Dhammakaya followers demand Thammasat to take action against the temple’s critic

[webfact]

Dhammakaya followers demand Thammasat to take action against the temple’s critic



BANGKOK: -- Faithful followers of Wat Dhammakaya this morning (Monday) went to the Rangsit campus of Thammasat Univeristy to demand the university’s administration to investigate the conduct of Dr Mano Laohavanich for allegedly defaming the temple’s abbot, Phra Dhammachayo.

Led by Mr Ai Petthong, representative of the followers, and Mr Ong-art Thamnitha, spokesman of the followers, the group submitted four petitions addressing to the university’s rector, a panel responsible for code of conduct, president of the council of lecturers and dean of the Chulabhorn International College of Medicine.

The group claimed that they wanted to seek justice from the rector of the university over the alleged misconduct of Dr Mano who gave misleading information to the media and state agencies in a way which defame Phra Dhammachayo.

The demanded that the four entities investigate the conduct of Dr Mano to determine if he had broken any code of conduct.

Mr Somsak Hongsappinyo, director of general affairs of Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus, said he would pass on the four petitions to relevant units.

A former close aide of Phra Dhammachayo, Dr Mano has been a vocal critic of the embattled abbot and has exposed the abbot’s alleged misconduct.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/166201

-- Thai PBS 2016-06-06

[colinneil]

When will these clowns supporters of a criminal monk ever stop.

He has defied the law, he has hidden behind his saffron robes.

How can any honest person support what has been going on???

[MaxLee]

Why do those greedy fake clown monks have to pull innocent students into this mess, too??

SMMFH

[Pimay1]

It gets more ridiculous by the day.

[trogers]

Did the Buddha found Nirvana through money? And the path this temple and it's followers are taking is?

Edited June 6, 2016 by trogers

[Caveat Emptor]

Best form of defence is attack although I do believe the followers are convinced he's done nothing wrong.

[Tatsujin]

Some "supporters" (suckers) need to take a long hard look at themselves and at who is doing what and how.

That place has zero to do with any known religion and is purely there to fund some very lavish lifestyles and to "clean" a few things.

[Tatsujin]

Best form of defence is attack although I do believe the followers are convinced he's done nothing wrong.

Yes, much like every member of any other CULT in the world.

[BlackJack]

[Chang_paarp]

Bunch of clowns looking for a circus.

[gandalf12]

Best form of defence is attack although I do believe the followers are convinced he's done nothing wrong.

It just goes to show how stupid some people can be

[sweatalot]

this is really unbelievable.

The wrongdoers want to occupie justice for them and against their rightful accusers

law upside down

Edited June 6, 2016 by sweatalot

[MaxLee]

Students, boycott Thammasat now, and do not return until this mess is cleaned up, if you value your life.

[Rayk]

The simple fact of the matter is this.

These people that are supporting this criminal are only doing so for their own benefit/protection.

They know perfectly well that once the DSI interviews Phra Dhammachayo that he is going to spill the beans as they say on everyone that he has laundered money for.

And by the looks of it Mr Ai Petthong is one of those fearful of himself being exposed.

Edited June 6, 2016 by Rayk

[Sunderland]

There is more common sense to be found in a fart.

[scorecard]

May be true.

I suspect somewhere in this tangle we have many hundreds of thousands of folks who have simply been brainwashed, all helped along by the desire of many (Thais and others) to be seen by others to be following the latest fad.

What's going to happen when some then more realize that they have been conned on several fronts, including following false teachings which clash with the real and enlightened teachings of the the buddha?

What's going to happen with these same folks when (if) more evidence makes it clear that this is just a money (big money) making enterprise and not much more?

Will there be angry past followers who start to demand to know where there donations have gone?

Will the big man disappear?

Will be there be other buddhists (often poor, often the backbone of the local village temple) who become more outspoken to criticize false teachings, love of money and materialism (all sins in terms of real buddhist teachings), when in fact the donations could have been put to much better use to at least support the desperately poor and disadvantaged.

