Chequebook Buddhism offers Thais stairway to heaven
AFP

BANGKOK: -- In deeply religious Thailand, monks have long been revered. But badly behaved clergy, corruption scandals, and the vast wealth amassed by some temples has many asking if something is rotten at the heart of Thai Buddhism.

From selfies on private jets to multi-million dollar donations from allegedly crooked businessmen, Thailand's monks are coming under increasing fire for their embrace of commercialism.

So much so that even the military junta is threatening to intervene.

In Wat Hua Lumphong, a temple in downtown Bangkok, garlands of banknotes flutter in the breeze as trader Sakorn Suker slips a 20 baht note ($1) into an urn.

"It makes me feel good, boosts my health and makes me do better business," Suker told AFP.

His donation entitles him to take a "lucky" floating candle in the shape of a flower.

Nearby, coin-operated machines -- similar to jukeboxes, but with a Buddha statue on top -- churn out "lucky numbers" for the faithful as kneeling devotees hand over envelopes stuffed with cash, many picking up a tax reduction certificate on their way out.

In one corner of the temple complex sits a monk in an air-conditioned box.

"Donation means sacrifice. You sacrifice your things, sacrifice your time, sacrifice your money, sacrifice your heart," the monk, Pra Maha Noppadom, explains.

- The gift of giving -

In contrast to the increasingly empty pews and coffers of many European churches, temples remain a boom business in Thailand.

The overwhelmingly Buddhist nation is one of the most generous countries in the world, according to the 2014 World Giving Index.

It came third globally, behind Myanmar and Malta, with 77 percent of the population giving money to charity.

Temples are under no obligation to declare their assets, which makes guessing how deep this generosity runs difficult.

But last year the National Institute of Development Administration estimated the country's 38,000-odd temples receive between 100 and 120 billion baht in donations ($3.07-3.62 billion) every year.

And that's on top of their state funding. In 2015 the government has earmarked $113 million alone for renovating temples.

Donations have always formed the bedrock of Thai Buddhism. Every morning barefooted monks make their daily alms rounds in their local neighbourhoods.

But as the Southeast Asian nation has modernised, so have donation methods.

Thai supermarkets now offer an impressive array of pre-packaged hampers for monks including saffron robes, instant coffee and soap.

Few have mastered modern money collection techniques better than the Dhammakaya temple, one of the richest in the kingdom, with a dozens of outlets worldwide and an enormous headquarters north of Bangkok.

It is renowned for its roster of wealthy patrons and even boasts a slick TV channel where -- much like evangelical mega churches -- pleas for devotees to reach deep into their pockets are never far away.

- Jetset monks -

But with wealth comes controversy.

Earlier this month the temple authorities returned some $20 million given by a company executive who has since been accused of embezzling the cash.

It was just the latest in a list of scandals involving Thai clergy embracing excess -- the most infamous of which involved celebrated monk Wiraphol Sukphol taking selfies while flying in a private jet.

Other embarrassing incidents in recent months include a monk arrested for multiple sexual assaults; clergy dressed in civilian clothes drinking alcohol and crashing a car; monks having girlfriends; and others brawling during the early morning alms collections.

Many monks feel some of their brethren, who number more than 300,000, have replaced merit making with making money.

"Buddhism is overwhelmed by capitalism. We have become too much obsessed with the idea of getting benefits and money," Pra Maha Paiwan Warawunno, a charismatic 24-year-old monk who regularly criticises the state of Thai Buddhism on his Facebook page, told AFP.

"In this country now, greed is promoted. Amulets, Buddha images, all kinds of things," said Sulak Sivaraksa, a Thai Buddhist expert and founder of the International Network of Engaged Buddhism, who is close to the Dalai Lama.

"A monk cannot even touch money. By touching money, it makes the monk impure," said Sulak, denouncing greed that he says Thailand's top Buddhist body -- the Supreme Council of the Sangha -- has failed to address.

- 'Sangha rules Sangha' -

One of the peculiarities of the Thai clergy is that -- despite the major subsidies they receive from the state -- they are also self-governing.

The Sangha -- a Sanskrit word used to describe a community of monks -- is composed of a handful of the most influential monks in the country, and they alone decide when and whether clergy should be punished for transgressions and excesses.

Paiboon Nititawan, a member of the junta's National Reform Council, has been asked to draft a new law to improve control over the temples, which has enraged many monks who see it unacceptable interference in spiritual affairs.

"The goal is to have measures handling the properties of the temples and to get them to make proper accounts. And also to reveal the accounts to the public. So that it can be checked and balanced with transparency," he said.

"If there is no such law, monks will accumulate properties, which is against the monk disciplines," he added.

