PM Prayut assigns Wisanu and Suwaphan to resolve supreme patriarch's appointment issue

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Wisanu and Suwaphan assigned by PM to resolve the supreme patriarch’s appointment issue



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngarm and PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuwatthana have been assigned by the prime minister to find a way out for the controversy regarding the appointment of a new supreme patriarch.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said Thursday that the controversy has dragged on for quite some time and, so far, he still has no answer. He pointed out that the issue has gone to an extent that the two opposing camps have resorted to legal means to press their point of view.

Asked whether the government should seize this opportunity to effect reform in the monastic structure, the prime minister shot back at the reporter who asked the question saying that people themselves should start self-reforming.

“I am in the government and I am a Buddhist but I have to look after the other religions as well. Why don’t we cooperate so that we can co-exist peacefully,” said the prime minister.

He reiterated the 20th supreme patriarch would not be appointed so long as the conflict remains unresolved.

The Sangha Supreme Council has nominated Somdet Phra Maharatchamangalacharn or Somdet Chuang, the abbot of Wat Paknam Phasicharoen and the acting supreme patriarch. A large group of monks led by Phra Metheethammacharn staged a rally at Phutthamonthon Buddhist Park on Monday to demand immediate Royal endorsement of Somdet Chuang’s nomination.

The prime minister said that he didn’t think reforming the monastic structure now would work because the parties in the conflict were not in a mood to listen.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/151485


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-19

[jaywalker]

You'd think somebody with a say in gov't had died & had to be replaced like Antonin Scalia in the US.

Why is the Little General With The Sad Puppy Dog Eyes poking his nose into this?

[FourAces]

Are monks supposed to claim the role as a supreme patriarch's ?

Aren't they supposed to be a monastic order begging for their meals and spend most of their time in meditation and study of the Buddhist texts on the way to the path of enlightenment.

Is a Supreme monk even supposed to exist according to the Buddhist texts.

Would the Buddha be spinning in his non corporeal form, to know this is happening and that the peaceful mediating monk is fighting and demanding immediate Royal endorsement

While dragging in the self imposed leader of a military government to intervene

[Wilsonandson]

He reiterated the 20th supreme patriarch would not be appointed so long as the conflict remains unresolved.

So it's up to Issara to resolve his problem, then the new Supreme Patriarch will be appointed?

Edited February 18, 2016 by Wilsonandson

[SOTIRIOS]

...as for the illegal vehicle(s)........???

[springheeled jack]

I think the buddhist set up in Thailand needs a complete overhaul the monks are not supposed to have material wealth yet one reads about vintage cars and appropriation of land and gold over the years .

[billd766]

He reiterated the 20th supreme patriarch would not be appointed so long as the conflict remains unresolved.

So it's up to Issara to resolve his problem, then the new Supreme Patriarch will be appointed?

More like the Sangha and the SSA need to be dragged, kicking, screaming and protesting into the 21st century.

At the moment it is Buggins turn next.

It doesn't matter if there are monks far more qualified to become the 20th supreme patriarch, it doesn't matter which side you lean towards, it doesn't matter are clean as a whistle or corrupt up to your eyeballs.

It doesn't even matter very much if you only have perhaps one year left to live before the merry-go-round starts again.

It only matters that you are the oldest and longest serving monk around.

Edited February 19, 2016 by billd766