Monks as businessmen?

Temple bank deposits total 300 billion baht & most temples do not even have a proper accounting system. As long as temple finance is not transparent, corrupt monks will not go away.

The famous case of monks who were caught flying in private jets with luxury handbags and that was only the tip of the iceberg.

RELIGION

Sangha elders lay down law on reforms

1/04/2015
Abridged from Sanitsuda Ekachai commentary

The current Sangha law gives absolute power to abbots to manage temple assets and finances. With 37,000 temples in the country, it is impossible to estimate the total value of assets — especially given the priceless cultural treasures and vast amount of land under the sole supervision of abbots. It is not uncommon for abbots to tear down invaluable ancient structures to build car parks, or evict the poor to "develop" the land to make money.

According to a study by Asst Prof Nada Chansom of the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), temple donations amount to 100 billion a year. Most temples do not even have a proper accounting system, easily leading to corruption. Temples' bank deposits nationwide total 300 billion baht. It is most likely the bank accounts are in the abbots' names.

Such immense wealth could be channelled to help the poor, improve monks' education and preserve temples' cultural heritage under transparent and effective management. Sadly, this is not the case. What happens is widespread abuse of temple money and monks' indulgences with luxuries and sexual pleasures. 

This week, monks called off their rally to protest against the National Reform Council's (NRC) moves to clean up temple corruption. The government promised not to push the reform effort without endorsement from the Supreme Sangha Council (SSC) that governs the Sangha. A protester monk leader threatened monks would take to the streets if the government did not keep its word.

This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened. When the NRC committee on religion pushed for Sangha reform to make temple finances transparent, decentralise governance in the Sangha, punish rogue monks and improve the monks' education system, the clergy was up in arms.

They threatened to protest. The NRC responded by disbanding the Sangha reform committee.  The defence or excuse given by the monks was: Commercialisation of religion also happens in other religions, so why focus on Buddhist monks only? Corrupt and rogue monks are just a few rotten apples, so why punish everyone for their vices? This view shows how useless it is to assume the clergy can clean up its house by itself.

Some monks insist they want to protect Buddhism but they won't admit the truth— that all they really want is to protect their own financial interests. Money, in short, is the real issue. According to the monastic code of conduct, monks cannot even touch money, let alone accept temple donations for personal wealth. 

If you cannot reform the monkhood, forget about reforming the country. This message was sent  from forest monk Phra Paisal Visalo to the military junta. 

As long as temple finances are not transparent, corrupt monks will not go away.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/514539/sangha-elders-lay-down-law-on-reforms

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