'We will hold hands tighter'
It came as a shock four months ago: abbot Mitsuo Shibahashi of the famous Suwandavanaram forest monastery in Kanchanaburi had shed his robes after nearly 40 years to marry his secretary Suttirat Muttamara. The couple was bombarded with gossip and backbiting. They are now appearing in public for the first time.
The Nation: Scandal Monk is a master of marketing
How did the controversial monk Luang Pu manage to gain the respect and support of so many believers, the English-language newspaper The Nation wonders. Answer: He had a PR team that masterfully positioned him as a leader who would lead them on the path to nirvana.
More and more monks are being accused of a materialistic lifestyle, as can be read in the Bangkok Post today. Luxury cars, expensive watches and even flying with a private jet are just some of the striking findings.
Photo of the week: Find the monk…
Find the monk in this picture, but counting is also allowed.
Column: The Buddhist and the BMW
The status sensitivity of the Thais borders on the absurd. Most of the residents of our flat are in their twenties and early thirties, who are at the beginning of the career they envision today. They usually earn a salary of between 600 and 800 euros per month and are relatively highly educated.
Reader question: Can I stay in a temple for a few days in Thailand?
I have a question for you, it seems very interesting to me to spend two days somewhere in Thailand in the middle of the mountains and nature in a monastery or temple. This out of admiration and interest in Buddhism.
Scent of Bangkok (video)
When visiting a temple or Buddha statues, you will see Thai people busy with incense, candles, gold leaf and lotus buds. It is beautifully depicted in the video below (sound on, otherwise you will miss the music).
Reader question: Buddhist peculiarities, who can tell more about them?
I have now been living in Thailand for almost 5 years. I have been married for 4 years now to a highly educated Thai 44 year old woman who speaks good English. This allows me to communicate well, debate, but also discuss our different ways of thinking about faith.
'Catholic Church and Buddhism guilty of blood ivory'
The worldwide slaughter of elephants is largely due to the Catholic Church and Buddhism. That's what investigative journalist Bryan Christy writes in this month's National Geographic magazine.
After 2600 years we are stuck in a moral rut
Today, two thousand and six hundred years ago, Buddha gave his first sermon, which would become the cornerstone of Buddhist teaching: avoid extremism, understand the reality of suffering and its cessation, and follow the eightfold path to be freed from suffering .
Candle party in Ladchado
Buddhist Lent begins next week across Thailand, marking Vassa's return from heaven on Thursday, August 2, with a candle procession.
News from Thailand – June 30, 2012
The misuse of images of the Buddha is a thorn in the side of the Knowing Buddha Foundation. Tonight she demonstrates in Khao San Road in Bangkok in protest against tattoos with the image of Buddha, images on furniture and in logos. The absolute low point is a local nightclub called Buddha Bar.
One dead in Isan
Still live in that small village of 250 people in Isaan. Still regularly buy spray cans to give the ants a shot so they are unable to undermine my house. Two weeks ago my girlfriend took me to Soi 3 (out of 4 in the village). In a shabby hut, an old woman sat alone, rocking back and forth. Looked sickly and completely unresponsive to our presence. It turned out that her son lived next door to her, but he paid no attention to his mother
Which religion do you prefer?
The day before yesterday I received a “Christmas message” from a friend from Scotland. The message consisted only of 32 images of posters promoting atheism.
Sonkran in Pichit
Songkran is the worst thing that can happen here, but luckily I know it's different outside of Pattaya and Bangkok. A few years ago I was in Pichit. The first day there I want to go to the city. My friends offer me a motorbike, but I ask someone to take me with a car. They do so with pleasure, although they do not understand my aversion to water features. Along the way I notice that…