by Michael Hall
In October of 1998, an incident occurred in Thailand, which sounds reminiscent of the experience of Catholic worshippers at Fatima, in which thousands of people saw the sun manifest itself into the form of their religious leader (Mydans). The people who witnessed this event are followers of the Dhammakaya; a new sect of Thai Buddhism. Thai Buddhism is actually a branch of Theravada Buddhism, which happens to be one of the oldest and most conservative forms of Buddhism that exists (Palmer 104). The followers of this sect congregate around a large UFO-shaped structure which, at the moment, is covered with 300,000 statuettes of the Buddha (Dhammakaya). This rapidly growing radical sect is causing much controversy in Thailand, which has traditionally followed the more conservative form of Buddhism. Although a bit controversial, the Dhammakaya Foundation is succeeding in uniting Thailand’s middle class on the common goal of world peace, and is also helping its people through a variety of humanitarian enterprises.
The followers of this relatively new religious sect mostly come from Thailand’s modern middle class, which seems to have become discontented with the traditional Buddhist religion (Mydans). According to the Buddhist scholar Sulak Sivaraksa, “traditional Buddhism does not cater for modern Thai people, only for those who go to temples for superstition or astrologers or fortune tellers” (Mydans). Buddhist followers are particularly upset with the Sangha, the group of religious leaders who claim descent from the original Buddha, for surrendering its “rightful role as a moral voice for society” (Palmer 105; Horn).
The Dhammakaya Foundation?s followers are united on the goal of obtaining world peace and helping their fellow members through an array of activities. Their mission is to “promote and propagate the practice of meditation which brings inner peace, a gateway to world peace” (Dhammakaya). Followers believe that by meditating in groups numbering in the tens of thousands, miracles will happen (Mydans). The group also performs a great deal of activities such as free health and dental care to the general public, help with natural disasters, and caring for impoverished children. They also try to build good working relations with other faiths.
Although the group performs these good deeds, there is much controversy over whether some of these “good” deeds are beneficial to Buddhism. There have been some reports of corruption within the group. According to one source, the Dhammakaya Foundation “promotes donations as a shortcut to salvation and good fortune” (Horn). The group is also being accused of corrupting Buddhism by making it materialistic, the very opposite of true Buddhist doctrine. In response, the group says that they are trying to transform Buddhism to be more relatable to the modern world (Mydan).
Regardless of the controversies involved, Dhammakaya seems to be exactly what the Thai people need. This is obvious when one looks at the growing numbers of members to this new sect. We live in a day in age when our culture seems to be evolving at an exponential rate. The religions of the world should open their eyes to the world around them if they wish to keep their followers. They should loosen up a bit and become a little less dogmatic. Even though they are a bit controversial, the Dhammakaya Foundation is succeeding in uniting Thailand’s middle class on the common goal of world peace, and is also helping its people through a variety of humanitarian enterprises.
Dhammakaya Foundation. 2003. Dhammakaya Foundation. 29 Mar. 2005. .
Horn, Robert. “Sect Spurs Crisis in Thai Buddhism.” Associated Press. 24 July 1999. 29 Mar. 2005.
Mydans, Seth. “Most Serene of Sects Creates Uproar in Buddhism.” Pathum Thani Journal. 13 Aug. 1999. 29 Mar. 2005.
Palmer, Martin, ed. World Religions. London: Barnes and Noble, 2002.
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