Thai editorial: Banned for disclosing an uncomfortable truth

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Banned for disclosing an uncomfortable truth
The Nation

The Culture Ministry's decision to keep "Arbat" out of cinemas ignores the reality that fiction seeks to depict

BANGKOK: -- The Thai feature film "Arbat" has proved so controversial even before its release that the Culture Ministry has banned it, a decision that, given the country's regression to military rule, was guaranteed to garner headlines around the world.

It's hardly the sort of publicity that producer Prachya Pinkaew and screenwriter-director Kanitta Kwanyoo were expecting, but it won't hurt their movie's box-office appeal overseas.

Buddhist groups and monks had objected to the film's depiction of a wayward Buddhist novice committing a grievous sin in having intimate relations with a woman, and the debate on the social media has been fiery.

Scheduled for release this week, "Arbat" has instead joined the list of movies banned in Thailand for various reasons ranging from the understandable to the inane. In this case, the ministry feared that "Arbat" could damage the country's majority faith, in line with critics' complaints that it insults Buddhism and invites viewers to denigrate the religion. It has been charged that the movie seeks to undermine the faith of Buddhists, and it hasn't helped that the actor chosen to play the wayward novice is a Christian.

Director Kanitta characterises his script as the story of a misbehaving youth whose parents force him to be ordained in the hope he will mend his ways. The film, he insists, is about being able to tell right from wrong and being aware of the consequences of karma. Producer Prachya maintains that, in spite of the controversy sparked by the film's promotional trailer, the intention is to support Buddhism, not hurt it.

To arguments that the film serves to "shame" wayward monks, however, one offended monk has countered that such a tactic is unfair to monastic society as a whole.

The readiness to defend one's religion against perceived threats is laudable, but what we have here is an overreaction to a work of fiction that nevertheless reflects actual behaviour among some members of the clergy.

Thai history is rife with instances of monks - and even abbots - committing shameful and sometimes illegal acts, often shielded by their saffron robes. The vow of celibacy all too often seems fragile. Other monastic precepts appear porous. Personal wealth is accumulated dishonestly. Supernatural powers are claimed. Men enter the monkhood specifically to abuse its privileges.

Such nonsense abounds, a worrying situation whose weight is alleviated only by the untarnished honesty and dedication offered by the vast majority of the 290,000 monks and 58,000 novices in this country.

Against these noble souls devoting their lives to their own betterment and that of society, we must tally the far fewer monks ordained without heed of the Lord Buddha's teachings. Perhaps, like the character in "Arbat", they are forced into it by their parents, perhaps they desire only free food and lodging, and perhaps they covet the worship of laymen.

It is these real-life wayward monks - not a fictional character in a movie - to whom the complaints should be directed. We should be more concerned about the monks whose shameful behaviour wearies believers and casts the religion in a negative light.

The Supreme Sangha should make it more difficult for candidates to be ordained and easier for them to be disrobed if they commit wrongdoing, and that includes any claim to possessing supernatural power, a widespread practice in Thailand.

To truly protect Buddhism, we can start by ridding the clergy of miscreants and ensuring that monks adhere to the rules of their order. Senior monks and lay officials have plenty of work to do in this regard, enough to keep them far too busy to be bothered with the whims of cinema.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Banned-for-disclosing-an-uncomfortable-truth-30270897.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-15

[Thai at Heart]

Well, lets start with the fact that Buddhism isn't a religion. Buddha was a man....and wouldn't have wanted to be considered otherwise.

[Sealbash]

And Mohammed was a man, and Joseph smith was a man

[arthurboy]

An insult to Buddhism?

It's an insult to Buddhism when, every day, millions of people go to a temple to 'make merit' in return for winning the lottery.

[ChrisY1]

Monks having relationships with women is quite common......but as the headline states.....an "uncomfortable truth"

The real truth is that Buddhism is being degraded here.......!

