The Business Press – June 29, 2023 at 05:00PM
What was meant to be an educational fire drill at Bangkok’s Rachawinit School tragically ended in disaster when a fire extinguisher exploded, claiming the life of a student and injuring several others. As concerns about the safety of classroom fire extinguishers and demands for accountability arise, the individuals at the center of this heartbreaking incident have chosen a characteristically Thai path to atonement – embracing monkhood temporarily.
During the young student’s funeral, four firefighters involved in the fire drill sought redemption by shaving their heads and donning saffron robes, kneeling humbly with their palms joined in prayer.
According to the police, the explosion occurred as a result of a carbon dioxide canister being exposed to the scorching sun, causing metal fragments to strike the victim. Local media reports indicate that three officials responsible for the fire drill will face negligence charges.
Unorthodox as it may seem, enrolling into monkhood has become a common practice in Thailand, particularly among those who have caused harm in the public eye. For Buddhists, becoming a monk signifies the utmost sincerity and a sincere apology. However, there are concerns that such reflexive ordinations are increasingly being used as a universal remedy for wrongdoing, tarnishing Buddhism’s reputation, which has already suffered from scandals in recent years.
The funeral ceremony, known as “buat na fai” or “ordainment before the pyre,” served as an avenue for the firefighters to express remorse for their role in the tragic accident. Two of the deceased student’s classmates were also embraced by this religious ritual during the funeral proceedings.
Although traditionally reserved for blood relatives, the ritual has occasionally expanded to include non-family members, as explained by Katewadee Kulabkaew, a Thai Buddhism scholar. “Thai monasteries will allow anyone to partake in ‘buat na fai’ for a few days, a week, or even months, given the consent of the deceased’s family,” she notes.
Entering and leaving monkhood involves relatively low barriers, attracting many individuals in Thailand who seek to accumulate good karma through ordination, a practice known as “making merit” in Buddhism. Katewadee emphasizes that while traditional Buddhist teachings claim ordination as the greatest merit, it does not absolve one’s sins. Consequently, funerary ordination serves as an act of compensation rather than redemption, demonstrating to society the offender’s sincere remorse and gratitude towards the deceased.
We witnessed a similar act of apology in 2018 when a young soccer team, successfully rescued from a cave in Thailand, became novice monks for over a week. This act was a fulfillment of their families’ prayer for their safe return and a tribute to the volunteer diver who lost his life while saving them.
Somparn Promta, a philosophy lecturer at Mahachulalongkorn University, highlights that seeking temporary ordination as a Buddhist monk following harm caused to others is a customary practice. It enables individuals to demonstrate moral responsibility and make merit for those they have harmed. This sort of ordination typically lasts for about seven days and provides both the wrongdoer and the aggrieved parties an opportunity for inner peace and reconciliation.
In 2019, a wealthy businessman who garnered media attention for causing two deaths in a drunk driving incident sought retribution by becoming a monk for a period of time, in addition to providing significant financial compensation to the victims’ families.
However, public forgiveness does not automatically accompany ordination. In a parallel incident that occurred last year, a young policeman struck and killed a woman while speeding on his motorcycle, which sparked nationwide outrage. In an attempt to make amends, both he and his father embraced monkhood to create merit for the victim. Nevertheless, public anger remained unquelled, leading to the 21-year-old officer’s premature exit from monkhood after just three days due to concerns about his suitability for the role.
This prevalent attitude, emphasizing merit-making as a transactional means to compensate for wrongdoings, has detrimental effects on Thai society. It fosters the notion that anyone, be it individuals, government officials, or politicians, can discharge their karmic debts through public displays of remorse, while repeatedly committing illegal or immoral acts.
In recent years, Buddhism has confronted various challenges to its reputation in predominantly Buddhist Thailand, where temporary monastic life is a rite of passage for most men. Some individuals with criminal tendencies seek refuge in monkhood to evade authorities, while reports of monks engaging in illicit activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and even murder have further eroded public trust in the clergy.
However, in the aftermath of this tragic incident, the public sentiment appears to show sympathy towards the firefighters who have humbly embraced novitiate as monks, at least temporarily. Social media responses have overwhelmingly expressed support and condolences, with many perceiving the incident as an unfortunate accident rather than a tragedy resulting from negligence.
Subsequently, calls for introspection and reevaluation of the practice of reflexive ordinations are resonating. Initiating discussions on the societal impact of this redemption ritual is essential to ensure that genuine remorse, accountability, and the pursuit of righteousness remain at the core of this sacred act.
Amidst adversity, the ordination of these firefighters-turned-monks sends a powerful message of remorse and opens a dialogue on the true nature of redemption. As the community comes together to honor the memory of the deceased student, it is hoped that this tragic event will serve as a catalyst for greater compassion, understanding, and a renewed commitment to responsible action.
The Business Press 