Corrupted Buddhism?
I find the developments in Thailand barely believable. The nation that connects the land mass of Malaysia to the rest of Indochina has long been predominantly Buddhist. According to estimates, 95% of Thais consider themselves as follower of the teachings of Siddharta Gautama - the founder of the religion we know today as Buddhism. The religion focuses on the changes that one can personally do to decrease bad karma and ensure a better reincarnation. For those who have fulfilled lifetimes (!) of meditation and worthwhile endeavors, the only steps to be seen are nirvana and ultimately, enlightenment. The tenets of the religion obviously focuses on the measures that one can do to ensure his spiritual future and welfare instead of picking on other people and telling them which is which. There is much emphasis on the prerogative of people choose what they want to do as long as they believe that every act whether good or bad will have a corresponding reward or punishment in the next life.
This is why the current movement by Buddhist monks in the country formerly known as Siam is puzzling to say the least. Despite the testy conditions in the predominantly-Muslim region of Southern Thailand (i.e. the part nearest to another Islamic State, Malaysia), monks have moved to include the clause that makes Buddhism the official religion of the Kingdom of Thailand. Revisions in the Thai Constitution have suddenly become a hot topic following the abrupt overthrowing of former strongman Thaksin Shinawatra last year.
Why are the monks going to great lengths to stoke the flames of inter-cultural divide and conflict? Why are these supposedly selfless and introspective individuals suddenly bent on alienating a minority that already feels disenfranchised in the status quo? Are the clergymen insecure of their status in the national arena? That’s hardly the case. They have an overwhelming majority and their voice can easily translate to action whether or not Buddhism is made the constitutionally-declared state religion.
To sum it all up, what’s the point? Is this Buddhist bragadocio?! Wow, that sounds real wrong on so many levels. Shout out to Engineer Totomai who’s in Thailand right now!
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they’re not really buddhist.
buddhism was not meant to be a religion, but someting more than religion which states adherence to a deity of some sort.
anyhow, majority call themselves buddhist, but in reality, the genuine therevada and mahayana authorities don’t consider them so. just ask the dalai lama.
Just a little nitpick. Thaksin was not a strongman. He was a popularly elected Prime Minister, up til he was deposed. He was unpopular in the urban areas like Bangkok, but he was wildly popular in the rural areas, which was the reason his party regularly won elections.
gilbert,
The Dalai Lama heads a branch of Buddhism, to let him determine whether a particular branch of Buddhist are really Buddhist or not is like letting the Pope determine whether a particular branch of Christianity is really Christian. Calling the Thai’s not really Buddhist is like calling the Iglesia ni Cristo not really Christian, if they consider themselves as Buddhist, how can you say they are not? This is a “no true scotsman” argument
Hi Roy! Thanks for leaving this comment. Being popular makes him a strongman, right? He has the mandate and the clout to do anything he wanted because he controlled the local politics as well.
Hi,
We disagree on the definition of a strongman. To me astrongman is synonymous to a dictator, and dictators are not elected democratically. And Wikipedia and dictionary.com agrees with me
Wikipedia: A strongman is a political leader who rules by force and runs an authoritarian regime. The term is often used interchangeably with “dictator.”
Dictionary.com: a political leader who controls by force; dictator.
Thaksin had a lot of power and influence, but it was derived from being a popular, democratically elected leader.
I guess I learned something new thanks to you. Thanks Roy Choco.