TBH if you actually live in Thailand you will know that most people actually support bringing the temple down. The country is split in their opinions about the government but the majority of us agree on this issue. Even though there’s not much news about this subject in the western media I have seen that most of the news sympathises with the temple. This temple is an abomination to the buddhist community. The abbot is a fraud. I have driven around the temple (for fun) and have heard many things broadcasted within the temple that goes against the Buddhist teachings. This temple should not label itself Buddhist because it is clearly not. I am not even buddhism but I believe in legitimacy.
Buddhism is Asian in origin, and the vast majority of its adherents are Asian. What these Asian Buddhists actually believe and practice is ‘real Buddhism’. What Westerners choose to believe or imagine isn’t really that important.
Form many years…The Dhammakaya Temple never waverde from created world peace, and deliver The Lord Buddha’s words and method of meditation. Please consider again, The goverment is over acting to arrest the monk don’t you think? I feel sorry for all Buddhist 🙁
Thadchawan, the situation is indeed dire; electronic sources at the temple complex have been cut; food has been purposely restricted from coming into the temple; one sick woman died last week because of Article 44 road barriers obstructed an ambulance fom reaching her on time. and guess what? western media have no idea because the military amaat regime control sources of information out of the country (*ABC news this morning in Australia had a story on a sick Thai tortoise who ate coins! the only other story out of Thailand was a few weeks ago on a sick elephant with a broken leg being looked after by the army: [welcome to the new world of single gateway and propaganda!])
Maybe. On balance I don’t think I agree (for whatever that might be worth). Prem would rather have poked himself in the eye, as is attested by the wikileaks docs. I also doubt that the delay was anything to do with striking deals but was possibly a warning message to the army, including Prem who will not be unseated but will allowed to retain tenure for what is left of his worthless life.
The pieces are being moved on the board, but I have to say the Dammakayo matter is a bit expected, together with the change in responsibility for appointing the supreme patriarch. I suspect Prayuth is being a very stupid man.
Hardly surprising perhaps because he is a very stupid man.
Najib will use this opportunity to improve relations with the US . Providing information to US on N Korea will be a plus for US-Malaysia relationship and perhaps the DOJ will adjourn that legal suit against No1 Malaysia public officer sine die till limitation period sets in.
The other way to deflect attention from the ‘top bottom’ culture of corruption in Malaysia is to suggest that ISIL is trying to bomb Malaysia. The agreements entered between the US and Malaysia on terrorism alos helps Najib. US does not care about the corruption in Malaysia, or the Rule of Law deficit so long as Malaysia supports the US in its fight against terrorism.
So Najib will survive all this flack, UMNO and BN will win and ‘business will be usual’ in Malaysia. This problem in Malaysia is not a Non-Malay vs Malay problem.
Additionally, infact, Malays and Non-Malays have come together to face a strong Chinese, Indian and Malay BN party that is in power.
This sect temple should be closed forever. He has nothing to do with real Buddhism. It’s all about money and power. The followers are manipulated by intensive brainwashing
In your article you have addressed many problems and made many daring statements regarding the current situations in Thailand. Let us spread this information as much as we can, so that people understand what is going on rather than to believe propaganda.
We are so afraid that Junta will take serious action against the temple within 7-11 March as an armed policeman around 500 people from nearby province heading to Dhammakaya. There are almost 10,000 unarmed monks, women, children and elderly people at the temple. As the army & policeman are no longer do their job to protect innocent people. “We need any kind of your immediate help to save innocent life.
Grossly impoverishing it may well be, but for how much longer will the military/Ammart alliance have to continue robbing the country, and by definition its people, until they are so impoverished as to not worry about that anymore?
There are, I think, a couple of possible catalysts. The most likely is the ending of the (already meager) universal health care system, which is rather hovering in the wings. The total collapse of the tourist industry, due to a number of self inflicted damaging acts is an also ran.
Jim,
Can you elaborate on your sources for interpreting the intentions of the junta? Particularly with regards to a) the plan to siphon off Dhammakaya’s financial wealth, b) the plan to similarly target other temples, c) to bureaucratically restructure Sangha-state relations, and d) to change rules about disrobing, etc.
I have read news reports that Dhammakaya members fear that police and military will try to steal statues and wealth. But haven’t heard worries about a more systematic looting. Much less the other things you mention. But I haven’t been digging deep into the news either.
The “New King”, whatever or whoever he may have associated with previously, owes his place on the throne to the Ammart/military alliance (specifically Prem). That’s why the formal accession was delayed for, what, 6 weeks or so? The deals needed to be struck and the parameters set. The deal? You reign, we rule.
thanks Peter, a really good question and puzzling for me too, but I think the main reason is the 1941 Act would do away with the Supreme Sangha Council (Council of Elders/ MahatheraSamakon) and increased lay admin control over monastic affairs (though Ministry of Culture),,,a weaker more diffuse sangha (ironically easier to control than a powerful centralised sangha); one whereby the administrative structure of the sangha also becomes a replica of the political and administrative system of the civil government. The royally appointed Supreme Patrarch could again (unlike the later current Act) be appointed for life– but an individual favourable to the royalists and amaat regime, thus there would be no further contestations for the position from the Mahanikai (remember the complicated case of the late Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara of Wat Boworn?) The category of monastic property that does not come under various individual monasteries would then belong to the the central religious authorities under Department of religious Affairs, Min of Culture. The 1941 Act does not have such a powerful line of ranked monks controlling the sangha. Essentially, as I see it, the junta want to get rid of the MahatheraSamakon and the /autonomous/ power of the Phra’rajakhana monks,,,
Readers should refer to the excellent discussion by Peter in his “Buddhism, Legitimation and Conflict…” Ishii (who Tambiah refers to) and Somboon (who questions whether the 1941 Act was actually “democratic”) are also useful refs.
This analysis focuses only on political factors in the context of the present government as if they could explain the whole situation. For many years there have been prominent Thai Buddhists (progressive monks and lay people who are at the same time government critics and pro-democracy activists not aligned with the powers that be) who have called for a decisive action to curb the Dhammakaya organization purely on religious grounds. If left unchecked, they fear, Dhammakaya would take over control over the Thai Sangha and brainwash the new generation of school children (as they proposed to do with their compulsory Buddhism training centres under the previous government). Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa warned against this, and conservationist monk Ajahn Paisal Visalo wrote:
“Make things right. If past misconducts required defrockment, no matter how long a period has passed, what is wrong is wrong. If you are no longer a monk, whatever you do under claimed monkhood should be revoked. Many people say why revive the Dhammakaya issue to stir divisions. My view is that if we do not tackle the problem correctly and justly, the problem may calm down only temporarily. New problems will flare up again.
For example, the Dhammachayo court case ended suspiciously in 1999. Sixteen years later, it became a big issue again. On the dhamma front, the Supreme Sangha Council’s resolution countered the late Supreme Patriarch’s ruling and the monastic codes of conduct. On the legal front, the attorney-general abruptly withdrew the lawsuit although the court case was near its ending. It is only normal that there have been calls to revive the case. If we want to close this case, it must end with what is right and transparent.
I don’t believe in the use of power, be it power from an elected government or a coup-installed one. The result from the use of power is only temporary.
For example, if the government sponsors a new Sangha bill to abolish the Sangha Council, reduces its role to being only an advisory board, and replaces it with a more vigorous executive body, I still don’t think those measures will succeed.
We can expect to see mass protests by monks against such a bill. Back in 2002, the Dhammakaya scandal also prompted a draft bill to reform the clergy. Under that draft bill, the Sangha Council became an advisory board with a new executive body called Maha Kanissorn. It got cabinet approval but it did not make it to parliament because of mass protests by monks. It was finally shelved.” (Forest abbot warns Sangha reform ‘urgent’ – 12 March 2015)
Thank you Jim for this really timely and suggestive overview. As we know, Wat Phra Thammakai has been highly controversial for decades, so the most interesting question is not why the authorities are acting but rather WHY NOW?
