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Published on October 3, 2007

They are now pressuring Silpakorn University to remove the artwork, saying it is an outrageous offence against the monkhood.

The painting features a monk with pointed lips like a raven's beak. To the artist, Anupong Chanthorn, it represents monks who abuse the saffron robes for their own benefit. To his opponents, it defames Buddhism.

Hmm, if I can make some comments which may agitate the protesters, I would say it is not the painting that defames Buddhism, but the bad behaviour of some monks.

One of my friends from up-country told me a story. Near her mother's house is a temple that is generous enough to grow trees for free distribution to villagers. One day, she went there on an errand for her mother. A young monk kindly helped her dig up some saplings.

Things looked all right until he leered at her and, smiling seductively, asked if she wanted someone to take care of her trees at home.

That reminded me of the scandals of monks having sex in their quarters. Some make money by giving out lottery numbers for villagers. Others are involved in dubious activities to show off their supernatural powers. Recently, a novice was reported to have slapped a nun for not wai-ing him when passing, even though the nun was his mother's age.

I'm not a man and I have never learned the 227 principles monks must honour after ordination. Still, I do know that if monks commit the behaviour mentioned above, they are just ordinary men, not men in the monkhood. Therefore, why do they deserve to be respected?

Rather than attacking others for exposing bad behaviour, the pro-Buddhism groups should first admit that the behaviour exists and needs to be remedied.

Then they should also concentrate on activities to promote Buddhism in creative ways. How about listing the options that temples could use to take in donations, and how the money should be used? Do we have enough Buddhist chapels in the country? In any province, there are more than a few temples per village and all want big, elegant buildings to draw more followers.

The money should better

be spent on improving the

ethical standards of monks.

I believe that would be more effective in attracting people

to temples.

achara_d@nationgroup.com