Recently, two monks who are popular among new generations have been criticised for their manner during an online sermon which has more than 200,000 participants watching their live show. I was also included in this group. This live show gained a lot of attention from teens because both of them are liberal preachers who are full of humor. I would say that I did not appreciate the show as I expected; I thought I would hear an impressive sermon that would guide my life or inspire me, but the content in the show was mostly joking about products that tie in their brands through the live stream. Although the show could not fascinate me, I still want to watch more preaching from their channels. The event it reflects that people have the right to speak and others have the right to criticize; as an audience I have to listen to them in accord with the Buddha’s charter of free inquiry.
As we know, free speech is a prominent part of human rights and it also develops the democracy system to get stronger. People have the right to speak, listeners have the right to disagree; then discussion happens to generate new ideas. Many TV channels have debate shows between representatives from the government side versus with representatives from opposite parties. As I remembered when I was a teenager, I was stuck in front of a TV screen with my dad watching the live motion of a no confidence debate. My ideal belief during that time is that the debate may save citizens from corruption. Although free speech is a vital foundation to support democracy, it is what Thailand is still seeking for.
The power of speech can form wrong beliefs. For example, when we had a protest between red shirts and yellow shirts seven years ago, many people hated each other even though they did not know each one before. They believe that different sides were their enemies. Best friends did talk together since they supported the opposite side. Many parties speak hate speech regularly when they protest against the opposite site. The consequences of hate speech distort the reality and shape the majority idea to conceive only what authorities command. To maintain citizens in order, propaganda is used as a tool to manipulate their citizens. Censorship is another significant weapon that dominates people to be under control. To be enlightened from an inaccurate assumption, we have to listen to them with free inquiry that is based on what I have learned from the Kalama Sutta. It is one of many important works from Buddha’s preaching series. What the Kalama Sutta teaches us is that we should not believe things without thinking critically. Buddha presented 10 sources that Buddhists have to be aware of as they might mislead us from the truth. To evaluate and analyze ideas cautiously is needed even if they have claimed that the sources are from an oral history, tradition, news, text books, rumor, one’s own experience, a teacher, an expert, common sense, do not contradict with our bias, or assumption. To be questioning what people say is a coherent strategy that protects us from blind beliefs. Does Thailand have free speech in practice? A simple answer is no. However, the Kalama Sutta will nurture and sharpen our viewpoints. Once you are not obsess with your assumption, your heart will be open and you are ready to hear different ideas from others. Best friends still be friend even they support different parties.
The two monks still have an online preaching session every night. They guide people with humorous wit. Now their fandom has widened. Teenagers and youths support them like they support their super stars. The unprecedented live event attracts us. And I hope that we will learn from their preaching and find a peaceful mind in life.
References
Duangkaew, N. (2021, September 05). samruajkovipakvijanpansapap ‘2 p.s.’ muaprarunmaibrabtuasuasaronline [Concerning the criticism of two monks exploring online communication (สำรวจข้อวิพากษ์วิจารณ์ผ่านสภาพ ‘2 พส.’ เมื่อพระรุ่นใหม่ปรับตัวสื่อสารออนไลน์.)] The standard. https://thestandard.co/2-monks-discussion-through-online-communication
Kesamutti Sutta. (2021, June 02). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesamutti_Sutta
Pinker, S. (2015, January 27). Why free speech is fundamental. The Boston Globe. https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/01/26/why-free-speech-fundamental/aaAWVYFscrhFCC4ye9FVjN/story.html
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