OPINION

Losing our religion?

With the exception of a few forest monasteries, the majority of Thai Buddhists are mired in materialistic and nominally religious pursuits to such an extent that the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and its real practice have been obliterated by a tidal wave of amulets, rituals, merit making and commercial enterprises.

An example of this may be observed in the Dhammakaya sect which has successfully transformed the time-honoured spiritual practice of renunciation into the conventional exercise of accumulation and excess.

The Sangha obviously requires reform. Women must be accorded their rightful place in Thai Buddhism. The archaic feudal administrative structure must be made functional with regard to the restoration, perpetuation and preservation of the Theravadin tradition as put forth in the dhamma texts. The crass commercialised corruption of the Buddha’s precious instruction must be rooted out, errant monks disciplined and religious institutions reformed at the highest levels.

Therefore, one might well ask whether the current choice for supreme patriarch is well suited to this task? Or is it to be more business as usual?

Michael SetterBang Saray

It is a very fine thing that several social-welfare organisations have cooperated with the Japanese embassy in Thailand to run a bakery, staffed entirely by the differently-abled, as reported in the Bangkok Post on Jan 9.

Being able to do a job brings much more than simply a salary to our disabled brothers and sisters. It also helps develop their confidence, dignity and self-respect.

Sadly, the whole world over, too few employers are willing to give disabled people the chance to work for them. But as this heartening project shows many of them are well able to perform their tasks to a good level, and even to support their colleagues when needed.

Credit is due to the organisations that have provided this chance and all praise is due to the hard-working and brave disabled people who staff the bakery. We may hope more projects of such excellent nature will follow.

Paul SurteesChiang Mai

Since I took up residence in Thailand two years ago, I have been shocked by some of the things that happen here. But I am a foreigner, a guest in your country, so I put up with these “cultural differences”.

In PostBag, Jan 11, it was interesting to see three letters echoing some of the problems we all find in Thailand.

1. Khlong of death: “Khlong Saen Saep has been turned into a racetrack, rubbish dump and death trap”. This applies to almost every khlong in Thailand.

2. Asleep in the room: Manual Traffic Management never works as well as computerised traffic management. In the UK we say, “put a cop in charge of traffic lights if you want to create chaos”.

3. Drivers and questions: Blacked out windows. Using a mobile phone while driving. Shoulder check while changing lanes. The practice of “undertaking” on all roads from motorways to small town centre sois. Motorbikes with almost zero insurance.

Are these legal in Thailand? If not, legislation needs to be enacted. If yes, then get the police to do their job.

David Ritchie

Re: “Foreigners sought for 10 key science job categories”, (BP, Jan 13).

I fully agree with the setting up of exhibitions across the country for children to recognise 10 science jobs and the shortage of Thai scientists.

That will give youngsters the opportunity to see science as a career. If they are interested in science from a young age through exhibitions, museums, science centres (not just learning in classrooms), there will be fewer students with low scores in science. They will also be able to use science as a basis for other career choices.

Sutipunt Bongsununt

Re: “Thailand’s excess laws and red tape”, by Duenden Nikomborirak, (BP, Jan 13).

Right on Dr Deunden. Just one example is the long practice subscribing to new rights issues on listed companies of the SET. Here, almost all Thai brokers force their investor clients to go to their bank, issue a draft, fill out forms along with signed IDs etc. “It’s the industry practice here,” they say, but it wastes thousands of productivity hours ... and if investors are not on location in Thailand they may even miss it altogether.

Paul A Renaud

I don’t know much about the politics involved with picking the next Buddhist leader for Thailand. No one is going to ask me, but here’s where my vote would go: to whichever candidate pledges to make their wat better neighbours.

I’m mostly concerned about noise pollution. There are wats all over Thailand. All of them have fallen in love with microphones and powerful amps needed to power them. Preaching and chanting is fine for the monks at a wat, but should it be loudly broadcast throughout the surrounding community? No. Yet, that’s what happens.

In some Thai towns, the chanting and loud sounds start before 5am. How presumptuous ... to pump such sound into thousands of neighbouring houses. If I was a primitive/reactionary thinker, I would counter by blasting my favourite music at the wat. There are two reasons I don’t do that.  First, I’m not a vindictive and immature person, and second, protectors of Buddhism might show up at my door, very angry and threatening.

Hopefully, the next top Thai Buddhist will enact rules for wats to be better neighbours, but I won’t hold my breath.

Kip KeinoChiang Rai

Who rules the world? The obvious answer is powerful, economically and militarily equipped nations, supranational corporations and financial institutions.

