Reform monasticism or else new scandals will keep coming
I am translating here an opinion piece from the Bangkok Post that shows how much monks and temples strive for wealth and power and also preach it in sermons, which is contrary to Buddhist principles.
The opinion piece
A senior monk promoting what is reportedly a pyramid scheme disguised as an online sales company reveals how far the clergy has strayed from the Buddha's teachings.
The scandal centres on the famous monk V Vajiramedhi, 51, founder of the Cherntawan International Meditation Centre in Chiang Rai province. His spiritual title in the Sangha hierarchy is Phra Medhivajirodom. Known for his modern approach to preaching and rejection of traditional temple practices, he has built a reputation as a scholarly monk, attracting followers from the educated middle class.
With impressive Buddhist credentials (Parian Nine, the highest level of Pali studies in the Thai monastic education system) and hundreds of popular books addressing the concerns of urban devotees, his teachings offered a modern, no-nonsense interpretation of Buddhism. However, his role as resident preacher for The iCon Group has led to his fall from grace.
The iCon Group attracted people with pretentious celebrity endorsements and promises of quick riches through multi-level sales practices. The company’s founders and presenters flaunted a lavish lifestyle with expensive automobiles, designer watches and jewelry, luring many to financial ruin and even suicide.
V Vajiramedhi’s involvement with iCon has struck a chord with the public. A regular speaker at the company’s events, videos show him encouraging people to join if they want to get rich. What shocked many were his harsh comments during one of these events. He suggested that people who remain poor suffer from a stuck mindset, implying that they lack ambition. He even used the word ‘dakdan’, a cutting insult meaning ignorant or stuck in a hopeless hole.
Although he later claimed it was all in jest to make the audience laugh, the comments came across as highly inappropriate for a monk, as they justified and promoted greed as something desirable, which is the opposite of Buddhist teachings. Adding fuel to the fire, the monk received a donation of one million baht from the company, further casting doubt on his integrity.
The monk also clashed with Kanchai Kamnerdploy, a TV news anchor who has relentlessly exposed the iCon Group’s dubious business dealings. The monk criticized him on Facebook for leading a witch hunt in the media and warned him not to become a “serial killer” through public disgrace. Instead of apologizing for his poor judgment regarding his connection to the iCon pyramid scheme, the monk’s confrontational attitude deepened public disillusionment.
In reality, what this senior monk did should not raise any eyebrows. Bowing to wealthy and powerful donors is a common practice among regular monks. While V Vajiramedhi built his image by rejecting the superstitious practices of conventional temples—such as selling amulets and invoking deities for donations—his recent actions show that he is no different than other monks when it comes to helping wealthy donors. His involvement in The iCon Group’s marketing ploys reflects a larger problem: how monks, despite their sacred vows, often exploit the faith for personal gain.
The Buddha's teaching on this issue is simple: monks should not handle money or pursue wealth. A monk, or 'bikkhu' which literally means beggar, is supposed to live humbly and rely on offerings without asking for them. His focus should be on guiding people to mindfulness, kindness and compassion. But in modern Thailand this idea has been distorted. Temples now compete for donations and many monks hoard wealth which goes against the core of Buddhism.
The feudal hierarchy within the clergy – where monks are given titles and privileges – only reinforces the superiority and entitlement of monks, far removed from the humble, selfless spirit of early Buddhism. Corruption in temples is not limited to temple finances. The lack of transparency creates opportunities for other forms of misconduct to flourish, including sex scandals and even sexual abuse. When the public focuses its anger solely on V Vajiramedhi, it risks missing the bigger picture: his behavior is a symptom of a systemic problem within the Thai Sangha.
The controversy surrounding V Vajiramedhi has now expanded to allegations of forest destruction by his meditation centre. While these allegations require further investigation, focusing solely on individual scandals misses the larger issue: the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the clergy.
