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While the country is thriving materially, people are failing to take a look at the spiritual side of the matter, and the country has fallen into a crisis due to a lack of wisdom and harmony.

The late monk's knowledge of politics was real, and the lessons he offered on this subject are classic. After all, he attracted a number of lay people, among them Pridi Banomyong, who was an outstanding beacon of Thai democracy.

Given society's deep divisions, Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's teachings on the interdependence of all things and the need for balance should be well heeded. The current political crisis is the result of each side failing to listen to the other. Each side fails to be sympathetic towards the stance of its opponents and tends to go to extremes in its demands.

Prominent political scientist Seksan Prasertkul paraphrased one of Buddhadhasa's teachings at a recent seminar on the revered monk: "We may say the rain comes from the sea or the sea comes from the rain, but neither rain nor sea exists in isolation."

The monk tells his followers never to jump to black-and-white conclusions and see one group as "evil" and another as "saintly".

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu taught his followers to be close to nature and learn from it. Once they realise the importance of the interconnectedness of all things, people naturally shake off the compartmentalised way of thinking that leads to a narrow world view and misguided political judgements.

The monk also taught his followers that power does not come of itself but rather that a person obtains it based on what he or she does. Therefore, leaders who strive for power should strive to do their best for the people in order to earn it.