Why do we love our King? Let us count the ways

A few days ago, the book “Thailand’s Sustainable Development Sourcebook” was launched at an event in Bangkok. The voluminous publication is filled with facts and figures on development and its sustainability in Thailand. A browse through its pages offers ample evidence of the enormous effort and time it must have taken to put together. Then comes the realisation of how much more must have been sacrificed in a whole life devoted to its theme.

For decades His Majesty has been laying, “brick by brick”, the firm foundations for sustainable development – the “sufficiency economy” path which we can safely tread even as our world spins out of control. Whether or not we recognise the value of that foundation is a different matter. Like the chicken in Aesop’s fable, we might never realise we have a precious jewel at our feet.

Little understood when first initiated, the sufficiency economy is the fruit of His Majesty’s careful and lifelong work. He knows that the excesses of capitalism, left unchecked and untamed, will inevitably collapse under the weight of imbalances and exploitation. The core of His Majesty’s economic thought is to find a balance between economic factors and variables so that progress brings happiness, not suffering.

The well thought-out principles of sufficiency-economy thinking are derived from a combination of economics, the social sciences, and – most importantly – the Buddhist teachings of the middle way, non-exploitation, peaceful and mutually supportive coexistence and equilibrium. As a concept, it is an extremely complex composite, and yet taken as a whole it is simple in nature. Everything is doable; the goal is not simply monetary gain, but a contented life with its social, economic and ecological fabric intact.

His Majesty arrived at this philosophy during his life-long work with peoples from all walks of life, from the wealthiest to the most destitute. In their own way, each and every one endures frustration or suffering. The King recognised their greater needs and sought the means to address them. 

This is not required of him. He does it not because it’s part of his job description, or because he needs to secure people’s votes for an election. He does it because he genuinely and deeply cares for them. His benevolence knows no bounds. In him, one can see the true spirit of generosity and kindness.  

Glitter, gold and pageantry have never been His Majesty’s cup of tea. They mean nothing to him. The computers scattered around his office are never cutting-edge, but merely adequate to do the job. We are told that he’s one of the wealthiest monarchs in the world, but the truth is he knows those assets do not belong to him. The revolutionary forces confiscated them in 1932 and they remain the property of the government to this day. His Majesty has lived a simple life, despite all the Royal trappings. Chitralada Palace resembles a demonstration farm more than it does a king’s dwelling. His “palace” at Bang Pa-in could not be farther from the prevailing notion of a royal abode. It was a storage/warehouse that he converted into an office-cum-bedroom where he could work, sleep and practice meditation. 

Visiting the Queen Mother, he used to drive a nondescript car from Chitralada to Srapratum Palace at around midnight, with no motorcade, so as not to cause disruption and traffic jams. For him, modesty is a virtue.

His Majesty’s life has not been free of severe trials and tribulations. But he has risen above them all and managed to retain his magnanimity. He has never taken revenge on those who have wronged him, choosing instead to forgive them. He recognises us all as his children yet knows there are errant members in the family – who nevertheless deserve as much love and compassion as the rest.

He is the only monarch in the world to have publicly set the record straight that, contrary to what some would have us believe, the king can do wrong. He never once invoked or commanded anyone to charge someone on his behalf under Section 112. In fact, he pardoned many of those charged at every chance he could. He realises that he is a constitutional monarch with limited legal power. And that’s fine with him. He always practices what he preaches – the significance of moral conscience, without which any society lapses into turmoil. He has stressed repeatedly – often to deaf ears – that the courts must unconditionally represent and uphold justice, be true to both the letter and spirit of the law, and never fall under the spell of monetary or political gain. 

Above all, the King embodies the true meaning and significance of a promise and a pledge. He has kept his own throughout the 69 years of his reign. The 14-word promise – that he shall reign with righteousness, for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese peoples – has been his guiding principle, underlying premise, the means as well as the goal of everything he does.

In our world of increasingly warped minds that know only price, not value; admire showy and expensive opulence, not modesty; respect power, not virtue, there are many who for no good or valid reasons are trying to shred the country’s pillar and guiding light. They lie and fabricate, and they are willing to commit any unsavoury deed to mutilate our soul, while they themselves have done absolutely nothing worthy for our society or nation. They have no shame in these deeds because they are without conscience.

But regardless of what those people do and what they might achieve, the fact remains that Thailand has been so very blessed with His Majesty. We are grateful for what he has done and what he stands for. Photographs may fade, but sacred memory and deep appreciation do not. And they can never be allowed to do so if we still want to salvage our conscience and preserve our soul.