Dhammakaya Temple: Monks and Money Concern Thailand Reform Council

[Jacob Maslow]

Dhammakaya Temple spurs money concerns. The national reform committee, setup by the National Reform Council, is tasked with investigating the temple. Thailand’s wealthiest temple, Dhammakaya will have its finances and budget examined. The committee has stated that they want to protect the religion while determining if monks could collect money and spend it.

Further concerns are that, under traditional rules, monks are not taxed like non-monks. If money is collected and used by monks, the committee will try to determine if taxation should be applied. Money that is collected is traditionally spent in the religious realm only.

Prohibited under the Buddhism religion, money and property is not allowed for personal use.

Mano Laohavanich is a past monk that used to belong to the temple. Mano states that the teachings inside the temple have eroded and has turned the temple into a corporation. Mano is a member of the committee.

Dhammakaya Temple also sparked concerns when the Department of Special Investigation found that 900 million baht was embezzled and given to the temple. The embezzler, Abbot Phra Dhammachayo was cleared of the charges by the National Reform Council.

The committee stresses that the embezzlement and laundering is not within their jurisdiction. Instead, the committee is tasked with determining rules and regulations that temples must follow.

The committee is not alone with their concerns of corruption within the religion. Phra Buddha Issara, a monk from Bangkok, has also stressed concerns, stating that large donations are corrupting temples.

Recently, a monk was found with 120,000 methamphetamine pills. Another monk was found investing in stock markets.

Issara is one of many monks with a growing concern that their brethren are falling to the temptation of money. Concerns have also been voiced that many of Dhammakaya Temple members are wealthy politicians that may allow these financial mishaps to go overlooked

-- 2015-03-03

[tomross46]

This temple has been investigated many times over the last thirty years. There are also other temples in Pathum Tani that have been investigated, There still not a resolution to the golf course and resort being built on temple land. The Alpine Golf Club and Resort was ordered to be returned to the temple.

[Thaddeus]

When money is donated to a Wat in the hope of receiving luck.

All you have is hope, and the saffron robed brigands have all the money.

If everyone in Thailand just stopped making pointless donations, the number of monks would decrease by 95% overnight.

[mike324]

This temple has been investigated many times over the last thirty years. There are also other temples in Pathum Tani that have been investigated, There still not a resolution to the golf course and resort being built on temple land. The Alpine Golf Club and Resort was ordered to be returned to the temple.

This temple is a complete fraud and money making machine, they have place beside the temple were you can go borrow money to donate to the temple. All of these are owned by the same folks who run the temple.

[khaowong1]

They actually have a credit union inside the temple, where you can borrow money against your car, truck, home, to donate to the temple.. And of course the interest you pay on the loan also goes to the temple. Win win situation.

[ourmanflint]

This temple and its abbot are a disgrace, the whole thing should be demolished and turned into rubble.

[ThaiBob]

Dr Mano Laohanavich, a critic of the temple and former monk there, spoke to the expats club about Buddhism and the future Thailand. An interesting presentation, but some of us saw through his pleasant demeanor and personality. He definitely has an axe to grind and is a member the National Reform Council. He like, like many temple detractors, are yellow shirts, junta supporters or think like Buddhist activist monk Phra Issara. He lost my interest when he mentioned the yellow shirt propaganda that only special people should be future leaders and owning property as a voting requirement. The temple in question is a "red" shirt temple and many of its problem revolve around its perceived association with Thaksin. Unfortunately, what we're witnessing is fallout from the divisions in Thai society and the associated politics being carried over to religion. I am agnostic and if Buddhists want to make merit and build temples of gold, so be it.

Edited March 8, 2015 by ThaiBob