DSI asked to speed up probing Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen abbot's Mercedes

[khaowong1]

Some monks will come from wealthy families, so many of these will have expensive items before they enter the temple as a monk. Just because a man is wealthy and has a collection of cars does not mean that he is a criminal or that he has done anything wrong.

problem with that is that there are rules and regulations concerning monks belongings!

Yes there are, rules and regulations with concern to what monks can own, but those rules have become very, very lax in the last 15 years or so. I only know of 2 or 3 temples in all of Thailand who still adheres to those rules and regulations.

[bangrak]

It is not religions that distort human beings, it's the other way round.

To the Buddhism bashers on this thread, I suggest you guys take a look at how much wealth is in the hands of the Vatican, and to what use it is actually put. I suggest you look at how much money is collected by American preachers of all obediences and where that money goes ... look at the amount of money amassed by the Mormons, by Muslim institutions etc etc etc ...

Innumerable clerics of all religions use their positions to pile up cash, properties and all kinds of not-spiritual-in-the-least treasures.

As long as children in all societies are brought up to think in earnest that believing in God and trusting his self-appointed administration on earth is one-and-the-same thing, humanity will have to put up with these abuses.

Which is why all religions are so eager to have the strongest possible hold on schools. What is taught to us before the age of (roughly) 12 is what we end up considering as principles, not ideas. Looking into that and cleaning up our conditioning is one of the most difficult tasks human beings have to face in their lives. And most of them don't give a rat's ass anyway, they are perfectly happy with principles planted in their heads when they were kids, and totally convinced that they're all their own.

And that makes it so painfull: Buddhism is NOT a religion, but still, it has 'grown' in the wrong direction, to show all the, former and present, diseases of the monotheist religions...

[bangrak]

What classier way to travel to Nirvana? Pink Bentley?

Man, you're the biggest broken record in TVF history. Is there any topic at all that will prevent you from posting something about the reds? How about the weather?

What reds? I mentioned pink...

What an ingenious reply!!

I would definitely have said red than, like red wine, top-notch Bordeaux, what he needs more daily than 'his' pink Bentley, as there is a black one too...

[bangrak]

Because he ostentatiously flaunts the laws regarding use of expensive motor vehicles. But look the other way, he's a red.

BTW you might not defend Chalerm, but you notedly don't criticize the party who appointed him DPM, or the electoral system that allowed it.

What you and your fellow junta lovers often forget is that the reds are no longer in power. If/when they get back in power I will criticize them as they're sure to eff things up. In the mean time I will concentrate on the unelected bunch of #*@! currently in power.

Crazy, right?

Now then, that's clear language! Can you then please give us your 'rating' about Dhammachao and Thaksin. Maybe a few words about their links, too?

[bangrak]

And what about DSI leaders cars ... ? Upssss

Leave Tarit alone, please, he has enough problems with 'his family''s illegal actions, and he just did his best to stall this investigationwhen he was the DSI boss, to please his dear master abroad, who's good friend with Dhammachayo...

[bangrak]

Why does a monk need an expensive, vintage car in the first place?

If the car was offered as a gift, as a Buddhist and following the Buddha's teachings of leading a simple, frugal life, why accept this 'gift' at all?

Or sell it to help the poor with the money? Na-ah, sorry, I was just going a bit crazy...

[bangrak]

Some monks will come from wealthy families, so many of these will have expensive items before they enter the temple as a monk. Just because a man is wealthy and has a collection of cars does not mean that he is a criminal or that he has done anything wrong.

But when being ordained as a monk (not the 3days/1week/3months 'quick wash' thing), shouldn't he shed off all the worldly thingies he owns, to help the poor maybe...?

[cyberfarang]

It is not religions that distort human beings, it's the other way round.

To the Buddhism bashers on this thread, I suggest you guys take a look at how much wealth is in the hands of the Vatican, and to what use it is actually put. I suggest you look at how much money is collected by American preachers of all obediences and where that money goes ... look at the amount of money amassed by the Mormons, by Muslim institutions etc etc etc ...

Innumerable clerics of all religions use their positions to pile up cash, properties and all kinds of not-spiritual-in-the-least treasures.

As long as children in all societies are brought up to think in earnest that believing in God and trusting his self-appointed administration on earth is one-and-the-same thing, humanity will have to put up with these abuses.

Which is why all religions are so eager to have the strongest possible hold on schools. What is taught to us before the age of (roughly) 12 is what we end up considering as principles, not ideas. Looking into that and cleaning up our conditioning is one of the most difficult tasks human beings have to face in their lives. And most of them don't give a rat's ass anyway, they are perfectly happy with principles planted in their heads when they were kids, and totally convinced that they're all their own.

And that makes it so painfull: Buddhism is NOT a religion, but still, it has 'grown' in the wrong direction, to show all the, former and present, diseases of the monotheist religions...

Buddhism may not be a religion, but it`s just as profitable.

[bangrak]

It is not religions that distort human beings, it's the other way round.

To the Buddhism bashers on this thread, I suggest you guys take a look at how much wealth is in the hands of the Vatican, and to what use it is actually put. I suggest you look at how much money is collected by American preachers of all obediences and where that money goes ... look at the amount of money amassed by the Mormons, by Muslim institutions etc etc etc ...

Innumerable clerics of all religions use their positions to pile up cash, properties and all kinds of not-spiritual-in-the-least treasures.

As long as children in all societies are brought up to think in earnest that believing in God and trusting his self-appointed administration on earth is one-and-the-same thing, humanity will have to put up with these abuses.

Which is why all religions are so eager to have the strongest possible hold on schools. What is taught to us before the age of (roughly) 12 is what we end up considering as principles, not ideas. Looking into that and cleaning up our conditioning is one of the most difficult tasks human beings have to face in their lives. And most of them don't give a rat's ass anyway, they are perfectly happy with principles planted in their heads when they were kids, and totally convinced that they're all their own.

And that makes it so painfull: Buddhism is NOT a religion, but still, it has 'grown' in the wrong direction, to show all the, former and present, diseases of the monotheist religions...

Buddhism may not be a religion, but it`s just as profitable.

A good one, and sadly very true!

[fosseway]

I would suggest that a vintage Mercedes soft top in that condition is probably worth more than 4 million baht!

I would love to buy it for 4 Million Baht. With good provenance it would probably be worth at least double that amount.

[Puccini]

And that makes it so painfull: Buddhism is NOT a religion, but still, it has 'grown' in the wrong direction, to show all the, former and present, diseases of the monotheist religions...

Whereas Buddhism may originally not have been intended as a religion the last Constitution of Thailand and earlier versions called it a religion and so will probably the next Constitution. From the English translation of the 2007 Constitution:

Section 79. The State shall patronise and protect Buddhism as the religion observed by most Thais for a long period of time...