[NongKhaiKid]

Thainess - close your eyes, stick your head in the sand etc. because if you don't see something it doesn't exist or can't be wrong.

It doesn't serve revered institutions well to protect them from everything including criticism because if anything it makes people within them worse as they know they'll not be held to account.

[Laughing Gravy]

I find banning it hypocritical at best. Lets continue to put our heads in the sand and pretend that things like the film is reputed to address doesn't happen, although it does. A good article in my opinion

[JohnnyJazz]

I wish they could ban the mafioso who called himself buddha from ever making trouble again. It is this guy who is a real disgrace and true embarrassement to the buddhist monkhood

Edited October 15, 2015 by JohnnyJazz

[CMguy]

This film was not even on my radar, now I am inclined to see it just to see what all the fuss is about.....a ban is good publicity.

[trogers]

This is why all those Thai soap operas are mostly about wives vs mistresses or girls fighting over a man.

Shows with themes on real life events would be banned...

Edited October 15, 2015 by trogers

[baboon]

And Mohammed was a man, and Joseph smith was a man

And Arbat was Nikita Khrushchev's dog...

[LannaGuy]

Buddhism in Thailand ain't what it used to be... and it's not the 'Buddhism" that's the culprit it's the Phra Suthep's and Phra Issara's and all the others who make a mockery out of a wonderful philosophy

[fritzzz25]

I thought becoming a monk is where you go after you have been suspected of committing a crime. Seems to me after a murder in Koh Tao someone entered the monkhood very quickly. And wasn't a recent political leader a monk?

[Artisi]

The day Thai's get back to understanding that "Buddhism" is really about, the better off the country will be.

It certainly isn't about bowing and scraping to pretend monks, lavishing millions of Baht to build bigger and better temples, trying buy favour for the next life, together with all the mumbo jumbo attached to this pretence of what started out as a basic philosophy for life and is now so far removed from it -- it is out of sight.

[asdecas]

My immigration booth at Suwannaphum last night had a notice posted in English, warning of the consequences of disrespecting the Buddha image in Thailand.

While one feels that respect for diversity of belief is a fundamentally civilised attitude to hold, it is somewhat alarming and not a little portentous to see the powers that be appropriating religion for their own ends in this way.

[Tatsujin]

Buddhism in Thailand ain't what it used to be... and it's not the 'Buddhism" that's the culprit it's the Phra Suthep's and Phra Issara's and all the others who make a mockery out of a wonderful philosophy

Seriously? You're blaming the mess called "Buddhism" here in Thailand solely on Suthep and Issara?

"all the others who make a mockery out of a wonderful philosophy" ... that would be every single Thai in Thailand that makes merit and wishes for a lottery win (or similar) ... i.e. give me what I ask for, and here's something to sweeten the deal ...

[Lovekorat]

I don't know what all the fuss is about.

Thailand isn't a Buddhist country at all.

Oh it says it is but it doesn't take long to realise it's all an act.

One of the first things I read that The Lord Buddha said was "everything is not self"

In Thailand 'everything' is self.

Greed, corruption, violence etc., are not part of his teachings.

Buddhist country?

Yeah right!

Course it is.

[gandalf12]

This film was not even on my radar, now I am inclined to see it just to see what all the fuss is about.....a ban is good publicity.

It is the sort of publicity that money can not buy

[razer]

I agree, the way Buddhism is practiced in Thailand is a lot different than other parts of Asia. Here it seems to be a tool to redeem oneself for bad behavior and not much more as if making merit takes away the pain one causes others ... it makes things right for the offender.

I think it comes down to one word ... respect ... something that is rare in Thailand. There is respect for family, the rich, the powerful but not much more.

[dageurreotype]

Buddhism in Thailand ain't what it used to be... and it's not the 'Buddhism" that's the culprit it's the Phra Suthep's and Phra Issara's and all the others who make a mockery out of a wonderful philosophy

Seriously? You're blaming the mess called "Buddhism" here in Thailand solely on Suthep and Issara?

