OPINION

Think more carefully

T Hinker ("Abused by the men in orange", Postbag, Feb 14) is accurate in referring to the corrupt commercialism of Thai Buddhism. But when he refers to Buddhism as a "simple philosophy of naive intent" it is he who is being naive.

Buddhism is not described in "fairytale texts of our intellectual infancy". The sutta pitaka is a precise and brilliantly wise teaching exposition which is the foundation of Buddhism. In describing Buddhist philosophy, the Nobel prize-winning philosopher Bertrand Russell said, "It takes up where science cannot lead because of the limitations of the latter's instruments. Its conquests are those of the mind."

I suggest it might therefore be beneficial for T Hinker to study Buddhist philosophy in earnest as it is a wonderful gift to mankind.

Soldiers do not crave new, expensive weapons because they want to have toys. What they are really looking for is money.

I guess it might dawn on some of them that it is better to live under a civilian government which is afraid of them.

In their Feb 14 letters, both David James Wong ("Their own worst enemy") and Michael Setter ("Stop buying toys for the boys") left out the proposed purchase of out-of-date, decommissioned German submarines for the Royal Thai Navy.

Well, Bangkok still floods during the rainy season, so the subs at least might get used as rescue craft along Silom, Sukhumvit, Petchaburi and Asoke. I wonder if they could navigate that 700-metre long, new drainage tunnel the Bangkok governor is building.

Re: "All you need is love", Postscript, Feb 14.

I wish Roger would have mentioned that there is one place on earth where you can still buy love, and you can buy it cheap. The proof is in always in the numbers.

Honestly, why would a tourist from Australia, Europe or USA sit through a long flight and go straight to find their valentine in Patong, Pattaya or Patpong? Flight hours may be exhausting but cupid is not stupid. As the girls say here, especially those working in cupid locations: "Happy Wallet-time."

In his letter "Not enough data" (Postbag, Feb 13), RH Suga wonders whether the 54% spike in tourist deaths was offset by an increase in tourist arrivals. Somehow I doubt if the 2015 tourism figures are up 54% on 2014.

Of far more interest is how the number injured in 2015 (166) could be "down 160% from the previous year", since a drop of "only" 100% would mean that there were no injuries.

Down 160%? But some were still injured? Not possible when I went to school, but then I didn't do the Niets test.

Maybe the National Institute of Educational Testing Service should be looking at basic maths so those at an organisation like the Bureau of Prevention and Assistance in Tourist Fraud would know that 100% means ... well ... everything, rather than what a traditional Thai boy and girl do on a traditional night out.

Never could work out the answer to that from the multiple choice answers given.

I would like to ask why the editor has seen fit to remove the daily weather report?

It has been a fixture of the Bangkok Post as long as I have been a subscriber (17-plus years) and yet it has suddenly been removed without any explanation whatsoever. It was one of the first sections I look at each day, so an explanation would be appreciated.

Once again Eric Bahrt ("Ask Sanders on Israel", PostBag, Feb 13) shows his ignorance by stating that Israel is run by thugs.

I am surprised the Bangkok Post would print what is so obviously a continuous vendetta against the only decent, democratic country in the whole of the Middle East.