I’m intrigued by your suggestion that other wealthy, and much more mainstream, Thai monasteries might have their wealth targeted too. Can you let us know what leads you to suggest that?
I’m perplexed though for why the current military government would want to re-institute the 1941 Sangha Act, which was modelled on an essentially democratic administration for Thai Buddhism in which monks voted for their administrative heads — under the 1941 Sangha Act there was no Sangharaja (as now) but rather a Sangha-nayok, or Sangha Prime Minister. To me, the current (recently modified) Sangha Act, which centralises decisions on senior administrative appointments to the government, and now the king, would seem more amenable for a military dictatorship that is intent on controlling Thai Buddhism.
Your analysis only considers the external political aspects as if they could fully explain the current situation and overlooks the fact that prominent Thai Buddhists (both progressive monks and lay people who are also critics of the government and not aligned with the wealthy elites) have been for years calling for some decisive action to deal with the Dhammakaya issue purely on religious grounds.
Sulak Sivaraksa, a Thai historian and founding member of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, echoed the thoughts of many Thais when he wrote on Facebook that the “money and power of Wat Phra Dhammakaya monks . . . can buy almost all of the Sangha members.” https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/unholy-alliance/
An interesting, informative and well-explained article James, thank you.
It did however give me a bit of a giggle, it seems that every day, something else happens to illustrate the real nature of the treasonous clowns that have pronounced themselves the government of Thailand.
I have to admit that watching the circus they customarily create gives me immense amusement and entertainment. If it wasn’t so tragic for the Thai people it would be comical.
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The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
TBH if you actually live in Thailand you will know that most people actually support bringing the temple down. The country is split in their opinions about the government but the majority of us agree on this issue. Even though there’s not much news about this subject in the western media I have seen that most of the news sympathises with the temple. This temple is an abomination to the buddhist community. The abbot is a fraud. I have driven around the temple (for fun) and have heard many things broadcasted within the temple that goes against the Buddhist teachings. This temple should not label itself Buddhist because it is clearly not. I am not even buddhism but I believe in legitimacy.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
Buddhism is Asian in origin, and the vast majority of its adherents are Asian. What these Asian Buddhists actually believe and practice is ‘real Buddhism’. What Westerners choose to believe or imagine isn’t really that important.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
Form many years…The Dhammakaya Temple never waverde from created world peace, and deliver The Lord Buddha’s words and method of meditation. Please consider again, The goverment is over acting to arrest the monk don’t you think? I feel sorry for all Buddhist 🙁
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
Thadchawan, the situation is indeed dire; electronic sources at the temple complex have been cut; food has been purposely restricted from coming into the temple; one sick woman died last week because of Article 44 road barriers obstructed an ambulance fom reaching her on time. and guess what? western media have no idea because the military amaat regime control sources of information out of the country (*ABC news this morning in Australia had a story on a sick Thai tortoise who ate coins! the only other story out of Thailand was a few weeks ago on a sick elephant with a broken leg being looked after by the army: [welcome to the new world of single gateway and propaganda!])
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
Though this is not my way of Buddhism, I respect those people’s right to do their religious believe. The Junta should stop invading the temple.
Private: Grieving as Thainess in 2017
Maybe. On balance I don’t think I agree (for whatever that might be worth). Prem would rather have poked himself in the eye, as is attested by the wikileaks docs. I also doubt that the delay was anything to do with striking deals but was possibly a warning message to the army, including Prem who will not be unseated but will allowed to retain tenure for what is left of his worthless life.
The pieces are being moved on the board, but I have to say the Dammakayo matter is a bit expected, together with the change in responsibility for appointing the supreme patriarch. I suspect Prayuth is being a very stupid man.
Hardly surprising perhaps because he is a very stupid man.
Malaysia’s criminal state of mind
Najib will use this opportunity to improve relations with the US . Providing information to US on N Korea will be a plus for US-Malaysia relationship and perhaps the DOJ will adjourn that legal suit against No1 Malaysia public officer sine die till limitation period sets in.
