During a Budget Committee meeting on August 21, 2025, at Parliament, committee member Wanmuhammadnor Matha raised concerns about the pension fund for former parliamentarians and senators, which has faced cuts despite being established by law. He recounted receiving calls from a now-deceased former representative who needed 5,000 baht for hospital bills but had no money, as creditors had seized any funds in his personal account. Wanmuhammadnor also described cases of former lawmakers evicted from rental homes for inability to pay rent, refusing to rely on their children for support due to pride.

"Former parliamentarians are not all wealthy," Wanmuhammadnor said, citing data showing 1,800 former members requesting assistance annually, with the fund requiring 600-700 million baht yearly. He noted the fund has received only 200 million baht and has faced a 300 million baht shortfall. He argued that other countries like Cambodia and Laos still provide welfare for former parliamentarians and urged recognition of their dignity and honor.

Parliament Vice President Phradet Phasinananthakul acknowledged the concern as an important observation for discussion with relevant agencies. Committee member Chada Thaiserit from Uthai Thani, representing the Phumi Chai Thai party, echoed support, saying many former lawmakers struggle financially due to restrictions on their income, including prohibitions on stock ownership. He criticized the notion that former parliamentarians should not receive assistance, arguing that society should show compassion for those who once served in difficult circumstances.

Book: 'Wei Lang's Formula' Author: Venerable Wei Lang (Hui Leng), Sangha Prinnayaka Publisher: Mental Health Publishing House Price: 195 baht

This book is genuinely intended for serious intellectuals. Those who cling firmly to their existing knowledge, prefer easy listening and simple memorization, will find little benefit in reading it. Readers must cultivate an open mind. If you encounter teachings that differ from your established beliefs, do not rush to reject them. Instead, approach the text as a fresh reader with a new spirit and new wisdom, striving to understand the author's true meaning. Reserve judgment about right and wrong until you have read and studied the material many times over. What we consider correct may not align with Wei Lang's approach, yet both may be consistent with the Buddha's teachings—the difference lies in how the dharma is explained and presented.

Some methods draw the unknowing forward by leading them by the hand, while others guide them forward with only gentle guidance. Choose whichever approach suits you: do you prefer to be led, or would you rather walk ahead with minimal guidance? If you prefer the latter, Wei Lang's teachings will be of greatest benefit to you.

Buddhism has no Chinese form, Thai form, or Western form. There is only the Buddha's Buddhism. However, the methods of teaching and the ways of reaching understanding differ greatly across different eras, times, and regions.

Wei Lang's Formula is a revered scripture in Zen Buddhism, serving as a crucial record of the teachings of Venerable Wei Lang, the Sixth Sangha Prinnayaka. The content begins with his biography and his approach to the dharma before presenting important teachings on topics including wisdom, skillful means and wisdom, concentration and wisdom, meditation, recognition of karma, and teachings suited to individuals and their circumstances. The book also covers the nature of the sangha and various schools, the final resting place discourse, and ultimate teachings—offering readers a systematic view of Wei Lang's practice and thought.

This book serves both as an important Buddhist scripture and as a source for understanding the fundamental thinking of Zen Buddhism.

Also featured this week: 'Thai Buddhist Art and Its Connection to Sri Lanka,' authored by Rungrojn Thammrung from the Sirinat Center for Anthropology (Public Organization). The work examines how Thailand and Sri Lanka have maintained long-standing religious connections. Most commonly recognized is Thailand's adoption of Buddhism from Sri Lanka around the 18th Buddhist century—a form now called Theravada Buddhism—which played a significant role in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Sukhothai, and Lan Na. While evidence has traditionally relied on written documents, incorporating art-historical evidence reveals even deeper connections and allows us to trace Buddhist links back more than 1,500 years to the Dvaravati period.

Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatayana, the 12th Supreme Patriarch of Bangkok, was renowned as a master craftsman in creating sacred Buddhist bells in Thailand. The Chiang Tung bell of 1943 represents the final bell cast during his lifetime and the last occasion the original large mold was used in production.

The Supreme Patriarch primarily employed a large mold created by Phraya Suphakorn Bannasat, a former royal goldsmith and skilled artisan from the reign of King Rama VI. This mold was crafted by coating the original bell with lead, ensuring the replica matched the original in precise proportions.

