The impact of “Dhammachayo” to the Thai social network and Thai Society. (Part 1)

Alert: Our blog content today is a really sensitive issue on the Buddhism, and I’m not want to create dramatic issue or despise about it. It is the information on the internet that I just collect it and analyze it to everyone. Moreover, surely their will have some of the rude words, which it is the example that I have been collected from the internet too.

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog again, last time we also mention about The impact of “Salt Bae” to the social network and society and many people are also give an attention about it for a lot. This time, we will analyze about the serious and dramatic issue in Thailand right now, which it is the most case that Thai people are giving an attention right now. If you doesn’t know him, I believed that you are out of the trend right now. This guy he is one of the most wanted people for the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) right now, and he is a monk that there are so many people respect on him. This guy, he is “Dhammachayo” or “Luang Por Dhammachayo” from “Dhammakaya”

“Dhammachayo”

NOW, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HIS BIOGRAPHY FIRST.

“Luang Por Dhammachayo” is the owner of “Wat Phra Dhammakaya” in Thailand and he is the president of the Dhammakaya Foundation too. He was born in Sing Buri Province on 22 April 1944, before he was ordain, his name was “Chaiyabun Sutthiphon”. “Chaiyabun” has a strongly interest in reading, especially in books on Buddhist practice and biographies of leading people in the world. He came across a book with teachings from “Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro” and a magazine about the “Maechi Chandra Khonnokyoong” (Nun Chandra Khonnokyoong).

Once ordained, he started teaching Dhammakaya meditation together with “Maechi Chandra”. Moreover, the landowner “Khunying Prayat Suntharawet” donate her land to celebrate her birthday and on 20 February 1970 they just start to created meditation center and invite people to make merits pray and meditate, and the site was later named “Wat Phra Dhammakaya”.

“Wat Phra Dhammakaya”

“Maechi Chandra”

And why the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) want to arrest him.

Now, we will tell you why DSI want to arrest Luang Por Dhammachayo, but we will not talk about it too much we will tell you a little bit about the case, because our topic today we doesn’t focus on his biography, his meditation center or his case, but today we will focus on the reaction on the social network and society, so we will tell you a little bit on his case.

Mr.Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, was involving more than 11 billion baht (S$425 million) from Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, and he was jailed for 16 years, however, Dhammachayo has been accused of conspiring to launder money by accepting cash stolen from a credit union (Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative).

Mr.Supachai Srisupa-aksorn

“Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative”

More than 2,200 police has deployed to arrest the abbot of a Buddhist temple (Wat Phra Dhammakaya) accused of accepting embezzled funds, a source said, in the latest development in a scandal that has opened a bitter rupture at the heart of the nation’s faith.

You can also reading the story about Dhammachayo scandal from this link:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-news/749184/phra-dhammachayo-faces-theft-money-laundering-charges

Now, let’s know a little bit about the things that in social network also mention about it first.

First it is about UFO structure in “Wat Phra Dhammakaya” that it place at the main entrance of the temple.

Second it is about the words “ชิตังเม โป้ง รวย” (Chi Tung Mae Pong Ruay), which means “we are victorious, and we will be rich”. This is the words that Dhammachayo will said every time after finishing the sermon. (he also coming with his “rich hammer” and also tie in about it with the expensive price too)

“A Rich Hammer”

Third is about the monk army from Dhammakaya who was obstruct DSI and journalist to get in to the temple

So, we going to talk about these 3 things first that people on social media has make a parody about it and it also impact to the society.

First of all, about the UFO from Dhammakaya, it was become talk of the town to the people especially people in that province, however after the investigation and no one have ever seen him so they just make some of the joke such as meme or parody video such as “Luang Por Dhammachayo” has escape already to another planet by riding his secret UFO or some people just comparing with “The Ancient One” from “Dr. Strange” movie because they also look like each other if comparing, and also said that Luang Por Dhammachayo has escape already by using the skill like The Ancient One in the movie.

“This meme tell us that he was escape already by using his UFO”

“Also compare with STAR WARS”

“And also compare with The Ancient One from Dr.Strange”

Even this UFO and Dhammachayo also make a lot of people especially teenagers has comparing with the video game “Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 + Yuri’s Revenge” too, the reason is The main villain of this series “Yuri” he also look like Dhammachayo and the most secret weapon of Yuri, which it is the most highest performance weapon for him is the UFO. Therefore, people are also make a parody on this issue by make some meme about it too.

This is the original from video game.

Trailer

And this is the parody version from the Internet

also they just make some of the mod for this video game too, and this is some of the screenshot.

and they just also make some of parody video on Dhammachayo to related with this game such as editing this video to look like the trailer of this game

and this is the comparing version

and also this video too

Next, we are going to talk about the words “Chi Tung Mae Pong Ruay”. This is become one of the most caption on the internet already (in Thailand), it is become a word that many people in the society has mention about it. but this was become one of the most thing that people on the Internet has make a parody video. For instance

This is a parody from people who was debate against the Dhammakaya and people on the internet has editing about it.

Even the remix version, they are also editing too

Lastly, it is about the monk and follower army from Dhammakaya who was obstruct DSI and journalist to get in to the temple.

After the prime minister just using article 44 to order DSI to catch Dhammachayo, the army of monk and follower of Dhammakaya are also obstruct officers to get into the temple. This action has also  create dramatic to the society because it is really violence and not improper. However, on the social network are also created a lot of meme about the picture that have been taken and seen in the news or on the internet.

For the instance of meme

This is the original picture

And this are some of the meme on the internet

“They just make it looks like an amulets”

“Compare with The Walking Dead”

Also add a word “Kuy Rai Yhom” (ค*ยไรโยม) in the picture, which means “What now mtfk?”

Also compare with “Paul Pogba” action on the match Manchester United versus Liverpool

And after that DSI said that they will using a woman officer to get through against the monk army because one of the monk important rule has claim that monk cannot touch woman. However, the monk army also has a new plan and this is his new plan.

They just cover them self by using this tool

and also some of the parody video that base on the movie “Crow Zero” that show that the fight between Dhammakaya gang (which the leader is Dhammachayo) against Government gang (which the leader is General Prayuth Chan-ocha)

This meme said about Before(first) & After(second)

Or just some editing video like this to make it looks like movie trailer

This is some of the analyze on our topic today, there are so many things that we didn’t mention yet. The reason is there are so many issue about the Dhammakaya case. Thus, we will continue this topic in next time with a lot of topic that we didn’t mention yet such as the”Put Thae” (The real Buddhism) and Parody songs on the new lyrics, and you can also give the comment about it too.

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