There are several controversies involving Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, aka Somdet Chuang, who is likely to be appointed as supreme patriarch.
First, he has been found to be close to Phra Dhammachayo of Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
Phra Dhammachayo has been accused of teaching consumerism and high-spending behaviour, which is against the teachings of Buddha.
The Sangha Council, which has the duty to punish and defrock Phra Dhammachayo, has failed to do its job.
Second, he is involved in a luxury car tax-evasion scandal.
Ethically speaking, this scandal has caused the venerable monk’s name to be blemished and deeply flawed.
Third, he is embroiled in politics.
Since Somdet Chuang is close to Phra Dhammachayo, and Phra Dhammachayo is closely linked to and ardently supporting a certain political party.
Hence, Somdet Chuang’s ascension to the post of supreme patriarch would likely affect the country’s religious and political equilibrium.
Vint Chavala
Bangkok
Activist 'a bit rich'
Being neither Thai nor a Buddhist, it is not my place to offer any opinion on the issues surrounding the appointment of the next supreme patriarch.
However, it does seem a bit rich for “activist” monk Phra Buddha Isara to claim that the nominee for the position may have breached the monkhood’s code of conduct. After all, it was the same Phra Buddha Isara who, during the PDRC demonstrations, led a group of his supporters to the SC Park Hotel, where his behaviour could be seen as extortion. He was photographed counting cash offered by the management, an action I believe is forbidden for monks.
Phra Buddha Isara also recently led a noisy demonstration outside the US embassy to protest against remarks made by the US envoy and I believe that some of the language used by the demonstrators was extremely crude.
It’s all rather confusing and depressing, but then I’m a farang and can’t be expected to understand everything that goes on in this delightful but at the same time troubled, perplexing country. I just hope that when the appointment is confirmed, everyone will accept the decision in good faith.
Robin Grant
Sheer selfishness
For priority seats in BTS, I think it will be better to have chairs reserved for elderly people, and pregnant women. People only look at their cell phones.
Many times I've had to call their attention to give their seats to those who need them, like my daughter who is pregnant.
Cyro Sa
It beggars belief
Congratulations to the Bangkok Post for running “Faithful dog tale moves”, (Pulse, Jan 19) about a lost dog, Big Boo, who waited on the streetside in Nakhon Sri Thammarat for seven months for his owner to return and pick him up.
A newspaper reporter posted Big Boo’s story that quickly went viral online.
The owner read the story and he and his dog were reunited.
The dog had been hungry and homeless for seven months, but turned away from locals who wanted to take him home.
His faithfulness was rewarded due to public concern for his safety.
In the same issue, a photo from Kathmandu highlighted three women begging for alms.
Their story did not go viral.
This is a great opportunity for the internet to show its potential beyond sending photos of dinners to our friends.
The internet could offer a means for people to help each other beyond spreading gossip.
Vincent Gilles
Koh Samet
Flying visits?
The Bangkok Post editorial on Tuesday stated that Bangkok was the most visited city in the world.
How is that calculated? A large number of tourists fly to Bangkok only to get a connecting flight to Samui, Phuket, Hua Hin, Koh Chang and so on.
Does that mean that they arrived in Bangkok, but never actually visited the city? Is that considered to be visiting Bangkok?
Curious Person
CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING
136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
Fax: +02 6164000 email:
All letter writers must provide full name and address.
All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion.