Thai Buddhism caught between crises and new social mores

As the country evolves and the questionable behaviour of various religious leaders is exposed, fewer people under 20 opt for the monastic life. The relevance of Buddhism in everyday life is increasingly a topic of conversation in the media.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – In Thailand, the “Land of Smiles”, Buddhism is part of the country’s identity, but lately, it has come under increasing pressure.

Not only evolving lifestyles, but also the questionable behaviour of certain religious leaders is driving many away from the faith as well as out of temples and monasteries.

The declining number of young Thai males under 20 opting for the monastic life is symptomatic of the situation as is the increasingly shortened duration of temporary monastic experiences.

Likewise, permanent ordinations are down and more and more monks are trading in their orange robes for civilian clothes.

Although the authorities still claim that monks represent a 300,000-strong community out of a population of 70 million, the real count is very likely much lower.

A string of scandals, ranging from broken vows to actual crimes against people and property, has fuelled a debate about the relevance of Buddhism in daily life, especially in Thai media.

The loss of interest in religion has accelerated in the last 20 years for various reasons. Among them are the extreme casualness with which many monks and monasteries have accumulated wealth.

One of the latest cases involves Luang Pi Kato, a 23-year-old monk (phra), well known for his insouciant approach to sermons. A few weeks ago, he was turfed out from his monastic community for an inappropriate relationship, but he found a way to use his media fame with brief but well-paid stints at public events.

Another reason for the crisis is that Thai Buddhism appears unable to renew itself. Many accuse the Sangha, the Buddhist Order of Thailand, which is governed by the Supreme Sangha Council, to be too attached to formal rules, offices and practices, rather than the Buddhist precept of non-attachment.

It is also evident that there is a problem of methods and language to spread the Buddhist message in the age of the Internet and social media.

“Ignoring these stimuli for change risks making Buddhism a form without substance," says Woraphat Phucharoen of the Bojjhanga Foundation, an organisation that offers the latest methods in the fields of teaching, meditation and religious practice.

For Prof Soraj Hongladarom of the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, “In Thailand, there is news about chaotic politics in religious organisations. This makes people sceptical about the role of monks in society”.

What is left is the practice of spiritual retreat, which allows anyone, whatever their age, to include the religious experience in their life.

• thailand
• bangkok
• buddhism
• monks
• phra kato
• sangha
• scandals
• disenchantment