Activist abbot urges probe of Supreme Sangha councillors' wealth

[webfact]

Activist abbot urges probe of Supreme Sangha councillors' wealth



BANGKOK: -- Activist abbot of Wat Or-noi in Nakhon Pathom Phra Buddha-isara today asked the National Reform Council to look into the practise of the Supreme Sangha after it resolved to retain the monk status of Phra Dhamachayo, abbot Wat Dhamakaya.

He asked to probe the assets of the members of the council and was asking the prime minister and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to revive all embezzlement cases involving Phra Dhamachayo and the temple’s budget and spendings.

Phra Buddha-isara handed over his written petition to Mr Paibul Nititawan, who heads the Buddhism protection committee of the National Reform Council at the Parliament.

In his written petition against the Supreme Sangha Council, the activist abbot urged that the NRC and the government probe the assets of Supreme Sangha Councillors and Wat Phra Dhammakaya and also to revive 50 cases which included embezzlement charges against Phra Dhammachayo.

Besides he urged that a Buddhism protection organisation be formed to share the authority of the supreme council.

He claimed this would enable people and monks understand Buddhist doctrines well.

The Supreme Sangha Council ruled last Friday that Phra Dhammachayo was not guilty for not transferring money and land held under his name worth over 900 million baht to the temple.

The council based the ruling on the fact that Phra Dhammachayo had already made the transfers.

The ruling was in contradiction to the recommendation of the late supreme patriarch His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara in 1999 that Phra Dhammachayo had committed a grave sin by distorting Buddhist teachings and being reluctant to hand over assets that followers had donated to the temple.

But the Supreme Sangha Council last week ruled to retain his status, basing on the fact that the money and land had been later transferred.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/activist-abbot-urges-probe-supreme-sangha-councillors-wealth


-- Thai PBS 2015-02-23

[jcisco]

Seriously if you steal money from a bank, or put your employeers property in your home, and the police find you, you don't get to put it all back and it is all ok. Or maybe you do, in Thailand, what is the lesson here. Don't get caught.

[NeverSure]

900 million baht just in the hands of one Monk. Nuff said.

[gchurch259]

Unfortunately I believe there are some millionaire preachers in the US, reminds me of Ray Stevens song "Would Jesus wear a Rolex watch".

And, it was reported that Clinton's received a lot in contributions from Buddhist Nuns in a Los Angeles Temple during their campaigns.

[ChrisY1]

Unfortunately I believe there are some millionaire preachers in the US, reminds me of Ray Stevens song "Would Jesus wear a Rolex watch".

And, it was reported that Clinton's received a lot in contributions from Buddhist Nuns in a Los Angeles Temple during their campaigns.

No-one's talking about the clergy in the US.......this is about Thai religious leaders.......and a full scale enquiry into their wealth is long overdue.

[pitrevie]

Is anyone surprised, throughout the ages the clerics/monks or whatever labels they choose have enriched themselves at the expense of the gullible.

[Pimay1]

Stand by for a selfie of another monk in his private plane fleeing Thailand.

[rebelplatoon]

Case in point here being that the Dhammakaya temple, as it is now, has been distorting Buddhism and changed teachings to fit their enrichment scheme. It has placed itself outside of Buddhist teachings and should be handled as such.

[lildragon]

Positively Scientology like this sect, pay more for enlightenment! Big donations required....

After that though I think Mr Isara himself needs to be investigated, he has lots of shady friends and questionable morals. That's another story though.

[Robby nz]

Unfortunately I believe there are some millionaire preachers in the US, reminds me of Ray Stevens song "Would Jesus wear a Rolex watch".

And, it was reported that Clinton's received a lot in contributions from Buddhist Nuns in a Los Angeles Temple during their campaigns.

No-one's talking about the clergy in the US.......this is about Thai religious leaders.......and a full scale enquiry into their wealth is long overdue.

They do have several branches in the US and many other parts of the world which carry on the same : http://www.dimc.net/English/Branch/branch.htm

They are an extremely rich and widespread 'organization', for want of a better word.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Robby nz

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

It's just surprising that people still feel the need for religion in this day and age. Just look at the news. Most problems stem from religion. Where is it actually creating the peace and harmony that all religions say they are here to promote? Just a smoke screen to hide behind while you perpetuate your evil deeds. IMO the world would be better off without it. How many have died in the name if religion? When will it end?

[wabothai]

When one hides behind the robes of budhism to hide his criminal activities he deserves to be put against the wall.

