re: "Monk reform no easy task" (BP Editorial, July 7)
Dear editor,
It is not at all obvious that the religion known as Thai Buddhism has ever been primarily about following the wise spiritual and practical teachings of the Buddha, who would not condone, let alone join, the tool of the Thai state that uses his name under the legal auspices of the NOB and other bodies created by Thai politicians.
The artistic wonders of Sukothai are indeed wonders of Thai culture, but they were created to impress with the power, property and prestige of their builders: hardly Buddhist virtues. The monks brought in to adorn those structures were expected to obediently teach a version of Buddhism that comported with the feudal society of the times.
Little has changed centuries later. Indeed, under Thai law in 2017, such spiritual principles as seeking or aiding right understanding are often serious criminal offenses. Were they to start following the Buddha's sound spiritual teachings, Thai monks would be contradicting not only the unBuddhist "12 Values of Thainess", but would be in grave danger of joining the likes of Jatupat Boonpattararaksa (Pai Dao Din) in prison without bail.
Is having Thai Buddhism overseen by Thai politicians the solution or the problem?
Felix Qui
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The above letter to the editor is the text as submitted by Felix Qui to the Bangkok Post.
The text as edited was published in PostBag on July 8, 2017, under the title "Buddhism in chains" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/1283287/perils-of-police-reform
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