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Published on October 6, 2007

People who consider themselves good Buddhists, who really care about their religion, should thank artist Anupong Chanthorn for creating a pair of award-winning paintings that honestly reflect the precipitous decline of Buddhism in this country. "Bhikku Sandan Ka" portrays Buddhist monks with crow-like features, while "Mha-Nut" depicts a dog draped in the saffron robe. People who call themselves defenders of Buddhism are staging a noisy protest against the paintings, but they should not chastise the artist. They don't seem to get it that they are part of the problem that contributes to the widespread corruption of the monastic community.

The protesters - Buddhist monks, nuns and laymen - are demanding the removal from public display of the paintings. They deem the paintings offensive and damaging to the faith supposedly followed by more than 90 per cent of people in this country. They have also asked Silpakorn University to revoke the prizes awarded to Anupong for his controversial works. The Culture Ministry did the right thing by ignoring these unreasonable demands made by people with intolerant views.

The protesters are pressuring the Education Ministry, which oversees university affairs, to take disciplinary as well as criminal action against Anupong and the 18 members of Silpakorn's judging panel for insulting Buddhism. Silpakorn University has insisted that it will stand by the decision of its judges to bestow the prize on Anupong for his thought-provoking paintings that satirise corrupt elements within Buddhism in Thailand.

Both paintings are on display at the 53rd National Exhibition of Art at Silpakorn University's Sanam Chan Palace campus in Nakhon Pathom until October 30. The university is doing the right thing by protecting artists' freedom of expression.

The angry protesters now threaten to lodge an appeal with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont asking for his intervention in keeping Anupong's works from public display. The prime minister must take a principled stand and throw his support behind Silpakorn University and refuse to give in to irrational demands.

Those who are quick to take offence at an artist's paintings cannot possibly call themselves good Buddhists because they already fail one of Buddha's most basic teachings: to develop a sense of detachment, the sort of detachment that will give them clarity of perception and fair judgement. Any fair-minded person, Buddhist or otherwise, will see that Anupong's works are not insulting to Buddhism but a form of social commentary on Buddhism as an organised religion being practised in this country today. Most people agree that Buddhism is now in a state of decline. The unmistakable message is clear to anyone except narrow-minded, hypocritical and intolerant people that it is corrupt monks who are giving Buddhism a bad name.

Hardly a day goes by without scandals reported in the mass media about errant Buddhist monks. Many observant Buddhists have become so cynical that nothing - not even the most outrageous and despicable act committed by a monk - would surprise them. In the meantime, the monastic authorities are too weak to do anything to reverse the decay. Too many of the 250,000 to 300,000 monks in this country do not observe even the most rudimentary precepts required of lay Buddhists - let alone the 227 precepts that those who take up the saffron robe are supposed to observe.

The most alarming sign is that many people no longer even care, as they seem to believe that the brand of Buddhism being practised in this country is beyond salvation. Many are apparently content with superficial religious rites that they don't really see as having much relevance to modern society and their personal lives.

Buddhist temples used to be centres of learning, and monks were the guardians of our cultural heritage, but many temples have turned into dens of iniquity. The failure to reform Buddhism and keep it up to date with the drastic social and economic changes has not only resulted in the religion's diminished influence as a force for good but also contributed to corruption and social decay. Thai society needs more artists and lay Buddhists like Anupong, who care enough about Buddhism to criticise, to satirise, to put pressure on the monastic order to reform. These people deserve praise, not condemnation.

The Nation