Monks’ misconduct prompts calls for change

The monastic community is deep-rooted in Thai society, where the clergy has long been held in high esteem. But a series of headlines about Thai Buddhist monks, many of them high-profile, caught in scandalous acts with a 35-year-old woman, has brought the clergy into disrepute.

The most recent case involving a high-ranking monk accused of embezzling hundreds of millions of baht in temple funds and having an affair with a woman, in particular, has deeply shaken Thai Buddhists’ faith.

The sex and financial scandals are a matter of considerable public concern and have prompted calls for a new law to punish the offending monks and women involved in the scandal.

“Shocking clergy misconduct and scandals happen over and over again. In my view, a law is needed to punish monks who have violated monastic rules as well as laymen who have misbehaved.

It can be a tool to promote transparency in temple operations and control negative behaviors of Buddhist monks and laymen,” said famed transgender Thai language tutor Kijmanoch (Kru Lilly) Rojanasupya, who strongly supports regulatory measures that aim to promote and protect Buddhism.

She was deeply depressed and disappointed by the news about monastic misconduct but believes that while trust in monks may be broken, confidence in the core of Buddhism and faith in Buddha remained intact.

'Kru Lilly', founder of Baan Pootmontha, a meditation center in Nakhon Nayok that provides teachings at no charge to participants, noted that the scandals are destroying the image of Buddhism and could make Buddhists reluctant to go to temples to make merit and support religious activities.

Baan Pootmonta mediation center

Monks who behave badly should be punished

A recent opinion survey titled “Crisis in Buddhism” by the National Institute of Development Administration revealed deep concern about clergy misconduct following the scandals, with most respondents believing that some Buddhist monks violated the monastic code and should be punished.

The survey, which involved 1,310 Buddhists aged 18 and above nationwide, was conducted between July 14 and 16.

Among the significant findings, 76.11% of respondents believed that some Buddhist monks remain attached to physical or material pleasures.

They have engaged in misconduct such as drug abuse, alcohol consumption, gambling and sexual misconduct. Some 45.95% felt that monks become distracted by wealth, praise and social status; and 45.80% of them cited increasing materialism around the monastic community as a main factor in misconduct.

Interestingly, 40% of respondents believed that some monks enter the monkhood as a way to make a living.

Becoming a monk is a privilege and provides a great career opportunity, civil servant Pattama, 45, noted. Monks receive “good” food offerings from Buddhists. They get money for holding rituals including cremation ceremonies that can last from three to seven days.

Monks with ecclesiastical titles receive monthly salaries and these allowances are not classified as taxable income. They also receive salaries from teaching positions.

“When they have money, they are easily prone to passion and lust,” she said, adding that she believes some men enter the monkhood for financial reasons.

Several respondents raised concerns about temple administration and services, with 29.16% believing that some temples are overly commercialized, and 27.63% suggesting that some have a lack of financial transparency in their operations.

Pattama said she prefers to donate her money to hospitals, foundations, the homeless and the underprivileged.

“I have no idea how my money is used when I make a donation to the temple. We were told that donations through the Kathin ceremony were going to support the construction of a sala, an open pavilion to provide shade to worshippers. Years passed but the building was never completed,” she said.

Failures of institutes for the clergy were also mentioned. Some 25.42% of respondents suggested that monastic governing bodies were weak and inefficient in preventing monks from engaging in misconduct and in addressing the problems.

Respondents also pointed out the increasing influence of the layman in clergy misconduct, with 16.72% of them blaming laypeople for encouraging monks to engage in bad behavior or activities that violate the principles of monastic life.

Yet despite the growing concerns, the poll found that faith in Buddhism remained unchanged, with 68.55% saying it was still intact, while 31.45% said it had fallen.

Regarding trust in Buddhist monks, however, 58.4% of respondents reported a decline in their confidence, with only 41.60% saying it remained the same.

Buddhist devotee Tarada, 72, noting that her faith remains strong, urged Thais to adhere to Buddha’s teachings and continue practicing their religion. She believes that the crisis in Buddhism marks a turning point.

“There is good and bad in everything. There are both good and bad monks out there. They’ve made their beds, now they must lie in them. Don’t let other people’s bad behavior stop you from doing good,” she said.

She added that many monks predict lottery winners, others claim to have supernatural power that is given to them by some mysterious spirit and commit spiritual abuse. Some temples have become too commercialized, operating more like a business than a place of worship and engaging in many commercial activities.

“They use our beliefs and faith to make money,” Tarada said.

Restoring the public faith

In the wake of the scandals, religious scholars have urged change to help restore the public faith and bring the institution back on track. The public also strongly supports regulatory measures.

The opinion poll asked respondents whether a draft bill should be amended to incorporate legal penalties for both monks and/or laymen who misbehave.

It found that majority (94.35%) supported punishment for Buddhist monks who violated the monastic rules and 93.20% backed punishment for the women or men who voluntarily had sex with Buddhist monks or novices.

Kru Lilly suggested that a law that aims to protect and promote Buddhism should be imposed and that penalties for damaging Buddhism’s image should be included.

Punishments should focus on preserving the sanctity of Buddha’s teachings rather than making wrongdoers feel embarrassed for their actions. The law or any legal mechanism must neither violate freedom of religion nor create spiritual abuse.

Mental health experts, meanwhile, are urging the public to keep their faith.

Dr. Kittisak Aksornwong, director general of the Department of Mental Health (DMH), Ministry of Public Health noted that religion is important, providing a necessary foundation for morality and serving as a tool to help polish the mind and practice mercy.

He urged the public to consume the news mindfully, which can help reduce feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed. He also asked them to maintain their faith in religion, which is a spiritual shelter and plays a pivotal role in enhancing emotional health and well-being.

The DMH’s deputy director general Dr. Chumphot Phromsida noted that faith in religion and religiosity is linked to positive mental health, citing studies that suggest that religion helps reduce stress, prevent depression and improve emotional well-being.