Thai editorial: True faith will always resist force

[webfact]

True faith will always resist force
By The Nation

 

The government needs an entirely different approach in dealing with the global powerhouse of Dhammakaya-style Buddhism

 

BANGKOK: -- It is wrong to use force to try and “manage” matters of religion. The junta-led government’s dealings with controversial Wat Dhammakaya have now seen an already tricky situation become far more complicated with extremist Buddhist monk Wirathu of Myanmar rallying to the temple’s side and a devotee hanging himself in protest against the use of drastic state measures in the crackdown.

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s further invocation of Article 44 of the interim constitution to replace the chief of the National Office of Buddhism only reflects the junta’s ignorance. Phanom Sornsilp has been told to stand down in favour of Pongporn Parmsneh, who was in charge of taxation crime at the Department of Special Investigations (DSI). Phanom was sacked because he failed to bring the situation at Wat Dhammakaya under control.

 

Dhammakaya is by some accounts the largest Buddhist temple in the world, with more than 100 branches, its headquarters in Pathum Thani alone covering 2,000 rai. Its global following numbers in the millions. Established in 1970 by a group including Kasetsart University graduate Chaiyabun Sutthiphon – ordained as Chaiyabun Dhammachayo – the intention from the outset was to promote the faith in new ways. While it’s always been common practice for Thai men of a certain age to spend time as monks, Chaiyabun aimed for no less than making Buddhism the greatest of religions.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/today_editorial/30307410

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-28

[jerojero]

"
He's got the whole world in his hands, in his hands....he's got the whole wide world...

[whatawonderfulday]

3 minutes ago, jerojero said:

"
He's got the whole world in his hands, in his hands....he's got the whole wide world...

just replace world with "government"  and his hands with "their pockets"

[rodney earl]

FAITH - Is the process of non thinking.!!

[Dagnabbit]

Jeez - who wrote this nonsense 'article'.

 

Maybe if the monk hadn't been involved with embezzlement in the first place, this wouldn't have happened. Maybe if he'd not asked his followers to form a human shield it wouldn't have happened.

 

But nope - blame the authorities for trying to arrest a criminal.

 

Oh and before you say "innocent until proven guilty" - he's definitely a criminal at this point - having avoided arrest.

[sweatalot]

Has nothing to do with religion.

A criminal who used wearing the monk's robe to get his hand on other people's money

and this way got unusually rich and influential

is protected by a criminal organisation which pretends to be a religious group.

 

.

[petermik]

The longer this pans out the more ridiculous it makes ALL parties look

[Krataiboy]

An egregious editorial exercise in twisted logic. No individual or institution, religious or otherwise, should be above the law. And far from those of the so-called "true faith" resisting force, there have been endless cases around the world (including Thailand) of Buddhist monks using force to further a dubious cause.

 

Reading rubbish like this, one can't help feeling that controversial Government plans to reform the media - particularly the proposal to implement a formal journalists' training programme and proper qualifications - are not without merit.

[lungmi]

The largest fake Buddhist sect in the world.

Mafia structures, money cheating, killing the vinayapitaka,

brainwashing, psychoterror with young addicted.

Waco style?

 

 

 

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

ordained as Chaiyabun Dhammachayo – the intention from the outset was to promote the faith in new ways.

If he was listed on the stock market I would definitely buy shares. 

[debate101]

3 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

An egregious editorial exercise in twisted logic. No individual or institution, religious or otherwise, should be above the law. And far from those of the so-called "true faith" resisting force, there have been endless cases around the world (including Thailand) of Buddhist monks using force to further a dubious cause.

 

Reading rubbish like this, one can't help feeling that controversial Government plans to reform the media - particularly the proposal to implement a formal journalists' training programme and proper qualifications - are not without merit.

Well, we're already through the rabbit hole, so it is difficult for anyone to make sense in this environment. Opinion articles have to operate within very strict boundaries that never allow the writer to say what they actually mean. Obviously, the government has taken power by putting themselves above the law. Coups are illegal, and many of the PDRC's activities, for which they will never see consequences, were outright treasonous. Any "justice" that takes place now is essentially vigilante justice. It's just about who wields a bigger stick. People can't say this out loud in mass media, so they have to find other ways to express it.

[lungmi]

"Obviously, the government has taken power by putting themselves above the law. " ??????????????????

Obviously, the Dhammakaya has taken power by putting themselves above the law (The Buddha's Teaching)  and the worldly part.

[Srikcir]

You cannot integrate a specific faith with a secular government and expect both to have the same "high ground" in morality and civility (ie., rule of law). Either the government must become nonsecular consistent with the integrated faith to have a shared morality and civility; or disengage the faith from a secular government whereby the government alone represents the rule of law.

[Krataiboy]

On 2/28/2017 at 2:05 PM, debate101 said:

Well, we're already through the rabbit hole, so it is difficult for anyone to make sense in this environment. Opinion articles have to operate within very strict boundaries that never allow the writer to say what they actually mean. Obviously, the government has taken power by putting themselves above the law. Coups are illegal, and many of the PDRC's activities, for which they will never see consequences, were outright treasonous. Any "justice" that takes place now is essentially vigilante justice. It's just about who wields a bigger stick. People can't say this out loud in mass media, so they have to find other ways to express it.

Agreed. But maybe the journo in question should just have stayed schtum.