A faith endangered by the ‘enemies within’

One of Lord Buddha’s most important remarks is not widely invoked by Thai Buddhists. Monks in particular might feel somewhat awkward about the statement, which has to do with what the Buddha saw as the greatest threat to his philosophy. People violating his basic principles caused trouble, he said, but even worse were those who abused or distorted his teachings. He was, in other words, worried about the “enemies within” – the fake Buddhists.

One monk’s recent arrest and defrocking underscore Thailand’s simplistic mentality in these matters. Drunken monks make the headlines, along with those in possession of pornography or caught gambling or having sex. The media rarely offer any guidance, neglecting for example to challenge monks who manufacture amulets they claim can ward off bullets. Amulets with superpowers ascribed to them in fact constitute a large and lucrative industry in Thailand, some becoming elitist status symbols. 

Thais worship monks who proffer lottery tips or can reputedly turn bad luck into good luck. Genuinely decent, devout monks who lead lives of simplicity as prescribed by the Buddha and encourage laymen to do the same sometimes become celebrated figures. But their followings never come close in scale to those of monks who manage to protect high-profile individuals from legal prosecution or who are acclaimed as gifted fortune-tellers. To an extent, the blame rests on Buddhist folklore in which miracles occur and superstitions prove accurate. Too many people take a literal view of the story about the Buddha walking immediately after he was born and lotuses blossoming to cushion his steps. 

As has been explained countless times, however, tales like this – common in every religion – were contrived in ancient times to promote the faith and were certainly never intended to suggest that holiness could give monks wondrous powers. 

Alas, the Thai monks who become embroiled in scandal tend to be the ones who claim the power to work miracles – and yet they never seem to do so to bring about genuine good. As in any avocation, fame is the great spoiler of good men. Monks start out humble, shunning material possessions, and then popularity perhaps obtained through sound sermons brings donations of money and goods, and gradually they become insatiable. They ride in expensive cars and adorn their living quarters with luxury. While the Buddha went from wealthy prince to deliberate pauper, we see far too many monks in Thailand greedily trading their humble beginnings for lifestyles worthy of royalty.

Even if accused of wrongdoing – breaking their vows or breaking the law of the land – few are punished, particularly those of high rank, whose popularity translates into political influence that acts as a barrier against legal prosecution. Their saffron robes can shield them for years, if not forever. 

The tenet of politics – that people get the governments they deserve – can be applied to Thai Buddhism as well. The faithful invite the monks to bless their new homes and cars, remove “bad omens” and tell them the numbers that will win the lottery. All monks know that in doing so they are transgressing the Buddha’s explicit admonitions to avoid such material crassness, but it’s what the laymen want and the practice becomes routine, erasing the line that’s been crossed. 

Challenged to justify such decidedly non-Buddhist actions, the monks concoct distorted interpretations of what the Buddha said.

The Lord Buddha taught that monks can accept “donations” in the form of alms – just enough to meet their essential daily requirements for survival. How far we’ve come, how terribly convoluted the Buddha’s instruction, with abbots today boasting that their temples have solid-gold toilet fixtures.  

The faithful and the secular alike should be on guard against such pompousness and abuses of power, and not be so distracted by the small-time cases that appear in the headlines. 

The monk recently arrested and defrocked for having drugs, weapons and sex toys in his possession was a diversion. Greater evil abounds.