Out and about in BKK 3 - Santi Asok

With the police certificate paperwork done, I made my way back to the canal to meet Wanda - the Thai journalist I met on the train to Cambodia. I have met her several times since and she is a very interesting lady. She has studied journalism in the US and in the UK and used to work as a political journalist mostly covering Thai domestic politics- she was the first woman journalist at the news paper that she started at after she graduated from uni. She has retired now though still seems to have on going connections to many movers and shakers in Thai politics.

The Buddhism that she practices is aligned with Santi Asok, a radical sect that is not aligned with the main Buddhist sangha (monkhood ) in Thailand. The temple was notable for it's lack of a temple. It was more a forested meeting area. Members (she is not actually a member though her philosophy coincides) practice a very simple life - an almost communist (though not Marxist) existence. Central to their Buddhism are economic principles of consuming the minimum amount possible and sharing with others what is produced. Rather than saffron robes the monks wear dark brown clothes which is apparently more true to original Buddhist teaching. They had a cooperative type supermarket - anyone can shop there but the goods tend to be sources from Santi Asok communities across Thailand. Interestingly they display the price they buy goods as well as the sale price and the mark ups are extremely low. On their agenda is the reform of Thailand from a materialistic society to a a country where people live simply and share willingly and as such they have a political party.

I don't understand Thai, so can't make any sensible comment on their politics but it seems a lot of the money raised there - through recycling, a canteen, supermarket and other enterprises - goes into printing Buddhist literature and operating a television station. I don't know what they are broadcasting either so I can't make any sensible comment on it either. My natural inclination is to be a bit suspicious of an organisation where people work for almost nothing but a large amount is spent in publicity. Involvement in politics is almost invariably corrupting... That said though I met the head of the political branch and she seemed almost as austere as everyone else. The party secretary showed me around and he wore no shoes and simple blue cotton shirt and pants that were somewhat similar to a Mao suit.

We had lunch in the vegetarian cafeteria - all you can eat for 30 baht - so long as it all goes on your plate at the same time. It was an interesting afternoon.