In 1943, Khun Ying Suphakorn Bannasat, widow of Phraya Suphakorn Bannasat, presented the lead mold to the Supreme Patriarch. That same year, he commissioned the casting of a large bell using this mold.

The bell was created using metal from various sources including fragments from earlier bell castings stored at the Patriarch's residence, combined with metal from a 1939 bell casting and gold sheets inscribed with 108 sacred mantras and 14 phonetic elements, supplemented with considerable gold plate remaining from an Indochinese Buddha statue cast in 1941.

The metal mixture produces a golden color that mellows to brown over time, with some bells exhibiting a greenish patina called "sai phai" due to the aged bell metal. Others display lighter or reddish-brown hues.

A total of 108 Chiang Tung bells were cast. The Supreme Patriarch distributed them to Department of Religion officials traveling to Chiang Tung and approximately 30 close disciples. The Supreme Patriarch passed away on November 26, 1944, making the Chiang Tung bell his final creation.

On Saturday, August 22, 2026, the 22nd anniversary of the passing of Venerable Thepyanamuni (Pradet Kaweethro), former abbot of Chong Lom Royal Temple in Muang District, Ratchaburi Province and former advisor to the Ratchaburi Provincial Sangha Council, is commemorated. He was a respected senior Buddhist monk recognized for his exceptional spiritual leadership and tireless dedication to public health and community welfare services, earning devotion and reverence over many decades.

He was born into the Kalyaharth family on May 31, 1920, in Moo 5, Ban Chong Subdistrict, Phnom Sarakham District, Chachoengsao Province, to parents Pang and Bang Kalyaharth. After completing fourth-grade primary education at his local village school, his family inquired about his ordination, and he joyfully accepted, having long harbored a sincere devotion to Buddhism.

He was ordained on December 20, 1935, at Tha Kwian Temple in Phnom Sarakham District, with Venerable Khru Vimlyanasunthon of Maha Chedi Temple serving as his preceptor. At age 20, he received full monastic ordination on May 9, 1940, at Tha Kwian Temple, with Venerable Wisutthisophon of Maha Phratuckharam Temple in Bangkok as his preceptor, Venerable Khru Vimlyanasutnthon as his instructor in precepts, and Venerable Khru Adulyasaramuny of Tha Kwian Temple as his instructor in training. He received the monastic name Kaweethro.

He completed advanced Dhamma studies at Sarakhet Temple and passed the Pali examination in six passages. His evident contributions earned the trust of Ratchaburi's monastic community, leading to his appointment as a preceptor. In 1966, he became the provincial sangha officer for Muang District, in 1974 the provincial sangha officer for Ratchaburi Province, and abbot of Chong Lom Royal Temple, later serving as advisor to the Ratchaburi Provincial Sangha Council.

In education, he served as a royal Pali examination committee member and the Ratchaburi Provincial Buddhist Education Committee member until his passing. He was instrumental in revitalizing Pali studies at Chong Lom Temple's school, establishing the Kaweethro Foundation to support education and providing scholarships for students and young monks. In public outreach, he headed the Ratchaburi Dhamma missionary program, organizing 88 township community education units throughout the province. In welfare work, he constructed numerous buildings and facilities within temples, donated medical equipment to Ratchaburi Central Hospital, and distributed aid to the poor. He was also an accomplished speaker and scholar, producing several academic works.

He devoted his entire life to serving Buddhism with unwavering dedication, collaborating with both monastic communities and other sectors whenever called upon. He received numerous rank promotions, becoming Phra Kru in 1954, Phra Rajkhanachayan Third Rank in 1957, Phra Rajkhanachayan First Rank in 1981, and Phra Thepyanamuni of the Divine Rank in 1996.

On August 21, 2025, Thippa Nawawattanasap, Chief Executive Officer of YLG Bullion and Futures Limited, announced that global gold investor demographics are shifting markedly from older working-age groups who typically bought gold in lump sums for savings and wealth preservation to younger people entering the market faster with smaller amounts per transaction and viewing gold as part of portfolio management.