[maidee]

poor & rich ignorant people forced to donate to go reincarnate in a better thing next life

thainess

[Wilsonandson]

Now they're reforming their own temples and monks, is the current government Buddhist? First the tiger temple and now the ufo temple, where next? As this infighting continues give a thought to the religious fighting down south. Maybe as a nation this must be priority, don't you think. Solving this would make the nation a happier place.

[winstonc]

It's just surprising that people still feel the need for religion in this day and age. Just look at the news. Most problems stem from religion. Where is it actually creating the peace and harmony that all religions say they are here to promote? Just a smoke screen to hide behind while you perpetuate your evil deeds. IMO the world would be better off without it. How many have died in the name if religion? When will it end?

it continues to this day..when halfwits believe there is a god because they are either seriously stupid..or scared of dying ......christoper hitchens..on youtube will enlighten the gullible..unfortunatly he past away but his truth lives on..(obviously bhuddism is not a religion merely a set of teachings)

Edited February 23, 2015 by winstonc

[angiolo]

Imagine there was no religion....John Lenon

[lungmi]

Unfortunately I believe there are some millionaire preachers in the US, reminds me of Ray Stevens song "Would Jesus wear a Rolex watch".

And, it was reported that Clinton's received a lot in contributions from Buddhist Nuns in a Los Angeles Temple during their campaigns.

No-one's talking about the clergy in the US.......this is about Thai religious leaders.......and a full scale enquiry into their wealth is long overdue.

They do have several branches in the US and many other parts of the world which carry on the same : http://www.dimc.net/English/Branch/branch.htm

They are an extremely rich and widespread 'organization', for want of a better word.

In Germany the Buddhist Union of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (including all Buddhists from Theravada, Tibet (Dhalai Lama) to ZEN, China and Western

independent followers) ejected unanimously the pseudo buddhist sect of dhammakay to be a member. In Munich they tried to install a "home" with corruption and

"holy" promises. They were kicked out by "tax officers".

[lungmi]

Imagine there was no religion....John Lenon

Right. Tan Buddhadasa (Unesco award VIP person of the last century) wrote a book:"No religion".

I give the concentrate: If someone understands the truth of his religion, then there is no more religion.

Dhamma, Tao, all the Gods represent only the LAW OF NATURE.

[Artisi]

Lets face a few facts, the Buddhist "religion" in Thailand is so far removed from the teaching of Lord Buddha it is out-of-sight.

For starters Buddhism is not a religion but a philosophy on the way to conduct yourself - anything else is not Buddhism but a corruption of Lord Buddha's philosophy - especially in Thailand with all the variations, practices and strange beliefs all aimed to remove you from your money in a belief that the more you give the better your next life will be - all absolute mumbo jumbo and a load of crap.

You only need to open your eyes and look at the amount of money being poured into some of these grandiose temples built or being built (it all looks like my dick is bigger than your dick) while people are scratching to make ends meet, kids being poorly educated, half starved, and lacking good health care etc. A new temple construction near where I live is asking and charging enough money to purchase a Bht 5 roofing tile for what would feed 1 child for probably 1 month - all in the name of Buddhism - seems that something major is missing along the way with this little earner.

Ok, I must admit that many monks / temples do some good work in looking after the local population / kids education etc. but this is not a given across the board of Thai Buddhism where money seems to be the driving force and in many cases coerced from the Thai people.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Artisi

[Sviss Geez]

poor & rich ignorant people forced to donate to go reincarnate in a better thing next life

thainess

There's that unimaginative, hackneyed "Thainess" quote again. Thailand is just one of many countries whose citizens predominantly practice Buddhism. Why is it "Thainess"?

And nobody is forced to donate anything as you claim.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Sviss Geez

[Sviss Geez]

Lets face a few facts, the Buddhist "religion" in Thailand is so far removed from the teaching of Lord Buddha it is out-of-sight.

For starters Buddhism is not a religion but a philosophy on the way to conduct yourself - anything else is not Buddhism but a corruption of Lord Buddha's philosophy - especially in Thailand with all the variations, practices and strange beliefs all aimed to remove you from your money in a belief that the more you give the better your next life will be - all absolute mumbo jumbo and a load of crap.

You only need to open your eyes and look at the amount of money being poured into some of these grandiose temples built or being built (it all looks like my dick is bigger than your dick) while people are scratching to make ends meet, kids being poorly educated, half starved, and lacking good health care etc. A new temple construction near where I live is asking and charging enough money to purchase a Bht 5 roofing tile for what would feed 1 child for probably 1 month - all in the name of Buddhism - seems that something major is missing along the way with this little earner.

