Sangha could set up ‘clergy court’ to rule on Dhammachayo

AS THE National Office of Buddhism prepares to inform the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) about Phra Dhammachayo’s alleged violation of the “Dhamma Vinaya” Buddhist clergy disciplinary code of conduct, it is likely the “21st issue” of the SSC regulations will be applied to decide whether he must be defrocked, experts said. 
This could be done in two ways. First, the SSC could assign Wat Phichaiyat abbot Somdet Phra Buddhashinnawong, in his capacity as ecclesiastical chief superintendent of the Central region, to set up a fact-finding panel to probe the case. 
The panel would serve as a “clergy court” to apply the 21st issue’s third article to consider whether to defrock Phra Dhammachayo without requiring his presence. 
In the second option, the setting up of a fact-finding panel would be required. 
The difference would be that if the panel resolved that Phra Dhammachayo had violated the Dhamma Vianaya, they would apply the 21st issue’s fourth article to pass the case back to the SSC. 
This would allow the SSC to serve as a clergy court to consider whether to defrock Phra Dhammachayo without requiring his presence. Both actions would be considered final.
Over two decades ago, a former well-known monk, Phra Yantra Amaro, who also had a lot of devoted followers, was punished under the 21st issue. 
The accusation was that he had been intimately involved with women led to the SSC’s decision to defrock him.
He refused to accept the resolution and instead insisted he was still a monk despite shifting to wear green robes.
Phra Dhammachayo has also been in trouble almost two decades ago. 
In 1998, former Dhammakaya accountant monk Phra Adisak Viriyasako accused Phra Dhammachayo of allegedly embezzling money and properties that were donated to the temple, being inappropriately close to female disciples and claiming to have superpower. 
Then-Buddhist followers group head Ranchai Chokchana also filed a complaint at the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), accusing Phra Dhammachayo of fraud and embezzlement. 
At that time, Wat Yannawa abbot Phra Phrommolee, in his capacity as the Region 1 chief monk, was assigned by the SSC to conduct a fact-finding probe. 
As Phra Dhammachayo delayed the transfer of title deeds, then-Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Sangharaja wrote a letter asking him to return the properties to the temple but he did not comply. 
The Department of Religious Affairs then filed the charge of embezzlement, resulting in CSD commandos being dispatched to arrest Phra Dhammachayo. However, they were faced with a human shield of disciples at the temple and had to withdraw. 

Former case
Then-ecclesiastical chief superintendent of the Central region, Somdet Phramaha Theerajarn of Wat Chanasongkhram, gave an ultimatum that Phra Dhammachayo would be defrocked if he did not surrender to authorities. 
This caused Phra Dhammachayo to surrender with the condition that he released on bail – which happened immediately after he surrendered at Wat Chanasongkhram. As the case proceeded to the Criminal Court, public prosecutors in 2006 withdrew the lawsuit against Phra Dhammachayo on the grounds that he had propagated Buddhism as per the Tripitaka and the SSC’s policy. 
Phra Dhammachayo was the reinstated as Dhammakaya abbot on the grounds that the case against him had ended.
This time, Phra Dhammachayo might not be so lucky because he might not be granted bail and could be defrocked. 
The 21st issue of the SSC’s |regulations could be applied to defrock him even if he does not surrender.