Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong appointed new supreme patriarch

[Mr Man]

His Majesty the King Tuesday appointed Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong, the abbot of Wat Ratbophit, as Thailand’s new supreme patriarch, Prime Minister Prayut said.

Prayut said he nominated five senior monks for the post and King made the final decision. The appointment ceremony will be held on February 12.

Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong has spent eight full decades in monasteries.

Born on June 26, 1927, he was initially known as Ambhorn Prasattapong.

At the age of 10, he was ordained as a novice monk at a local temple in his home province of Ratchaburi. It took him just three years to complete the Dhamma Scholar, Elementary Level. By 1943, he had already completed the Dhamma Scholar, Advanced Level.

In 1947, a senior monk recommended him to the then-Supreme Patriarch (Vas Vassano) and thus he could move to Ratchabophit Temple in Bangkok.

In 1948, he was ordained as a monk. At the Ratchabophit Temple, he had studied Dhamma further

After completing the Pali Scholar Level 6 in 1950, he pursued further monastic education at the country’s Mahamakut Buddhist University. In 1957, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in religious studies.

After his graduation, he headed to India and studied for a master degree in history and archaeology at the Banaras Hindu University.

He received an honorary doctorate degree from the Mahamakut Buddhist University in 2009, the year he secured the Racha Khara rank.

In 2010, the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University also conferred him an honorary doctorate degree.

At present, he has been the abbot of the Ratchabophit Temple, a senior member of the Dhammayuti Order, and a member of the Sangha Supreme Council,

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/br ... s/30305856

[mikenz66]

Interesting that the law was changed...

His Majesty the King has chosen Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong, abbot of Wat Ratchabophit, to be the 20th Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

"I submitted the names of five qualified monks for His Majesty to consider. On Monday night, I was informed His Majesty had chosen Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong," he said.

A ceremony to appoint him will be held at 5pm on Sunday at Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram. It will be presided over by the king.

Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong, 89, is of Dhammayuttika Nikaya, one of the two orders of Buddhist monks in Thailand.

On Jan 6, the Sangha Act was amended to allow the King to directly choose and appoint the Supreme Patriarch instead of through the Sangha Council's nomination.

Earlier, Somdet Chuang, the abbot of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen and acting Supreme Patriarch, was the candidate since he is the most senior monk in the country as stipulated by the old law.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... -patriarch

[Javi]

So is this a good thing for Thai Buddhism? What are the views and plans of the new patriarch?

[mikenz66]

Who knows? There are all kinds of accusations surrounding Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn (Somdet Chuang).
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 80#p377413

Apart from that, the Government presumably didn't want someone with Dhammakaya connections because of the connection with the Thaksin family.


Mike

[ancientbuddhism]

Good earth. The ghoul is making ecclesiastical appointments.

[mikenz66]

Hmm, a little obscure for me to pick up the meaning...


Mike

[Lucas Oliveira]

The selection process for the new supreme patriarch was marked by rivalries, controversy, and disputes between the major monastic orders and within the government. In February last year, monks and army personnel clashed during a protest rally attended by thousands of monks against perceived interference in the appointment of the supreme patriarch and in a show of support for the then frontrunner for the position, Ven. Somdet Phra Maha Ratcha Mangkhlachan. However, vocal critics expressed doubts about his suitability for the role. He was accused of violating monastic rules and of having close ties with the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya, the temple at the center of the controversial Dhammakaya Buddhist movement in Thailand, which is reportedly backed by a number of powerful public figures—including the family of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra—and has been hounded by allegations of involvement in fraud, embezzlement, and corruption.

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/thail ... tic-sangha

[Turmeric]

The selection process for the new supreme patriarch was marked by rivalries, controversy, and disputes between the major monastic orders and within the government. In February last year, monks and army personnel clashed during a protest rally attended by thousands of monks against perceived interference in the appointment of the supreme patriarch and in a show of support for the then frontrunner for the position, Ven. Somdet Phra Maha Ratcha Mangkhlachan. However, vocal critics expressed doubts about his suitability for the role. He was accused of violating monastic rules and of having close ties with the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya, the temple at the center of the controversial Dhammakaya Buddhist movement in Thailand, which is reportedly backed by a number of powerful public figures—including the family of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra—and has been hounded by allegations of involvement in fraud, embezzlement, and corruption.

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/thail ... tic-sangha

Oh god how many times does the dhammakaya have to repeatedly say they don't care about politics and don't have ties to the ousted prime minister before people stop bringing Thaksins name up when slandering them. "reportedly" backed by a number of powerful figures. Reported by who? Sarah? Bob? United states politicians are also reportedly shape shifting lizards from outter space that eat human flesh. Reportedly.

[chownah]

Great. It is good to see some new blood in the sangha leadership. With this new leadership do you think the sangha will take california's lead and legalize marijuana?
chownah

[slimdabuddhist]

The selection process for the new supreme patriarch was marked by rivalries, controversy, and disputes between the major monastic orders and within the government. In February last year, monks and army personnel clashed during a protest rally attended by thousands of monks against perceived interference in the appointment of the supreme patriarch and in a show of support for the then frontrunner for the position, Ven. Somdet Phra Maha Ratcha Mangkhlachan. However, vocal critics expressed doubts about his suitability for the role. He was accused of violating monastic rules and of having close ties with the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya, the temple at the center of the controversial Dhammakaya Buddhist movement in Thailand, which is reportedly backed by a number of powerful public figures—including the family of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra—and has been hounded by allegations of involvement in fraud, embezzlement, and corruption.

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/thail ... tic-sangha

Oh god how many times does the dhammakaya have to repeatedly say they don't care about politics and don't have ties to the ousted prime minister before people stop bringing Thaksins name up when slandering them. "reportedly" backed by a number of powerful figures. Reported by who? Sarah? Bob? United states politicians are also reportedly shape shifting lizards from outter space that eat human flesh. Reportedly.

Yes, and the Thai Government is "reportedly" trying destroy Buddhism in Thailand even though Thailand is a majority Buddhist country, but you know,where's the proof? See what I did there?