The other way to deflect attention from the ‘top bottom’ culture of corruption in Malaysia is to suggest that ISIL is trying to bomb Malaysia. The agreements entered between the US and Malaysia on terrorism alos helps Najib. US does not care about the corruption in Malaysia, or the Rule of Law deficit so long as Malaysia supports the US in its fight against terrorism.
So Najib will survive all this flack, UMNO and BN will win and ‘business will be usual’ in Malaysia. This problem in Malaysia is not a Non-Malay vs Malay problem.
Additionally, infact, Malays and Non-Malays have come together to face a strong Chinese, Indian and Malay BN party that is in power.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
This sect temple should be closed forever. He has nothing to do with real Buddhism. It’s all about money and power. The followers are manipulated by intensive brainwashing
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
Good work, Jim Taylor. Many of your works have been used in the Wikipedia article about the temple (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Phra_Dhammakaya).
In your article you have addressed many problems and made many daring statements regarding the current situations in Thailand. Let us spread this information as much as we can, so that people understand what is going on rather than to believe propaganda.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
We are so afraid that Junta will take serious action against the temple within 7-11 March as an armed policeman around 500 people from nearby province heading to Dhammakaya. There are almost 10,000 unarmed monks, women, children and elderly people at the temple. As the army & policeman are no longer do their job to protect innocent people. “We need any kind of your immediate help to save innocent life.
Private: Grieving as Thainess in 2017
Grossly impoverishing it may well be, but for how much longer will the military/Ammart alliance have to continue robbing the country, and by definition its people, until they are so impoverished as to not worry about that anymore?
There are, I think, a couple of possible catalysts. The most likely is the ending of the (already meager) universal health care system, which is rather hovering in the wings. The total collapse of the tourist industry, due to a number of self inflicted damaging acts is an also ran.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
Revoke Article 44, Now.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
Jim,
Can you elaborate on your sources for interpreting the intentions of the junta? Particularly with regards to a) the plan to siphon off Dhammakaya’s financial wealth, b) the plan to similarly target other temples, c) to bureaucratically restructure Sangha-state relations, and d) to change rules about disrobing, etc.
I have read news reports that Dhammakaya members fear that police and military will try to steal statues and wealth. But haven’t heard worries about a more systematic looting. Much less the other things you mention. But I haven’t been digging deep into the news either.
Thanks,
Erick
Private: Grieving as Thainess in 2017
The “New King”, whatever or whoever he may have associated with previously, owes his place on the throne to the Ammart/military alliance (specifically Prem). That’s why the formal accession was delayed for, what, 6 weeks or so? The deals needed to be struck and the parameters set. The deal? You reign, we rule.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
thanks Peter, a really good question and puzzling for me too, but I think the main reason is the 1941 Act would do away with the Supreme Sangha Council (Council of Elders/ MahatheraSamakon) and increased lay admin control over monastic affairs (though Ministry of Culture),,,a weaker more diffuse sangha (ironically easier to control than a powerful centralised sangha); one whereby the administrative structure of the sangha also becomes a replica of the political and administrative system of the civil government. The royally appointed Supreme Patrarch could again (unlike the later current Act) be appointed for life– but an individual favourable to the royalists and amaat regime, thus there would be no further contestations for the position from the Mahanikai (remember the complicated case of the late Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara of Wat Boworn?) The category of monastic property that does not come under various individual monasteries would then belong to the the central religious authorities under Department of religious Affairs, Min of Culture. The 1941 Act does not have such a powerful line of ranked monks controlling the sangha. Essentially, as I see it, the junta want to get rid of the MahatheraSamakon and the /autonomous/ power of the Phra’rajakhana monks,,,
Readers should refer to the excellent discussion by Peter in his “Buddhism, Legitimation and Conflict…” Ishii (who Tambiah refers to) and Somboon (who questions whether the 1941 Act was actually “democratic”) are also useful refs.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
This analysis focuses only on political factors in the context of the present government as if they could explain the whole situation. For many years there have been prominent Thai Buddhists (progressive monks and lay people who are at the same time government critics and pro-democracy activists not aligned with the powers that be) who have called for a decisive action to curb the Dhammakaya organization purely on religious grounds. If left unchecked, they fear, Dhammakaya would take over control over the Thai Sangha and brainwash the new generation of school children (as they proposed to do with their compulsory Buddhism training centres under the previous government). Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa warned against this, and conservationist monk Ajahn Paisal Visalo wrote:
“Make things right. If past misconducts required defrockment, no matter how long a period has passed, what is wrong is wrong. If you are no longer a monk, whatever you do under claimed monkhood should be revoked. Many people say why revive the Dhammakaya issue to stir divisions. My view is that if we do not tackle the problem correctly and justly, the problem may calm down only temporarily. New problems will flare up again.
For example, the Dhammachayo court case ended suspiciously in 1999. Sixteen years later, it became a big issue again. On the dhamma front, the Supreme Sangha Council’s resolution countered the late Supreme Patriarch’s ruling and the monastic codes of conduct. On the legal front, the attorney-general abruptly withdrew the lawsuit although the court case was near its ending. It is only normal that there have been calls to revive the case. If we want to close this case, it must end with what is right and transparent.
I don’t believe in the use of power, be it power from an elected government or a coup-installed one. The result from the use of power is only temporary.
For example, if the government sponsors a new Sangha bill to abolish the Sangha Council, reduces its role to being only an advisory board, and replaces it with a more vigorous executive body, I still don’t think those measures will succeed.
We can expect to see mass protests by monks against such a bill. Back in 2002, the Dhammakaya scandal also prompted a draft bill to reform the clergy. Under that draft bill, the Sangha Council became an advisory board with a new executive body called Maha Kanissorn. It got cabinet approval but it did not make it to parliament because of mass protests by monks. It was finally shelved.” (Forest abbot warns Sangha reform ‘urgent’ – 12 March 2015)
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
Thank you Jim for this really timely and suggestive overview. As we know, Wat Phra Thammakai has been highly controversial for decades, so the most interesting question is not why the authorities are acting but rather WHY NOW?
I’m intrigued by your suggestion that other wealthy, and much more mainstream, Thai monasteries might have their wealth targeted too. Can you let us know what leads you to suggest that?
I’m perplexed though for why the current military government would want to re-institute the 1941 Sangha Act, which was modelled on an essentially democratic administration for Thai Buddhism in which monks voted for their administrative heads — under the 1941 Sangha Act there was no Sangharaja (as now) but rather a Sangha-nayok, or Sangha Prime Minister. To me, the current (recently modified) Sangha Act, which centralises decisions on senior administrative appointments to the government, and now the king, would seem more amenable for a military dictatorship that is intent on controlling Thai Buddhism.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
Your analysis only considers the external political aspects as if they could fully explain the current situation and overlooks the fact that prominent Thai Buddhists (both progressive monks and lay people who are also critics of the government and not aligned with the wealthy elites) have been for years calling for some decisive action to deal with the Dhammakaya issue purely on religious grounds.
Here are a couple examples:
Ajahn Paisal Visalo – Forest abbot warns Sangha reform ‘urgent’
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=70,12233,0,0,1,0
http://pintojukjun.blogspot.com/2016/12/patronage-system-breeds-malaise-in.html
Sulak Sivaraksa, a Thai historian and founding member of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, echoed the thoughts of many Thais when he wrote on Facebook that the “money and power of Wat Phra Dhammakaya monks . . . can buy almost all of the Sangha members.”
https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/unholy-alliance/
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
An interesting, informative and well-explained article James, thank you.
It did however give me a bit of a giggle, it seems that every day, something else happens to illustrate the real nature of the treasonous clowns that have pronounced themselves the government of Thailand.
I have to admit that watching the circus they customarily create gives me immense amusement and entertainment. If it wasn’t so tragic for the Thai people it would be comical.
The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya
I don’t agree with some parts of the article.
The ‘statement’ that the junta is involved to replenish it’s supposedly dwindling coffers needs supporting details.