The "change money" scandal has shaken Buddhism to its core while sounding a wake-up call for Buddhists, as well as the clergy, to cast aside the excessive ceremonial facade and embrace a calmer side that is the kernel of the religion.
Phra Kru Wimol Boonkosol, the abbot of Wat Wimonniwat in Roi Et, has found news of the scandal disturbing, particularly when those in the saffron robes are complicit in the embezzlement involving more than 30 temples nationwide.
In light of the authorities' investigation into the embezzlement of state funds -- offered to temples by senior officials in the National Office of Buddhism, with much of the money later taken back and pocketed by the officials -- many devotees were left disenchanted by the exposed "looting" of state funds. The money, amounting to millions of baht, was intended for the maintenance of temples but was diverted back to officials who asked for the money back as "change".
Experts insist the scandal is just one of many problems which have undermined people's faith in Buddhism. The root cause is temples themselves committing the sin of acquiring and possessing money and other worldly extravagance.
This "enrichment" has attracted people with greed to share in the benefits.
The abbot helps a senior monk at a religious function. Thornphuthai Wanphonthong
Phra Kru Wimol said the cycle must be eliminated so temples and the people can refocus on the substance of Buddhism.
Temples must set an example by first doing away with rites and the ceremonious frivolities. After that the temples must be re-establish themselves as sanctuaries where people learn the "science" of being a Buddhist where reason rules over superstition and blind beliefs.
Phra Kru Wimol said Wat Wimonniwat is one of the few temples off-limts to boisterous celebrations or performances held to satisfy the secular pleasures of participants during religious festivals.
"Monks must be givers than receivers," the veteran abbot said, in reply to a question: "What does one get from visiting Wat Wimonniwat?"
"Which direction do we want the temples to move towards? How can we draw people to the temple? As a monk, you need to have both the religious ideology and Buddhist followers to help carry on your work," the 55-year-old abbot said.
Registered as a temple in 1938, Wat Wimonniwat is only 3km from the bustling downtown Muang district. It used to serve as a monastery for monks who observed the Khammathan -- Buddhist meditation -- and who follow in the footsteps of Luang Pu Mun Bhuridatta, a revered late monk renowned for his mediation techniques.
Several pieces of land were later donated by residents to the monastery for the construction of an ubosot (ordination hall). The donors were only too willing to come forward as they hold the monks there in high esteem since their conduct is in strict compliance with Buddhist discipline.
Today Wat Wimonniwat sits on an 80-rai site which is also home to a major dhamma practice centre in the Northeast.
Phra Kru Wimol, appointed as the 10th abbot of the temple in 1991, was chosen to receive the Prachabodee award from Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali for upholding Buddhism in 2015.
Phra Kru Wimol studies the design of the Buddha Jayanti Anusorn ubosot at Wat Wimonniwat. The ubosot, now under construction, is to be enveloped by a giant naga, a creature representing ancient belief and myth associated with self-redemption from bad karma. photos by Nauvarat Suksamran
The abbot said he wanted Wat Wimonniwat to be a tranquil place for people to meditate and learn about Buddhist teaching and how to apply them to daily life. The compound has a pavilion enshrining Lord Buddha relics which originated from Sri Lanka.
The latest addition to the temple is the "Buddha Jayanti Anusorn", an ordination hall built in the Lanna architectural style to exude modesty and solemnity. The hall is 80% complete.
Phra Kru Wimol made several trips to inspect the architectural styles of ordination halls in many provinces in the North such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. He also visited various countries, including Laos, as the ubosot was being built.
The abbot said he was under the impression that many temples which once had a good name lost their popularity after their revered monks passed away.
That is contrary to the Buddhist principle which preaches followers must cling to religious values rather than the individual monks, who are the messengers of Lord Buddha's teaching.
"During my trips, I compare the temples' architectural styles and their management systems, which helped me come up with the model for developing Wat Wimonniwat," he said.
"Temples, Buddhism and the Lord Buddha's sermons must carry on. There must be people from the next generation to whom we pass on the dhamma doctrines.
"Therefore, we have to build something that reminds Buddhist followers of the 'kernel' of religious principles which they should adopt," the abbot said.
Once his idea had crystalised, Phra Kru Wimol proceeded to construct the Buddha Jayanti Anusorn ubosot. The items inside and the messages written inside the hall convey a message about what Buddhism is all about.
Scribbled at one end of the ubosot is a medley of dhamma riddles structures built to get the visitors thinking about the gist of dhamma.
What is still lacking is a marble Buddha statue which will be enshrined at the completion of the hall. A section of the hall will also be turned into a Buddhist museum.
Wrapping around the exterior of the hall will be a giant bronze naga, which is two metres wide and 300 metres long.
"Images and statues of naga can be seen decorating the ordination halls of temples across the country as the creature represents ancient belief and myth. Here, we are using the naga as a tactic to instill Buddhist principles in people," he said.
"The naga is a mythical creature in Buddhist mythology. The animal is a half-serpent, half-human deity. When he is in human form on a path to salvation after redeeming himself from his bad karma, he still yearns to study dhamma and do good deeds," the abbot explained.
A picture of the Lord Buddha giving sermons, in which four types of lotuses are compared to human nature, will appear on the ubosot's interior wall.
The allusion describes those above water who harbour the will to cultivate the virtues of life; those on the edge of the water who have less capacity but are still willing to be taught to embrace what is good in life; those under the water who are distracted or blinded by their own flaws that prevent them from improving their lives although they can rise above the water if they persevere; and those "buried under the mud' who refuse to be shown the way to personal improvement or salvation.
The "mud-buried lotuses" are compared to people who will never be able to reach "sunlight" and metaphorically, end up being food for aquatic animals.
The water lily pictures are shown in the hall for visitors to have a look at.
Downstairs from the ubosot is a place for mediation equipped with a glass cave offering a secluded environment where visitors can gather their thoughts.
Besides the contribution to Buddhism, the ubosot will serve as a new tourist landmark of the province and the region as well.
Hailing from a humble background in Roi Et's Chiang Kwan district, Phra Kru Wimol is the third son of a farmer family. Since childhood, he has expressed a desire to dedicate himself to religion.
After graduating from a teaching college, he was ordained as a monk at Wat Nua in his hometown. He ignored his family's frequent prodding to leave the monkhood.
Phra Kru Wimol Boonkosol routinely meets disciples and talks to them. He highlights the message that the heart of Buddhism is far removed from superstition and frivolous ceremonies. photos by Nauvarat Suksamran)
Like other young monks, he felt duty-bound to conduct Buddhist chants and as a junior monk, he was also asked to dye the saffron robes.
Having pursued dhamma study until he completed the highest naktham ek degree, he set out on a pilgrimage to remote areas and treacherous mountain terrain in the Northeast to meditate and get close to nature.
The abbot said he wanted to find seclusion away from the outside world and live with nature which in his view is a good dhamma teacher.
"We have to be aware of what we are and what we do every waking moment. But one also needs to keep in mind that death is close to us. It should serve as a reminder that we should not get too attached to happiness or misery," he said.
A myriad of making-merit and charity events has been initiated by Phra Kru Wimol while his temple also regularly hosts meditation classes and dhamma talks for students and villagers.
"I want people to come to the temple to practice dhamma and meditation so they can become good laymen. Monks also need to undergo training so they keep aware that their duty is to disseminate the Lord Buddha's teachings," Phra Kru Wimol said.