"all the others who make a mockery out of a wonderful philosophy" ... that would be every single Thai in Thailand that makes merit and wishes for a lottery win (or similar) ... i.e. give me what I ask for, and here's something to sweeten the deal ...

It's the ones driving their newly bought on credit cars to the local temple to be blessed that really piss me off. Oh and the many clay chickens with 'ruay nergn' written on them. This 'merit' thing IMV merely propagates the 'I won't do anything unless I get something back' attitude.

[carlyai]

The day Thai's get back to understanding that "Buddhism" is really about, the better off the country will be.

It certainly isn't about bowing and scraping to pretend monks, lavishing millions of Baht to build bigger and better temples, trying buy favour for the next life, together with all the mumbo jumbo attached to this pretence of what started out as a basic philosophy for life and is now so far removed from it -- it is out of sight.

Not correct. In fact it is nearly within sight. There is a temple nestled into the mountains near Kuchinari that we visit every Buddhist day.

Quiet, not 'over the top', friendly, good chanting and a great place to get back in touch with yourself.

I think the Thais that visit this temple do understand.

I would say there are many more small temples around where people do understand their meaning of Buddhism.

[LannaGuy]

Buddhism in Thailand ain't what it used to be... and it's not the 'Buddhism" that's the culprit it's the Phra Suthep's and Phra Issara's and all the others who make a mockery out of a wonderful philosophy

Seriously? You're blaming the mess called "Buddhism" here in Thailand solely on Suthep and Issara?

"all the others who make a mockery out of a wonderful philosophy" ... that would be every single Thai in Thailand that makes merit and wishes for a lottery win (or similar) ... i.e. give me what I ask for, and here's something to sweeten the deal ...

not at all they are simply examples as I made CLEAR when i said "all the others" meaning most Thais

[Ace of Pop]

[huangnon]

If you need a "Ministry Of Culture", you probably don't have any in the first place.

Although this org was initially headed up by progeny of Provincial "Godfather" and convicted murderer "Kamnan Poh". About says it all really.

[faraday]

Can't comment directly about the movie, as I haven't seen it.

I guess most of us remember the kerfuffle that surrounded "Jesus Christ Superstar". Many religious groups said it was disresptful to God. I didn't think it was,in fact having been brought up in a strong Catholic family, I think it brought the attention of God to the 'masses'.

So, in that respect, I thought it was good. Surely the 'banned movie' is attempting to demonstrate morality - is that such a bad thing?

In later years, with regard ti Catholicism, I found all the sexual scandal, & the immense wealth of the Vatican, made me feel uncomfortable.

Although Buddhism is not classified as a religion, because He was a man, this is also true with many other such avatars.

After all, religious groups are run by men...& we are not perfect.

[skildpadden]

Bangkok Post also runs a commentary on the movie that is worth reading too.

In this commentary there is also a very interesting story that the military requested removal of a story on the personal rift between two generals.

[AJBangkok]

You will never see a thai TV show or movie showing a corrupt politician, government official or policeman either as its illegal too.. What is the government afraid of?

[klauskunkel]

The readiness to defend one's religion against perceived threats is laudable

This "readiness" is not praiseworthy at all. It can all too easily grow into eagerness and self-righteousness, and from there into extremism.

A worthy religion does not require defense at all, it realizes it's flaws and fixes them. (And if it wants to, it can use "thou" and "thy" to do it. )

A militant religion, o.t.h. requires defense.

[Card]

And Mohammed was a man, and Joseph smith was a man

Yes, but they worship a God. Buddhists worship a man.

[oxo1947]

The movie will be shown in Thailand.................(news 2 hours ago)........with cuts.................

sorry I can not post the link.....because its from you know where newspaper............but Google Arbat will get it for you

Edited October 15, 2015 by oxo1947