Should religion get embroiled in everyday
lives? A Thai Dilemma
If we look at
the health of religions, we would have notice that religion which
have a teaching that mandate how one should live one’s daily life
and extend and permeates this influences to all strata of society
with full authority, including the government, are the ones that
grow stronger by the day. These are religions by default of its
teaching, has the complete tacit support of its existing
government. We see them in such belief as the Islamic Faith in
countries that are predominantly Muslims.
On the other
hand, religion that do not have existing government support or have
people in them who are view as threat, tend to be persecuted and
when it persisted long enough, would eventually be annihilated. In
time, the vacuum created will be replaced by other faiths. Such
could be case of Buddhism in Tibet in years to come. This scenario
can also be seen in Myanmar if the dedicate situation are not
handle with care by the Sangha there.
The teaching of the Lord Buddha
will always be true in the beginning, at the middle and in the end,
but the same cannot be said of its rules on discipline.
The Sangha involvement in
politic may be a contravention of some of these rules, which was
lay down more than 2000 years ago. Some may not be applicable in
the current modern context and may need to be amended or
reinterpreted to suit current situation so that the religion may
not be seen as antiquated and be left behind to die a natural
death. Monks who got involved in politics in Thailand may be
criticized by the Sangha Council, but if they do not, they risk
further marginalization by remaining on the sidelines of Thailand
entrenched political conflict. After all, they may be right to say
that their role as monks mandates them
to fight for truth, justice and against human suffering brought
about by misrule. This, even though at the same time they may also
be accused of hypocrisy and exploitation, given the clear worldly
power agendas of the political parties they get themselves
embroiled in. It is a catch 22 situation and a risk they will have
to take.
Beside scandals, the diminishing role as
educators and conflict resolvers, the involvement in the political
situation by the monks in Thailand may serve as a catalyst for
future change in main stream Buddhism and its monastic order as
well. At the same time, it can also serve as a lesson for Buddhists
of other nations to learn from too.
In
Thailand, the role of educator can still be made relevant in
today’s context by catering to the needs of working mothers; in the
establishment of child and early child care centre within the
temple compound and by enhancing the role of the Mae Chi as its
educators and care providers. The idea is not new and is used by
other religious faiths including some Buddhist groups to provide a
much needed social service to society. At the same time, it is also
used by these organizations to inculcate the young with the
religious value, ethics and beliefs of their
religion.
For
Buddhism to stay relevant in Thai society and Indo-China as a
whole, more changes are needed to cater and draw in the younger
generations to its fold. The current Indo-China temple design does
not seem to serve such purposes as they are designed for limited
purposes and capacities catering more for prayers and for special
occasions. Future generation of temples may need to take into
consideration a wider usage in its design to draw in the crowds to
stay longer on its premises and cater to their needs and
requirements.
For
Buddhism in Thailand and elsewhere in this region to stay relevant,
it needs to widen its role in society and not stay aloft for just
specific diminishing purposes which would in time lead to its own
demise due to its inability to change with time. It would be a sad
day indeed should it ever happens.