Gen Z investors display two main behaviors: active traders who monitor market trends, prices, news, and economic factors closely and require real-time data and portfolio flexibility; and long-term accumulators who build gold holdings gradually through small units or dollar-cost averaging to establish financial discipline and reduce timing anxiety. All young investors share a mobile-first preference, wanting accessible entry points, simple processes, transparent pricing, and instant purchases via smartphone.

YLG's digital customer data shows nearly 7 in 10 (approximately 68%) are under 40 years old, demonstrating that fractional and digital gold products are removing traditional barriers and expanding the market to younger generations. This trend is not unique to Thailand but reflects global patterns.

In China, Gen Z born between 1997 and 2012 are shifting from buying gold jewelry as their parents did to investing in and saving with gold. The "gold beans" trend—purchasing 1-2 gram gold pellets and small bars monthly—has surged this year, matching the concept of starting small but accumulating consistently. China's Gold Association reported that sales of small gold products (1-5 grams) rose 180% in the first half of 2025 versus the same period in 2024, with those born in the 1990s and 2000s comprising over 60% of all buyers.

According to IFA Magazine citing BullionVault data, investors aged 16-27 represented 15.4% of new global users in 2025, up from 12.6% in 2024 and just 8.9% in 2010, showing the worldwide gold investor base is continuously rejuvenating.

In India, a Smytten PulseAI survey of 5,000 consumers aged 18-39 found 61.9% would choose gold if given 25,000 rupees to invest, well ahead of mutual funds (16.6%), fixed deposits (13%), stocks (6.6%), and crypto (1.9%).

In Singapore, the 18-35 age group became the fastest-growing gold-buying segment in 2023 through digital gold apps, 1-gram bars, and mobile ETFs.

These developments show global providers are connecting tangible gold with digital platform convenience. Gold is no longer exclusively for the wealthy; younger people now have accessible entry points.

Tham Studio 19 is proud to present Rindrada (The Influencer), a cyber-horror film directed by Atitaya Ariyavongsa and produced by Kritiniya Ariyavongsa.

The film stars Yoshi Rindrada Thuraphan, Miss Tiffany's Universe 2017, in her first leading role as Rindrada, a young influencer who becomes a terrifying ghost. She is paired with Krathing Khunnorng Prathetsaratan, who plays Po, an ordinary noodle vendor who becomes Rindrada's crucial ally.

The supporting cast includes Neena Natchada Jessica Padovan as Hannah, a mysterious girl from the underworld who controls the laws of time, and Tok Taek Pizzamovie Suthirjan Sriphet as Meena, Rindrada's only close friend who is ready to protect her from the threats of social media harassment.

Rindrada tells the story of an influencer who decides to end her life after intense cyberbullying, but death gives her a second chance as a spirit with limited time to uncover the truth and target everyone who participated in the online violence against her. With her digital connections, she launches a widespread haunting operation, aided by Hannah, the mysterious girl from the underworld, and Po, the ordinary noodle seller who fights to save Rindrada from becoming the "demon" that social media created. "The more likes she gets, the scarier she becomes."

Yoshi Rindrada, who plays the lead role, expressed her excitement about the opportunity: "I'm very happy and excited to have received this great opportunity. I want to do my best with this chance and learn everything I need to, whether through additional training or workshops with fellow actors, so I won't have regrets later. Rindrada is my first film as a full lead actress and it's a horror film with my name as the title, so it feels like a great honor.

The story follows Rindrada throughout—from when she was alive, to what happened when she died, and what happens after she returns. Everyone experiences Rindrada's journey until they're no longer afraid of her."

When asked about Rindrada's frightening appearance, she explained: "The scariness of Rindrada isn't pretty at all in the film, because the director researched how to make me not look pretty. Actually, it wasn't pretty from version 2 onwards, but he wasn't satisfied, so Rindrada has multiple versions—up to five versions in total. Each version has a different level of deterioration, and version 5 is the ultimate version. You'll have to watch it to see how grotesque it gets."

The trans actress also shared her feelings about being cast in this leading role: "I'm very happy that the producers and director and the entire team saw my potential and allowed me to represent the LGBTQ+ community in this role. This is another responsibility I carry. Trans actresses, besides being beautiful, need to be talented too. Regardless of your gender, you can be an actor just the same. You just need to not close the door on opportunities."