Senior Buddhist Official Guides Committee on Right Conduct

On July 10, 2569, at Rajabophit Temple in Bangkok, Somdet Phra Maha Veeravongs (Suchin Akkachino) received the newly appointed 27th Parliamentary Religion, Arts and Culture Committee, led by Thiwarun Angkinantana, a Bhumjaithai MP from Phetchburi. Committee chair Thiwarun outlined the committee's framework, including efforts to advance four major Buddhist-related bills: promoting lay support for Buddhism, establishing a Buddhist promotion council, creating a Thai Buddhist Bank, and promoting pilgrimage to Buddhist sites.

The committee also plans to address longstanding temple land disputes, including overlapping ownership claims with public land, land title registrations, and access to state and forest service property. Thiwarun noted the committee will tackle issues involving Pali schools' funding, monastic stipends, abandoned temple restoration, and transparent management of temple finances and donations.

Somdet Phra Maha Veeravongs advised the committee with the principle: "If everyone thinks well, speaks well, and acts well, there will be no problems." He emphasized that temple land disputes must be resolved according to both Buddhist discipline and civil law, cautioning against excessive expansion. He expressed concern over declining enrollment in Pali schools and stressed that paying monk salaries is inappropriate and violates Buddhist principles, as it would make monks resemble government employees.

He recommended that Pali school teacher support should take the form of subsidies based on educational performance, and monastic allowances should have clear standards to avoid long-term budget strain. Somdet Phra Maha Veeravongs underscored that temple development must occur alongside the preservation of local culture and community life, since temples form the spiritual, educational, and cultural foundation of Thai society. The committee accepted all guidance offered.