some cases promoted violence just like every other religion.

"What is Thai Buddhism if not what Thai people do when they say they're being Buddhist? So my question remains. What is this essential Buddhism Thais fall short of?"

In Thailand, animism and Hinduism are all enmeshed with actual Buddhism and have been forever... The "essential Buddhism" is what the Buddha taught - the Pali Canon seems to be a solid representation of what the Buddha actually said. He didn't say anything about making wishes, wearing 'magic' amulets, or making offerings to spirit shrines, etc.; if anything, he said that such practices are not part of the Buddhist path. Take Loy Krathong: it's considered a "Buddhist holiday" in Thailand but it's mainly about appeasing the Hindu river goddess, Phra Mae Kongkha. The Buddha didn't say such gods and spirits don't exist, but they had nothing to do with his teachings and were not to be entertained if following the Buddhist path. The Buddha even said that he didn't want any images made of him because he didn't want people to worship him like a god as that would be a sidetrack from his teachings. This is why the first Buddha statues didn't show up until a good 600 years after his death. But today in Thailand, Buddha images are sold along with various charms and amulets that millions believe will bring good luck or protection or riches or whatever. People give money and think that alone will land them a fortunate rebirth. If you read the Buddha's teachings and believe in them, you would not put any stock in such practices that are so hugely popular today - in fact it often that seems those aspects are what 'Thai Buddhism' has effectively become. It's also worth mentioning that when monks like Ajahn Mun revived Buddhism in Thailand during the last century, they entirely rejected all of that extra "magic animist hocus pocus" stuff mentioned above. They wandered the forest, had only the most basic possessions, kept all of the precepts in earnest, did not accept money, and worked chiefly on reaching enlightenment through meditation and providing guidance for the lay people. Now that was what the Buddha did.

Thailand has a complex religious tradition, it's just a mixed bag. It's no different than in Tibet where tantra and no shortage of mysticism are intertwined with the Buddhist tradition. So I agree that Thailand is no "less Buddhist" than anything else. But it's also faulty, I think, to say that "Thai Buddhism is whatever Thai people say it is." It's fair to say that "Thai religion is whatever Thais say it is", but by including "Buddhism", that implies the Buddha's teachings, so there's some responsibility to be true to what the Buddha actually taught. And, yes, in the case of a monk purchasing lotto tickets and then hoarding the money, that's starkly against what the Buddha taught.

I find the initial article to be a good one - I know many Thais who attempt to practice as the Buddha taught, and they're fed up with the money and magic frenzy of Buddhism in Thailand. It really has strayed tremendously from how the Buddha actually laid it out.

A good article, and a generally good response from my fellow Members.

Obviously, renunciates are a thing of the past.

They say religion everywhere has been abused or exploited

Personally I think it is the fact that the exponents of religions are the abusers of its followers, gullible folk conned into sponsoring a leader who promises all in return for those sponsors letting the leader live in luxury.

Invent and chat to an imaginary friend is all you need to found your own belief you'll soon find some gullible fools to join you.

It was always said that talking to imaginary friends was a sign of babyhood, senility or madness.

How come that view doesn't prevail with all religious beliefs ?.

Karl Marx got it about right

• 
  Religious distress is at the same time the exp

ression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions.
Karl Marx, Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right

Usually all one gets from the above is “Religion is the opium of the people“ (with no ellipses to indicate that something has been removed). Sometimes “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature“ is included. If you compare these with the full quotation, it’s clear that a great deal more is being said than what most people are aware of.

In the above quotation Marx is saying that religion’s purpose is to create illusory fantasies for the poor. Economic realities prevent them from finding true happiness in this life, so religion tells them that this is OK because they will find true happiness in the next life. Although this is a criticism of religion, Marx is not without sympathy: people are in distress and religion provides solace, just as people who are physically injured receive relief from opiate-based drugs.

There one has it. Religion is no different to a course of medication which in many cases leads to full blown religious mania style drug addiction

In reality, Religion is the placebo of the masses. Opium has a provable effect.

Irrespective of "bad peoples" this Monk is an extremely bad example of what a Monk should be.

Money should be irrelevant to him other than as a means to help others.

A lot has been said about Buddha saying that no images of Him should be built etc.

This is of course true.

Temples are built for several reasons but are very important in local communities, especially small rural ones.

Not only are they a common center for prayer and meditation but also fulfil a very important social responsibility.

Many local activities, if not all are based around the local Wat. Certainly where I live.

Fortunately here the Monks behave in a far more responsible manner, I have never seen one drinking or anything else aginst the teachings of Buddha come to that.

A good article, and a generally good response from my fellow Members.

A good general response from a fellow member, apart from the general news Title "'Lotto monk' has become the rule not an exception"...

It is far from a rule of monk practice, and a title that is generally in bad taste - in my opinion.

-mel.