Phra Payom ready to pull the plug if Thaksin's speech gets out of hand.
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
Phra Payom Kalayano, the abbot of Wat Suan Kaew, has come under heavy criticism over the past week for his plan to open his temple to a United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) rally. The abbot has now retreated a little, stating he will no longer allow a live phone-in interview with fugitive criminal Thaksin Shinawatra on NBT's talk show Truth Today, which was to be broadcast from the temple. Instead, he says he will allow a recorded message to be played.
 |
| PHRA PAYOM: ‘Dhamma and politics can be integrated.’ |
"I won't be able to censor a live interview," said the abbot, "but with a recorded message, if he says inappropriate or damaging things, if things get out of control, I will just pull the plug and cancel the programme."
Next Sunday Phra Payom has invited UDD supporters to use the 150 rai of land on his temple grounds in Nonthaburi province for a rally, and expects about 20,000 in red shirts. The abbot also says that PAD supporters and neutral groups are welcome. He added that the temple can hold a maximum of 30,000.
Academics have been criticising the move, saying that religion and politics shouldn't mix, that monks should stay out of the affairs of lay people. After all, Buddhist principles relinquish all worldly desires and matters, and hosting a political rally isn't exactly a path to enlightenment. But Phra Payom disagrees.
"How can you ignore the present political situation?" he asked. "Dhamma and politics can be integrated. Without morality, politics will be disastrous.
"Look at other temples. They pay singers, coyote dancers or organise entertainment fairs to attract people. I'm not paying or getting anything for the rally."
"Monks involving themselves in politics is nothing new in Thailand," said Ponpirom Chiengkul, the head of the History Department at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Kasetsart University. "It's old history. The temple has always been central to Thai society and has ties with the state and kings. Monks have always dealt directly in politics, such as asking for amnesty for political prisoners and acting as consultants to kings."
But Thailand is no longer Siam, no longer a medieval absolute monarchy.
"There's no law barring monks from political participation." said Associate Professor Ponpirom. "In fact, monks and lay people share the Buddhist ideology of wanting goodness, peace, generosity and justice to blossom in society.
"But at the same time, they should not be biased and take sides," she added.
"Politics and the temple shouldn't mix," said Pituntorn Nityasuieehi, a lecturer in public administration at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Khon Kaen University. "It's risky for Phra Payom and it's hard to interpret his intentions. Obviously the public knows that Veera [Musikhapong] and Jatuporn [Phromphan] [the hosts of NBT's Truth Today show] support the UDD and are biased. If the programme gets out of hand, then the monk will lose credibility and society will lose faith."
Although monks getting involved in politics violates the Buddha's teaching, Assoc Prof Pituntorn doesn't think there'll be any action taken against Phra Payom.
"The Sangha Council has never defrocked a monk for getting involved in politics. Usually such punishment is for monks getting involved with women," he said.
Phra Payom, however, insists what he's doing is for the benefit of all of society. He wants all parties to be at peace and in harmony and regards the temple as a good place to form an understanding among the factions.
Would allowing a UDD rally on sacred religious ground, with NBT's Truth Today programme broadcasting a recorded message from a a fugitive criminal, be for the good of society as a whole?
"I'm neutral. I also welcome the PAD or any other political groups to use the temple grounds," Phra Payom said, insisting that he's doing good for society.
However, Assoc Prof Ponpirom warned that monks - despite their good intentions - can also become tools, exploited by interest groups to further manipulate the people, especially those in rural areas.
Phra Payom is one of the most revered and famous monks in Thailand. The 59-year-old abbot says he's getting very tired and plans to retire at 65. Now he's designing a "practical dhamma" course to help people deal with the realities of the world.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Next