However, in the last few decades, we have had to add to the mix extreme fundamentalist ideologies, from all faiths and creeds, who were previously of minor importance but are currently gaining more prominence on the world stage.

All the above have several aims in common, namely, power, influence and money, which are all interrelated.

How do we combat this? The instinctive answer is the United Nations and their many sub-divisions, and, to a lesser extent, NGO’s. However, both can also be subverted by the aforementioned powers that be.

Perhaps a responsible, and I stress the word "responsible", social media could be the only answer to uncovering the nefarious activities of governments, corporations, terrorist organisations and so on.

Bernie HodgesSongkhla

While I will no doubt draw ire from my Western friends and many contributors to PostBag, I would agree with Russian ambassador, Kirill Barsky, in his Jan 15 letter, “Terrorist, no doubt”. The Russians call it like it is. President Obama is still apologetic, naïve, does not see radical Islam as a threat to the USA and tries to be politically correct so as not to offend anyone. Russian President Putin is a man of backbone and conviction, President Obama is a cream-puff by comparison. Like it or not, the facts speak for themselves.

Charcoal Ridgeback

Re: “Time for a fare go”, (PostBag, Jan 14).

It is true that some drivers are rude and their taxis old. But since I came here 15 years ago, the fare was 35 baht and it is exactly the same now.

I don’t appreciate taxis not picking up passengers either, but why should they lose money driving because of government controls and their repeated delays in allowing fare increases? Even brand-new taxis are restricted to the same ridiculously low starting fare. Consider taxi drivers paying for their car, fuel, insurance then taking an hour to drive 5km only to lose money. This is not like farmers growing too much rubber or rice. Taxi drivers are the ones who should be protesting.

Jerry Feldman

In a study by the Private Sector Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption (CAC), 48% of 828 directors and business leaders observed a two-year decline in the severity of corruption problems in Thailand [LOL]. Some 44% were confident graft could be wiped out in the future [Even bigger LOL]. Business leaders and directors urge more investigations into corrupt politicians and civil servants — [but what about probing corrupt business leaders and directors?] — and they are actively aware of their important role in anti-corruption efforts.

This is glorious stuff but which planet are we on? Who exactly are these angels of commercial and industrial righteousness, and where were they when we needed them most? Let’s have some names attached to their statements and assertions. Identities are essential here to give credence to the statistics. Transparency is key in the eradication of corruption and anonymity is of no help to anyone.

John Shepherd

Eric Bahrt in his Jan 15 letter “Leave snakes alone” doesn’t feel much sympathy for the woman bitten by a snake at a Bangkok snake show. I feel absolutely no sympathy for her. In fact, I’d go so far as to call her rather stupid. He sums it up when he says that all animals from elephants to others should be respected and not molested for human entertainment. I rarely agree with Khun Eric, but this time he has my full backing and respect.

Jack Gilead

I agree completely with Eric Bahrt that animals belong in the wild. But I was disturbed by his angry grumble “How many times do I have to point out?” as if the purpose of farang letter-writing is to change hearts and minds in Thai society rather than to provide enlightenment and entertainment in the English-speaking press. The fact that our scribblings are published doesn’t mean we should become overly deluded by imaginary self-importance. 

Barry Kenyon

I was amused to read an article in the Bangkok Post on Jan 14 which stated that “Prison warders launch periodic crackdowns” in jails, which regularly turn up illicit drugs. It’s like the crackdowns by police during holiday periods in order to catch drunk drivers.

Why prison searches for drugs and weapons and drunk driving enforcement is not an ongoing thing throughout the year is a mystery to me.

Martin R

Re: "Thai-US treaty alliance needs realigning", (Opinion, Jan 15).

How dead-on-target it was for Thitinan Pongsudhirak to reason, “the more China is central in Bangkok’s strategic framework, the more Thailand needs the US alliance”.

I would like to add the current US government under President Obama has treated Thailand badly and without consideration to the two countries’ long relationship.

The US must keep in mind that Thailand’s military has been trained to defend its territory as well as to protect its kings. When recent Thai government leaders were perceived as a threat to the throne, the military naturally reacted. That’s why recent coups happened. No grown-up Thais want coups to happen randomly.

Also, Thais want democracy. However, it must be a democracy where politicians are not allowed to buy votes and pillage the country through corruption.

Lastly, some Thais believe the US government is favouring a certain political group to regain power in Bangkok. Therefore, the Obama administration must act carefully and in a fair manner.

Vint Chavala

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