Ok, I must admit that many monks / temples do some good work in looking after the local population / kids education etc. but this is not a given across the board of Thai Buddhism where money seems to be the driving force and in many cases coerced from the Thai people.

"

Lets face a few facts, the Buddhist "religion"...with all the variations, practices and strange beliefs all aimed to remove you from your money in a belief that the more you give the better your next life will be - all absolute mumbo jumbo and a load of crap."

Let's face a few more, every religion, without exception, is the same. This is not an issue peculiar to Thailand or Buddhism.

[Artisi]

Lets face a few facts, the Buddhist "religion" in Thailand is so far removed from the teaching of Lord Buddha it is out-of-sight.

For starters Buddhism is not a religion but a philosophy on the way to conduct yourself - anything else is not Buddhism but a corruption of Lord Buddha's philosophy - especially in Thailand with all the variations, practices and strange beliefs all aimed to remove you from your money in a belief that the more you give the better your next life will be - all absolute mumbo jumbo and a load of crap.

You only need to open your eyes and look at the amount of money being poured into some of these grandiose temples built or being built (it all looks like my dick is bigger than your dick) while people are scratching to make ends meet, kids being poorly educated, half starved, and lacking good health care etc. A new temple construction near where I live is asking and charging enough money to purchase a Bht 5 roofing tile for what would feed 1 child for probably 1 month - all in the name of Buddhism - seems that something major is missing along the way with this little earner.

Ok, I must admit that many monks / temples do some good work in looking after the local population / kids education etc. but this is not a given across the board of Thai Buddhism where money seems to be the driving force and in many cases coerced from the Thai people.

"

Lets face a few facts, the Buddhist "religion"...with all the variations, practices and strange beliefs all aimed to remove you from your money in a belief that the more you give the better your next life will be - all absolute mumbo jumbo and a load of crap."

Let's face a few more, every religion, without exception, is the same. This is not an issue peculiar to Thailand or Buddhism.

No argument there, however we were discussing Thailand and Buddhism.

[rametindallas]

Seriously if you steal money from a bank, or put your employeers property in your home, and the police find you, you don't get to put it all back and it is all ok. Or maybe you do, in Thailand, what is the lesson here. Don't get caught.

Thaksin's then-wife tried the same thing when returning the public land she bought below cost and then saying, "We're cool now, right?".

[rametindallas]

900 million baht just in the hands of one Monk. Nuff said.

So much for that 'vow of poverty' when becoming a monk.

[Plowman]

The entire upper echelons of Thailand is corrupt. What this nation needs is a healthy dose of democracy to disinfect the place.

BTW, why isn't Phra Buddha-Isara in jail?

Edited February 23, 2015 by Plowman

[jcisco]

It's just surprising that people still feel the need for religion in this day and age. Just look at the news. Most problems stem from religion. Where is it actually creating the peace and harmony that all religions say they are here to promote? Just a smoke screen to hide behind while you perpetuate your evil deeds. IMO the world would be better off without it. How many have died in the name if religion? When will it end?

No most problems stem from humans being @$$holes to each other and being unable to admit when they are wrong, being flawed in that we generally have to have an opinion on something and lastly the big one, we can hardly remember when we are wrong. Don't blame the group monkey shuffle of religion for this, its due to people making it us and them, me over you. Nothing else we are just dicks to each other.

Edited February 23, 2015 by jcisco

[MAJIC]

All Religions have one thing in common,they take money from the poor and gullible,and make themselves rich! regardless of what the religion is named!

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

They should make a movie about this fake monk. Could call it "Life of Buddha-isara"

[Robby nz]

They should make a movie about this fake monk. Could call it "Life of Buddha-isara"

Yes they should then you and the other bitter twisted PT supporters would see just how good he really is and how much good he has done for the poor and the people.

Right now he is standing up for Buddhist principles against an extremely rich and it would seem corrupt temple and a supreme council that looks to be backing it.

But he was part of the movement that ousted the corrupt government of the lovely Yingluck and you can never forgive him for that.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

They should make a movie about this fake monk. Could call it "Life of Buddha-isara"

Yes they should then you and the other bitter twisted PT supporters would see just how good he really is and how much good he has done for the poor and the people.

Right now he is standing up for Buddhist principles against an extremely rich and it would seem corrupt temple and a supreme council that looks to be backing it.

But he was part of the movement that ousted the corrupt government of the lovely Yingluck and you can never forgive him for that.

Sorry to inform you but I have never been a PT supporter or a Shinawatra fan. So what good have this super rich monk done for the poor of Thailand?