Thai editorial: New Supreme Patriarch has mountain to climb

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New Supreme Patriarch has mountain to climb
By The Nation

 

Thai Buddhism, which he now supervises, is deeply flawed and has many issues to deal with

 

BANGKOK: -- Just a few days ago, one of Thailand’s most potentially explosive controversies came to a peaceful conclusion. The appointment of the country’s new Supreme Patriarch was met with vast acceptance, belying a vociferous showdown that toed political lines and threatened to tear the religious landscape apart. But the fact that we have averted a major disaster doesn’t mean all is now well with our national state of Buddhism. 

 

The confrontation was an immediate danger. The issue of appointing a new Supreme Patriarch has become deeply politicised, raising a resounding question whether worse things were likely to happen in the name of “protecting Buddhism”, a religion that really promotes the turning of the other cheek. The showdown reeked of everything that was the exact opposite of the religion – greed, anger, ego and the urge to control.

 

But at long last, the new Supreme Patriarch has been appointed, without any untoward incident. The new head of Thai Buddhist monks is well recognised, respectable and compassionate. He has all the qualities needed for the post, and his appointment had a calming effect on what was a fragile situation.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/today_editorial/30306731

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-20

[Epidemiologist Dave]

 I hope the Supreme Patriarch receives all the help he needs to carry out reforms but I have concerns that a 90 year old person can be successful.

[Krataiboy]

• Thai editorial: New Supreme Patriarch has mountain to climb

Don't forget the oxygen.

[bangon04]

Forget the mountain climbing.... go sit under a nice shady tree and stop eating or drinking. Clarity will come to you.

[ratcatcher]

5 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

• Thai editorial: New Supreme Patriarch has mountain to climb

Don't forget the oxygen.

While Dhammachaiyo is still running loose he will n everest until he's found.

[bangrak]

Great that there is a new Supreme Patriarch, great he is in good health, great he seems to be, according to what we are told(!), close(r) to the essence and principles of Buddhism! I know it's the way it goes in that flawed system, but sad he is that old though.

Now the S. Sangha C. by this has a new head, great too, but... The eardeafening silence of the S. Sangha C. about the accumulated 'excesses', of the person called Dhammajayo, and, more recently, of the so-called 'monks' and other fanatic(!) followers of his personal(!) cult called Dhammakaya, throws kind of a, erm, dark veil over the beginning of his tenure.

The previous Supreme Patriach, then, years ago, repeatedly, strongly, criticised, with clear and pertinent arguments at hand, the abuse(!) of Buddhist principles and teaching by Dhammajayo and his Dhammakaya, wanting him to be disrobed and his cult to be brought back in line with what true Buddhism is about. All of it was simply brushed aside by the S. Sangha C. he though presided, f.i. arguing that 'monk' had been paying back the money he had 'appropriated' for himself(!) (not even so, in fact new 'donations' from his dedicated followers did finance it, he never gave one Baht back) and by doing so his 'mistake' had been 'repaired' (the long story in a nutshell), and there was no reason to punish him, case closed...

Well, there's the 'disturbing' bit for me: a majority of the Somdets (über-monks, average age just below 90, thanks to one about 70) seating in the S. Sangha C., which, let's not forget 'rules' over Bhuddism in Thailand, was then clearly 'in favour of' (fill that in the way you feel) ...Dhammajayo's personal Dhammakaya sect. That's the counsil the new Supreme Patriarch chairs, not to forget one is the Somdet who was 'acting Patriarch' for years (yes, the classic Mercedes collector) who had been Dhammajayo's preceptor/master, and 'probably' a strong ally of...

So... What will prevail? The slotmachine money-money, 'magical'-superstitious pseudo-Buddhism, most 'wats' seem to thrive(!) on, since way too long? Worse, the, plain abusive, Dhammakaya, Moon/Goebbels inspired, totally materialistic and deadly dangerous, 'pay for your redemption or rot in hell' sect? ...Or back-to-the-essence-true-Buddhism? Or ...? And, being in Thailand, the odds are?

You tell!