Edited June 6, 2016 by scorecard

[Lannig]

I very much doubt that many of these brainwashed followers will ever realize how much they've been conned.

Even if they do, the Buddhist fatalism + ingrained respect for everything (even the worst) wearing a saffron robe will probably cut short any reaction.

[bwpage3]

Lack of education in the face of blaring evidence is a dangerous thing.

Thai's are a danger to themselves with this uneducated behavior.

[hookedondhamma]

He's already broken one of the four major rules that automatically makes him disrobe, which also disqualifies him from ordaining again in this lifetime. Same as neinkham.

People can be smart and still do despicable things. That imposter knows exactly how to draw in naive people and make them even moreso (pay out to sit as close as possible to their 'arahant' monk who says steve jobs is an ogre).

However the fault lies on all sides and not just damnachayo.

The sangha council is irrelevant in this case; they want to avoid confrontation and not lose face even more.

It's up to prayut but damnikaya runs deep all over the world. Could've possibly stopped it way back but they let a creature grow into a monster. Now they have to deal with it.

[longtom]

May be true.

I suspect somewhere in this tangle we have many hundreds of thousands of folks who have simply been brainwashed, all helped along by the desire of many (Thais and others) to be seen by others to be following the latest fad.

What's going to happen when some then more realize that they have been conned on several fronts, including following false teachings which clash with the real and enlightened teachings of the the buddha?

What's going to happen with these same folks when (if) more evidence makes it clear that this is just a money (big money) making enterprise and not much more?

Will there be angry past followers who start to demand to know where there donations have gone?

Will the big man disappear?

Will be there be other buddhists (often poor, often the backbone of the local village temple) who become more outspoken to criticize false teachings, love of money and materialism (all sins in terms of real buddhist teachings), when in fact the donations could have been put to much better use to at least support the desperately poor and disadvantaged.

As you said yourself, if the followers have a little bit of brain left then they know exactly that Dammachayo's claims are actually against all of Buddha's teachings.

They are just in it for the shortcut to 'heaven' (or more mundane reasons like money laundering).

[halloween]

Well heaven has proven to be a theologically attractive concept. Multi-millions of christians and muslims can't be wrong! (actually they can, but that's a different subject). So his melding of Buddhist and monotheistic dogma seems to congeal into an attractive package, which sells like hotcakes for those who want it, with the advantage of novelty to most Thais, and definitely lucrative to the promoter. Adherents are highly unlikely to accept the rational arguments of sceptics after they have invested a large portion of their accumulated wealth in a pearly gates entry pass, it would mean admitting their own stupidity.

Given a bit more sociopath and a large dose of venality, I might even give it a run myself.

[Wilsonandson]

Best form of defence is attack although I do believe the followers are convinced he's done nothing wrong.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush although I do believe the sheep are bothering the cattle in this case a hurd of buffalos. Edited June 6, 2016 by Wilsonandson

[Misterwhisper]

Why is this "representative" dressed like a pimp?

[lungmi]

Money making sects have big protection everywhere.

Scientology in the US still works, in parts of EU forbidden.

[lungmi]

Money making sects have big protection everywhere.

Scientology in the US still works, in parts of EU forbidden.

[Wilsonandson]

Money making sects have big protection everywhere.

Scientology in the US still works, in parts of EU forbidden.

Yes, your right. Now I know what they can do when they close down Wat Dhammakaya. They can turn it into Thailand's first casino. Pathumthani will be the new Las Vegas and Wat Dhammakaya the new Sands casino on sunset strip.

[ChrisY1]

Why don't these lunatic just take their case to court?

[MaxLee]

Buddhism, the ultimate facade to cover up corruption and crime in Thailand....

[wabothai]

this whole thing may end up with the military returning to the barracks.

Government versus buddhism? buddhism wins.