Buddhism is in the hearts of all Buddhists; it does not need to be written down. Buddhism is the religion of peace; it must not be politicised.

Those who are demonstrating, the "monks" included, in attempt to pressure the Constitution Drafting Committee to add a statement declaring Buddhism the country's state religion are misguided and being used to create trouble and disunity among Thais. They should be ashamed of themselves. They do not understand what Buddhism teaches. They should not call themselves Buddhists. What these people are doing goes against the Lord Buddha's teaching.

The monks should know better, but unfortunately some of them allow themselves to be exploited by power-hungry, evil-minded people who have no love for our country. They are determined to divide our country in any way they can. These people are slaves of the former regime.

Thailand must not be divided and exploited by members of the former regime who want to divert society's attention away from their evil deeds.

I hope the Buddhists who are demonstrating soon realise they have been misguided and exploited by evil-minded people. I hope these people see the light soon. As for Thaksin, he cannot be reformed. He is no Ongkuliman, and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is no Lord Buddha.

Duangrudi

Bangkok

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Politics and religious faith should remain separate

Re: "Religion protests worry Surayud", News, April 26.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is right to suspect a hidden agenda behind the move to name Buddhism as the state religion.

I see little, if anything, to be gained by such a move - and much to lose. Time and again, our sage and beloved His Majesty the King has called for unity, and emphasising to our non-Buddhist brethren that they are different from us would only drive us apart. Down South, which is already aflame, such a move would pour oil on those flames.

Those in favour of singling Buddhism out should ask themselves: what would the Buddha have done? Did he seek to mix religion and state - and if so, why?

Those who want Buddhism to be our state religion say it'll merely be recognising reality, because 94.6 per cent of Thais are Buddhists. True, but almost all Japanese are Buddhists, and the Japanese constitution not only omits all designation of a state religion, but also specifically separates religion from the state. We should study their reasons for doing so.

Just because most Thais are Buddhists doesn't mean we need a state religion any more than because most Thais are male means we need a state gender. All faiths are treated equally, and that's the way it should be. Leave the state out of it.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok

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Buddhist teachings provide answers to charter debate

As Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont expresses concern about the march by 400 Buddhist monks, and while Stephff declares consumerism the state religion (Stephff's View, April 26), it may be wise for both the government and the monkhood to reflect on some of the Buddha's teachings. These include right livelihood (earning one's living in an honest way, legally and peacefully without causing harm and suffering to others); right action (not killing other sentient beings, not just humans, and not stealing or engaging in sexual misconduct); and right speech (abstaining from gossip, slander, hurtful and foul language and avoiding excessive speech).

The story of Emperor Wu of China is a revealing parable. The story goes that he built many temples and monasteries, educated many monks and performed countless philanthropic deeds in the name of Buddhism. One day he asked the great teacher Bodhidharma, "What merit is there in my good works?" Bodhidharma replied, "None whatsoever". The emperor then asked, "What is the primal meaning of Holy Reality?" Bodhidharma answered, "Emptiness, not holiness". The emperor then queried, "Why, then, is this confronting me?" "I do not know," was Bodhidharma's reply. Since the emperor did not understand, Bodhidharma left his kingdom.

James Groveway

Bangkok

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Failing mobile-phone manners a global problem

Mobile Obtuse Behaviour Syndrome (Mobs) is spreading rapidly across the globe. Anyone in possession of a mobile phone is susceptible to the condition.

It plunges people into a frazzled state of unawareness. Mobs manifests itself in at least four separate strains:

Mobs Factor A causes mobile-phone users to become motionless, say, in the middle of narrow pavements or at the very end of moving walkways, totally oblivious of the people behind toppling onto one another.

Mobs Factor B attacks phone users who prefer to talk while on the move.

It inflicts them with a sudden inability to walk in a straight line.

They lurch from left to right and right to left, instinctively ensuring that they block anyone attempting to overtake them on either side. In the near future, Factor B is widely expected to lead to "pavement rage" - an offshoot of "road rage".

