A stronger adherence by monks to Buddhist discipline and stricter vetting of people entering the monkhood are the two biggest reforms people would like to see in Buddhism, according to an opinion survey by Bangkok University pollsters.
The survey, by Bangkok Poll, involved 1,162 respondents throughout the country ahead of two important Buddhist religious days, Asanha Bucha on Tuesday and Wan Khao Phansa, the beginning of Buddhist Lent, on Wednesday.
Asked what kind of reform they most wanted to see in Buddhism, a majority, 52.6%, said they wanted monks to strictly follow Buddhist discipline; 18.6% wanted those entering the monkhood to be more carefully screened; and, 17.0% wanted religious sites to be truly developed for "good deeds".
Asked what five things they planned to do during Buddhist Lent, 46.1% said offer alms to monks; 36.6% said refrain from drinking alcohol; 29.1% to stay away from all kinds of vice; 26.5% practice the five Buddhist precepts; and, 17.7% to go to a temple for dhamma practice.
Asked who they would most like to perform a wien thien with (walk with lighted candles around a temple), 23.4% chose Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha; 6.7% former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra; 6.0% actress Patcharapa Chaichua; 4.5% actor Nadech Kugimiya; and, 2.8% actress Urassaya Sperbund.