Recent scandals involving the Thai monastic community have led Buddhism in Thailand into a serious crisis of faith, as the number of laypeople visiting temples to make offerings and support the clergy each day has plummeted by 70% to 80%.
The Vice Chief Monk of Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University (Korat Campus) in Nakhon Ratchasima Province recently spoke candidly about this crisis after presiding over a 'merit dedication' ceremony, telling local media that Buddhism in Thailand is currently facing a grave crisis of faith.
He revealed that in particular, the 2,102 temples spread across the 32 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima have been hit hard by the recent news of monks violating monastic discipline; the province also has the most Buddhist temples in Thailand.
Citing the well-known Wat Sala Loi as an example – which enshrines the remains of Thao Suranari, the local heroine of Nakhon Ratchasima – he said that in the past, about 2,000 to 3,000 people would visit daily for offerings, but now the number has dropped sharply to fewer than 300.
“The number of people making offerings and providing support has dropped by 70% to 80%, and on some days, there are almost no offerings at all, which means monks and novices lack sufficient food and support.”
The vice chief monk stressed that scandals involving the monastic community are not unprecedented in history. However, he believes they should be seen as the failings of individual monks, not as problems with Buddhism as a whole.
He stated that the Buddhist teachings and the Sangha still have important value for society, and that abandoning Buddhism due to a few scandals would have far-reaching consequences for both religion and social stability.
He called on Buddhists to discern right from wrong: it is acceptable to reject and discipline monks who violate the rules, but the tens of thousands of pure, rule-abiding monks and nuns—who hold no position or power and rely solely on the merit of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha for their livelihood—should not be implicated. If they were to be universally rejected, these monks and nuns might be unable to survive and would be forced to return to lay life.
“Even if you are angry, focus only on those monks who have broken the rules, and do not deny Buddhism as a whole. Buddhism still has value and benefits, and remains highly significant to Thai society.”