MONASTIC REFORMS IN THAILAND: NAVIGATING THE INTERSECTION OF POLITICS AND RELIGION

Prakob Meekhotkong

ผู้แต่ง

Prakob Meekhotkong Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Khon Kaen Campus, Khon Kaen, Thailand

คำสำคัญ:

Monastic Reforms, Thai Sangha, Buddhism, State Intervention, Monastic Education, Religious Autonomy, Monarchy

บทคัดย่อ

This paper examines the intersection of politics and religion in Thailand, focusing on recent monastic reforms and their implications for the Buddhist Sangha. These reforms, initiated by the Thai government, have aimed to address financial mismanagement, ethical misconduct, and the modernization of monastic education. However, they have also sparked tensions between conservative and progressive factions within the monastic community, particularly regarding the state's increasing influence over religious institutions. The study explores the impact of these reforms on the autonomy of the Sangha, the role of the monarchy in shaping monastic governance, and the broader societal reactions to state intervention in religious affairs. While reforms present opportunities for modernizing the Sangha and enhancing its social engagement, they also raise questions about the balance between religious independence and political control. The paper situates these developments within the broader context of Southeast Asian Buddhism, where similar trends of state intervention and religious reform are evident.

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