But few expect the junta to make much headway against such an entrenched group.

As Somchai Surachatri, spokesman for National Office of Buddhism, put it: "Sangha rules Sangha."


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-04-02

Would love to see this article in Thai for some people I know to read. They foolishly throw money at these places, blind to the monks with iphones and private jets.

Comparing this with the wealth the Vatican and other churches possess in Europe and America, it's not such a big deal.

Also comparing the life style and habits of the clergy in other religions again there is no much difference here.

All wrong.....here and there, but nobody had the guts up to now, to put an end to this.

The people not only foolishly throw money at them, but defend them and their actions, getting downright indignant if you challenge their monks or their religion in any way.

Comparing this with the wealth the Vatican and other churches possess in Europe and America, it's not such a big deal.

Also comparing the life style and habits of the clergy in other religions again there is no much difference here.

All wrong.....here and there, but nobody had the guts up to now, to put an end to this.

Again selective reading by our Greek friend...............

<<But few expect the junta to make much headway against such an entrenched group.<< Quote

>>The Sangha -- a Sanskrit word used to describe a community of monks -- is composed of a handful of the most influential monks in the country, and they alone decide when and whether clergy should be punished for transgressions and excesses.<< Quote

Sounds a little like article 44 for monks..................

For 5.000 Baht I offer Buddhist heaven

6.500 Baht Muslim heaven, for the 12 virgins 1500 Baht each

10.000 Baht for roman catholic heaven (with Vatican it is a bit more expensive to bribe the right angles)

100% success rate, no complains. Full guarantee and refund if it does not work as expected.

Other religions, drop me an email.

I stopped reading at "In deeply religious Thailand..."

77% of the population giving money to charity, give me a break. What a loose definition of 'charity'.

20 baht is not $1.

The people not only foolishly throw money at them, but defend them and their actions, getting downright indignant if you challenge their monks or their religion in any way.

Just as well I have my plastic Jesus to protect me against such people...

They spelt mr. Sukers name wrong. Sucker is the correct spelling.

"chequebook buddhism" ... brilliant! that's the perfect summary of religion here, and also applies to everything else in Thailand ...

Comparing this with the wealth the Vatican and other churches possess in Europe and America, it's not such a big deal.

Also comparing the life style and habits of the clergy in other religions again there is no much difference here.

All wrong.....here and there, but nobody had the guts up to now, to put an end to this.

Again selective reading by our Greek friend...............

<<But few expect the junta to make much headway against such an entrenched group.<< Quote

I'd have to agree with Costas on this one ... there is zero difference here with regards to religion and money than any other religion anywhere else in the world ...

For 5.000 Baht I offer Buddhist heaven

6.500 Baht Muslim heaven, for the 12 virgins 1500 Baht each

10.000 Baht for roman catholic heaven (with Vatican it is a bit more expensive to bribe the right angles)

100% success rate, no complains. Full guarantee and refund if it does not work as expected.

Other religions, drop me an email.

Stairway to Heaven or a Super Slider to Hell?

''Deeply Religious Thailand ''...............what a laugh that is !

Comparing this with the wealth the Vatican and other churches possess in Europe and America, it's not such a big deal.

Also comparing the life style and habits of the clergy in other religions again there is no much difference here.

All wrong.....here and there, but nobody had the guts up to now, to put an end to this.

Again selective reading by our Greek friend...............

<<But few expect the junta to make much headway against such an entrenched group.<< Quote

I'd have to agree with Costas on this one ... there is zero difference here with regards to religion and money than any other religion anywhere else in the world ...

Agree.

But my reply was to this: but nobody had the guts up to now, to put an end to this., where our Greek friend is indicating that under Mr P things have improved!!

For 5.000 Baht I offer Buddhist heaven

6.500 Baht Muslim heaven, for the 12 virgins 1500 Baht each

10.000 Baht for roman catholic heaven (with Vatican it is a bit more expensive to bribe the right angles)

100% success rate, no complains. Full guarantee and refund if it does not work as expected.

Other religions, drop me an email.

Stairway to Heaven or a Super Slider to Hell?

Hell I can do for half the price....supposed to be more fun there, because all the interesting people meet there.....

The Thai Christian churches of the Protestant denomination offer a very different approach. I have been in a few of them and the Thai version intentionally avoids the excesses. It explains why a small but growing number of Thais are interested in the Churches which focus on non material activities and emphasize equality and spiritual aspects.

Even in the Thai version of Islam, there is an absence commercial business. No idols, no relics, no payment for indulgences.

I was sitting outside a pub sipping a bourbon, recently, when a barefoot monk walked past. He walked past the next door shop house where there was a pair of shoes on the doorstep. He stopped, turned back, and slipped the shoes onto his feet, then carried on. Other people saw him, nobody even took a second glance.

