Rev. Danny Fisher

This from our friend and past interviewee Erick D. White: Seth Kane’s reflection on Buddhism and current Thai politics in Asia Times Online. Here’s a snippet:

Thailand’s community of Buddhist monks, the Sangha, has traditionally occupied a ubiquitous and hallowed place in Thai society. However, globalization and decades of rapid economic development have challenged the Sangha’s traditional position, seen in its dwindling membership, plethora of scandals and diminished role as educators and conflict resolvers.

The country’s current political divide has further strained the Sangha, exposing rifts and presenting hard dilemmas for an institution that is in many ways struggling to adapt to modern Thai society. Increasingly, Thailand’s Buddhist monks face a stark trade-off: risk further marginalization by remaining on the sidelines of entrenched political conflict or wade into the struggle in a way that could compromise their transcendental legitimacy.

Erick and I addressed some of the goings-on in Thailand in a past “On the Buddhism Beat” post for Shambhala Sun Space. Take a look here.