Country Singer Ai Aphapha Scales Back Temple Donations Over Clergy Scandals

Country music star Ai Aphapha spoke at the opening of a market called "Delicious Three Mother" on the first floor of Central Rama 2, acknowledging both her sadness and frustration over the monastic scandals. She said she now approaches merit-making with much greater care, having previously sponsored annual ordination robes at six to seven temples but now doing so only as she feels comfortable. She stated that both good and bad monks exist, and called for thorough investigation and full disclosure to restore transparency.

She also provided an update on her mother's condition, saying she has fallen twice since undergoing surgery and is experiencing memory loss, which deeply concerns her.

When asked about her earlier post expressing frustration with the monastic scandals, she explained: "To be honest, I'm both sad and tired of it. I don't dare make large merit-making donations anymore. I have to be very careful now because some monks have become very wealthy. We work hard to earn our money, but whenever a monk mentions merit, everyone wants to give. I personally give without much thought—I won't even buy myself a 7,000 or 10,000 baht purse, but when a monk says they need to build something and are short maybe 100,000 baht, I call friends and end up paying the full amount. I've started to feel that the religion itself isn't declining—it's the people wearing yellow robes who are damaging it. Even I, as a devout person, can see the difference now."

When asked if temples are at fault or the people within them, she responded: "It's the people, especially famous monks with lots of money. The monastic order should investigate. Too much money becomes greed, and they can do whatever they want. So many lay patrons and unnecessary committees—my mother even bought a table for one."

Asked if she had visited the most recently scandal-hit temple, she said no, but added: "I've been to almost all of them before and felt heartbroken and devastated. My merit-making donations have decreased. For ordination robes, I used to sponsor about six or seven temples a year, now just one—my home temple. If someone asks, I give 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 baht and that's it. I do only what I want to do. I won't donate so much that I feel regretful, which I never used to. I wanted Buddhism to continue, but now I have to think carefully about everything."

Asked if this represents a faith crisis, she said: "Many people have lost faith. I'm discriminating—there are many good monks and many bad ones, and it pushes people away. Even people who don't believe in Buddhism say you can ordain anyone. What investigation is there? A murderer can ordain and be forgiven? Someone with drug problems or an abandoned family can live at a temple? Most cases are like this."

On the rumor that if women want to get rich they should date monks, she replied: "It's true. There are many shameless women like that without faith or dharma in their hearts. They just want an easy life this way. Some monks can't reveal things—they might be trapped. If they try to leave, a woman threatens them and demands payment. There are many monks being extorted this way, where a woman says 'I'll squeeze money from you, I'll farm your money,' just like the golf course corruption and the recent case."

When asked if she expects more scandals at famous temples to be exposed, she said: "Just come out with it. Don't let people bow and worship incorrectly like this. It only breaks hearts more."