Mobs Factor C besets mobile-phone users stricken with high levels of their own self-importance. Usually occurring in quiet environments, it causes them to yell into their technological knick-knack with absolutely no regard for the boredom being inflicted on those forced to listen.

Mobs Factor D usually occurs during one-on-one conversations, the second party being suddenly discarded (generally mid-sentence) in favour of the apparently more important incoming call.

Moments of extreme intimacy may be similarly disrupted with possible dire consequences! Frequent recipients of this appallingly rude behaviour are increasingly likely to experience emotional disturbance, particularly feelings of rejection.

Other Mobs factors are currently undergoing research and await classification.

Mobs is unstoppable, and we are all in very great danger of being "Mobbed" at any time!

How many "Mobs moments" have you experienced today?

John Shepherd

Bangkok

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Paradorn story a nice break from doom-and-gloom news

Re: "Ostentatious engagement spectacle sets bad example" and "Paradorn's wedding plans do not merit nation's rapt focus", Letters, April 26.

Both letters criticised your front-page coverage of the engagement of Paradorn Srichaphan and Natalie Glebova as showing a lack of modesty and being unwarranted.

I am no fan of either Paradorn or Natalie and hardly read detailed news of this nature. But I felt somehow refreshed to see the front-page picture of the happiness of this young couple and its headline: "Paradorn's my ace: Natalie" (News, April 25). In the current gloomy atmosphere, it is a nice change from those headlines of demands for Buddhism as our national religion, the People's Alliance for Democracy calling for the prime minister to quit, taxes on Thaksin's family, the illegality of land deals, the Council for National Security's news of not perpetuating their reign, the impropriety at Suvarnabhumi, bad public spending, cries of vengeance from Thaksin's brother etc.

Furthermore, how often do you see the betrothal of a tennis player with a Miss Universe, not to mention a Thai tennis player? I don't even mind seeing the news and pictures of General Sonthi Boonyaratglin playing football and proving he's human.

Come on, ladies and gentlemen! Live and let live!

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok

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Hard numbers do not reflect actual size of tourism industry

Re: "Foreign investment positive for those in relative sectors", Letters, April 26.

As we have now moved on to the statistics portion of our debate, I would like to take exception to some of Bruce Janis' statistics.

I checked the statistics, and although my source ("The New York Times Almanac") does not seem to be as thorough as his, it is indicative that he certainly is not making up his figures. It is true that both China and the US have more visitors than Thailand; however, the almanac does not disseminate whether they are vacationers or business visitors. I would imagine only the immigration people of both countries could supply those figures. As for Japan, it is not even listed in the top 30 tourist destinations, so I don't know where he got that one.  As for retirees, America has roughly 10 per cent of its population over the age of 64. Of that, only 10 per cent are foreign-born. The almanac again does not suggest what percentage came as retirees. But considering the cost of living in America, I just don't see it as a major retiree mecca.

As for Thailand's figures, Bruce is telling us tourism represents only 6 per cent of gross domestic product, as opposed to 38 per cent for manufacturing. These figures are laughable. Trying to use American methods for gathering statistics in a country that is almost exclusively a cash country simply doesn't work.

The only money spent by foreigners that is traceable comes from their hotel bills. Taxis, food and entertainment are all paid for in cash and more likely than not go to the people in Thailand that really need it.

Once again, I must point out that although Westerners may actually believe they are doing Thailand a favour by investing in it, the profits from direct foreign investment stay in Bangkok, while profits from tourism and retirees is spread throughout Thailand where it will do the most good.

Manufacturing is not compatible with tourism.

Like another gentleman in the same column wrote, "Thailand will ultimately be Westernised" ("Westernisation inevitable, making the best of benefits key). I am simply attempting to slow it down, but I know I am spinning my wheels, because ultimately greed always wins out.

John Arnone

Yasothon