Without transparency in temple finances and stricter accountability, monks will continue to stray from the principles of simplicity and mindfulness. The way forward is about reforming the entire institution, including its followers.
If we want monks to stop selling religion, we must stop believing in the illusion that donations, amulets and blessings will guarantee prosperity. Only then can the Thai Sangha shed its current excesses and return to the Buddha's path of simplicity and integrity.
Sources:
Bangkok Post – Reform, or repeat monk scandals
More about the iCon Group: The rise and fall of iCon Group: Thailand's e-commerce dream
My previous contribution on this topic: Is the Sangha doomed? – Thailandblog.nl
About this blogger
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Born in 1944 in Delfzijl as the son of a simple shopkeeper. Studied in Groningen and Curacao. Worked as a doctor in Tanzania for three years, then as a general practitioner in Vlaardingen. A few years before my retirement I married a Thai lady, we had a son who speaks three languages well.
Lived in Thailand for almost 20 years, first in Chiang Kham (Phayao province) then in Chiang Mai where I liked to bother all kinds of Thai with all kinds of questions. Followed Thai extracurricular education after which a diploma of primary school and three years of secondary school. Did a lot of volunteer work. Interested in the Thai language, history and culture. Have been living in the Netherlands for 5 years now together with my son and often with his Thai girlfriend.
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Maybe a bit OT but the Church institutions and Christianity are no better. It is all about brainwashing the followers for their own gain. This is the sad truth.
I don't know of any religion that doesn't do that, exploit its followers.
Oh, I always say that Thai Buddhism is not real Buddhism.
Yeah, I know. Sounds like a generalization. 🙂
Think of that monk with a private plane, expensive branded properties.
Got the Thai space nicely from everyone.
Literally and figuratively.
Think of that colony of monks in that huge 'flying saucer' temple complex near Bangkok.
Was even surrounded/besieged by police and such again, to arrest the top monk.
Wasn't that the monk with a racing collection of exclusive cars?
Ended with a fizzle and a dead end.
Higher powers likely intervened after Thai financial 'bargaining'.
I always say: Let them do what they want.
But no donations from me in temples where inviting terrarium money collection boxes are placed.
More than 300,000 unemployed monks in Thailand, kept alive by society.
It is cheaper than if they are on unemployment benefit/social assistance.
Thanks, Tino, for this article!
I also came across the article below in this regard – monks who lost over a billion baht in a stock market scandal,,,,,,,,,,
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2887708/thai-monks-lose-over-b1bn-to-stock-fraud
Regarding the alleged 'land encroachment', in which the meditation centre led by the monk in question here in the province had appropriated 47 rai more government land than was permitted, it was reported in the local news here in Chiang Rai that there were no irregularities. The investigation into this could, contrary to the usual course of events, be completed within a few days……..
Also, the monk in question left for Japan after the ICon story became public…
“incident” number so many that can be linked to where the Sangha’s design falls short. Hierarchy and titles certainly don’t help here, but I don’t see structural reforms happening anytime soon. The ties and interests with the higher circles in society would suffer from that. For example, as a colonel or general, it’s nice if you can put on the orange robe for a while after this or that reprehensible act until the storm has passed. Not to mention financial interests. So just keep muddling along…
Speaking of mud, the “dakdan” mentioned is ดักดาน in Thai (dàk-daan: trapped/stuck + mud/river bottom). That refers to the lotus flower. Some people are stuck in the mud like a lotus (stupid, stuck people), some grow to below the water level (they can understand the Buddhist teachings), some are just above the water (they understand the teachings), or well above the water (they really understand the teachings and reach enlightenment).
The story is as old as the hills, because didn't a certain Jesus already throw the money changers out of the temple?
It seems we have made very little progress, whether it concerns Buddhism or Christianity.
Oh what does it matter… God created man or is it the other way around?
However, when some believers cling to their Creator with an almost obsessive devotion, it arouses feelings of pity in me.
It is regrettable to see the amount of capital that flows away to religious institutions. Even the poorest participate in it.
