Bangkok –
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha ordered the National Office of Buddhism to strengthen the discipline and principles of monks nationwide following recent news regarding inappropriate behaviors among Thai monks.
Government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana told the Associated Press today, May 8th, that the Prime Minister expressed his concerns regarding the news published about indisciplined Buddhist monks which crucially affected the faith of Thai Buddhists. Therefore, he ordered the National Office of Buddhism to instruct the Provincial Office of Buddhism (P.O.C.) to observe monks and make sure they strictly adhere to the discipline and principles of Dharma.
The spokesperson said: “The main duty of the monks is to maintain and propagate the teachings of the Buddha as well as studying Buddhist doctrines. Whatever they are doing must not neglect the Buddhist principle of “Brahmacharya”, which is the conduct for the good to achieve the enlightenment.”
“The Prime Minister then ordered the P.O.C. to coordinate closely with the monk committees in all areas to monitor the monk’s behaviors and discipline in order to regain religious trust and faith among the public and prosper the Thai Buddhism once again.”
There have been a number of very public “monks behaving badly” incidents lately, here are just a few we covered:
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