People who still give money or other gifts to the monks after seeing what the monks are doing with the money is at their own will.

But FORCING children in school to give money or other gifts every week to the monks after seeing what the monks are doing with the money is CRUELTY.

On top of that, most schools make the end score depending on the amount of the gifts by the children.

The Thai Christian churches of the Protestant denomination offer a very different approach. I have been in a few of them and the Thai version intentionally avoids the excesses. It explains why a small but growing number of Thais are interested in the Churches which focus on non material activities and emphasize equality and spiritual aspects.

Even in the Thai version of Islam, there is an absence commercial business. No idols, no relics, no payment for indulgences.

Because Jesus himself drove traders and moneychangers from the temple accusing them of turning the temple into a den of thieves.

Didn't do much for Rolf Harris.

monks cannot touch money,

ok, checks & credit cards no problem

Since time in memorial and the first ever religion formations, men knew that you can atone

for your sins in many, many ways, one of the them is by using goods, chattels and money in lieu

of prayers, self beating and soul cleansing, kinda short cut.. so far it was a win win situation for

every one, the sinners rejoiced and felt pious gain, the clergy smirked and mumbled to them

selves saying, may he sin a lot and come see us soon... nothing much has changed since than,

and nothing much will change any time soon....

When groups are organized, with a hierarchy of leadership, corruption seems to follow thereafter.

I prefer to practice my beliefs are at home, without fanfare, tithing or false piety.

Comparing this with the wealth the Vatican and other churches possess in Europe and America, it's not such a big deal.

Also comparing the life style and habits of the clergy in other religions again there is no much difference here.

All wrong.....here and there, but nobody had the guts up to now, to put an end to this.

Yes, one way or another Christian churches sell indulgences or hint at divine grace generated by financial support that often does benefit the poor. Wealthy Muslims build impressive mosques and comply with the third pillar of Islam, zakat or compulsory charity. Jews donate to sustain synagogues and community services.

These are all very human institutions and suffer from human frailties, but if you are a believer and make as a well-intended financial sacrifice, the fact that there are less than exemplary monks, priest, imams, et al does not detract from your good intentions. Whether you think it's an act to ensure eternal salvation or that it absolves some of your sins or it just makes you feel good for helping someone else, your act is not diminished by the poor behavior of a small number of clergy. That's their problem not yours and often used as a flimsy excuse to abstain from any acts of charity (once again, the familiar farang mantra ... "it's the principle not the money")

In contrast to the increasingly empty pews and coffers of many European churches, temples remain a boom business in Thailand.

At St. Nikolaus in Pattaya, there are 5 masses on Sunday plus two on Saturday evening and I've never attended any that had empty pews. If anything, most are standing-room-only. And I know we all can recount horror stories of things done by priests and nuns, but the church in Pattaya does some great work with orphans, the disabled and the poor.

To claim that people who donate Baht 20 as act of generosity are foolish is disingenuous and usually a self-serving justification for being parsimonious. If you choose to not have faith or to not contribute to religious or charitable organizations, that's entirely up to you, but why would it bother you if someone else chooses to do so? Surely people should be allowed to do what they choose with their own money without getting everyone else's knickers in a knot.

If someone wants to buy the latest iPhone or some ludicrously expensive bling that's their choice and not something that compels me to label them as stupid no matter what I may think. If it makes them happy, up to them.

Edited April 2, 201511 yr by Suradit69

Wolves in Sheeps clothing.. and even the Novices who haven't learned the ropes yet, are simply ignorant little helpers of the leaders of the Masquerade I call, 'Big Religion'!

There is nothing at all honourable about any brand of religion. In the same way that a paedophile may take weeks, months, and even years to seduce their victim, they are none-the-less lecherous predators at every turn!

Maybe there is a 'Higher Power', but such a mind is NOT the Creator of Big Religion... THAT is entirely the ceation of people for their own ends.

In one corner of the temple complex sits a monk in an air-conditioned box.

"Donation means sacrifice. You sacrifice your things, sacrifice your time, sacrifice your money, sacrifice your heart," the monk, Pra Maha Noppadom, explains.

'...and receiving donation also means sacrifice. I sacrifice my time, I sacrifice my goal of getting the latest model if there is not enough money, I sacrifice my backside sitting here in an air-conditioned box." the monk continued.

Edited April 2, 201511 yr by klauskunkel

It came third globally, behind Myanmar and Malta, with 77 percent of the population giving money to charity.

Oh sorry they forgot about red nose day, sport relief, children in need etc in UK and Thailand 3rd - doubt that!