Yes Dear,
We learned that at school and in church!
But the boss of that church lives in the smallest independent state in the world!
It measures approximately 500×800 m and is home to approximately 700 people.
Yes Lieven, even above this smallest world state there is an immense funnel through which the money flows.
Years ago it was said: if the mayor keeps us poor, then the pastor keeps us stupid.
Now tell me: has anything changed?
You are right Peer, when you say that nothing has changed.
In my youth I was expected to attend Sunday School and actually the only story that has always stuck with me is that of the 'Good Samaritan'.
A complete heathen picking up some poor bastard from the gutter, while a whole platoon of 'believers' first walked past the poor guy because they didn't want to get their hands dirty.
For me, that is the essence of the true followers of Jesus, Buddha, Allah, you name it, namely not in money or appearance, but simply in doing what is best for others without regard to person.
That is why it is such a shame that for many of the followers of these institutions such as church, temple and mosque, everything revolves only around money and power, but hardly around their fellow human beings.
Although with all this I have broken one of my own Ten Commandments, namely never to talk about religion or politics on this beautiful Blog.
It is also striking that all the unemployed people dressed in red dresses walk around with the latest phones.
Correct Jan,
Coincidentally, I was waiting in front of the Makro yesterday and, sure enough, 3 monks were standing there, with their cell phones in their hands, selecting some lottery tickets.
I have never even seen sisters and lay brothers do that in the Netherlands. But they have died out by now.
Buddhism in Thailand has little to do with Buddhism, but much more with animism and as in almost every religion (although Buddhism is not really a religion) keep people stupid…
That you have to accept your fate, and that those who are better off than you are because they are 'khon dee' – good people, naturally ensures the peace and obedience at the bottom of society that the powerful so desire………
A few years ago I thought Buddhism was better than other religions but since I saw a monk in Chayaphum accept an envelope of money from my mother-in-law I've been like, it's all the same.
Indeed Ruud, the same old story, the pastor keeps them stupid and the government keeps them poor…
Chaiyaphum
Above all, remember that Buddhist monks who make mistakes in this life can make amends in the next… and the one after that…
And that the opinions of others don't matter, no matter how legitimate it is to have them.
Temples are nothing but pools of destruction where everyone is tested, monk and layman alike.
These so-called temples are just franchise temples. A lot of money goes to them from the population.
I sometimes irreverently call those monks here orange parasites.
There is a lot of poverty in this village, but money and food go to the temple.
The monks eat and drink alcohol here all day long.
New car or motorcycle, monk will bless it for 500 baht.
They are also present in large numbers at the many deaths and they are paid well for it.
This is still a small temple, but at the larger temples a lot of money goes into it.
I feel sorry for the lower monks because they benefit less from it.
But who am I to judge this, the Thai government and the Thai people maintain this and adore the so-called Thai monasticism and Thai Buddhism with all its excesses.
Recently saw on Dutch TV. A report about the big scam with expensive gold (plastic) amulets in a temple in Phuket. Hundreds of people were ripped off there every day. For millions of baht per day.
The program is also available on YouTube, called Scammers Abroad, by Kees van der Spek, episode S6A5.
Janneman.
Politics and religion
One threatens with jail, the other with hell and damnation
Both just want control
I have seen through the Orange association long ago, even before I came to live here.
My wife is a Buddhist but sees that too, and only goes to the temple on very rare occasions.
She has the Buddhist experience, if I may call it that, at home, we have some of those spirit houses.
My stepson also thinks the same, he studied and has a good job and once he was made a monk for two weeks.
And he has seen much, but as far as I know he will never come to the temple again.
I asked him at the end of that period what do monks do all day, the answer was not much.
In our village it is the same, the head monk travels to Laos a lot, according to hearsay.
Nobody knows what he is doing there, and nobody dares to ask what happens to the contributions.
Only the local market is buzzing.
Janneman.