Supreme Patriarch Voices Concern Over Current State of Buddhism
Supreme Patriarch Ariyavongsagatanana expressed concern over challenges facing Thai Buddhism and urged missionaries to stay steadfast in spreading the Dhamma. He spoke at the opening of the annual Buddhist propagation personnel seminar at Buddha Monthon, where General Chalermchai Sittisat gave a special address on propagating Buddhism under royal patronage. The Patriarch emphasized proper Buddhist education and warned against misusing the faith for personal gain.
On Thursday, September 17, 2026, Supreme Patriarch Ariyavongsagatanana ordered Senior Monk Mahaviravong (Suchin Acchichino), a member of the Supreme Sangha Council, to act on his behalf as the ecclesiastical chairperson at the opening of the annual Buddhist propagation personnel seminar for 2026 held at the Buddha Monthon auditorium under royal patronage. General Chalermchai Sittisat, a Privy Councillor, served as the lay chairperson and delivered a special address on the theme “Continuing, Preserving, and Advancing the Propagation of Buddhism Under the Royal Umbrella.” The Supreme Patriarch also conveyed his teachings to the seminar, expressing concern that the current situation of the monkhood and Buddhist affairs faces major challenges, discouraging monks, novices, and dedicated workers who have steadfastly practiced correctly. He urged them to remain patient and persevere in spreading the Dhamma for their own benefit, that of others, and for the welfare of both realms, in line with the Buddha’s directive to propagate the true teachings for the greatest benefit of all humanity.
The Buddha, having awakened to the Dhamma and out of great compassion proclaimed it, intended that those who hear it would put it into practice. When practiced correctly, one will personally realize its benefits, which are timeless and withstand verification—qualities that one should internalize and that wise people can recognize for themselves. Anyone who claims to be a Buddhist but does not seek to study the Dhamma is not a true follower of this religion. Good Buddhists therefore rely on proper Buddhist education, yet such education also depends on teachers and missionaries who are knowledgeable, truthful, upright, and able to embody what they teach.
However, in today’s society, saturated with rapid information flows, anyone can style themselves as a speaker, writer, reporter, or claim to be a missionary without restraint. Consequently, Thai society and the world at large are mixed with deception, falsehood, and stimuli that provoke greed, anger, and delusion. Therefore, correct, precise, and accurate propagation of Buddhism is essential for missionaries. A good missionary must have sound knowledge derived from proper study, not superficial or swayed by outside views, beyond the monastic curriculum of Buddhist scripture, so that the foundation of genuine and well‑rounded knowledge is rooted in the monastic discipline.
Thus I urge missionaries: do not distort the Dhamma, do not teach contrary to the monastic curriculum, and do not deceive the world by pretending to be enlightened while remaining ignorant. Do not misuse the pure and clean Buddhism for personal gain—profit, status, praise, or pleasure—through dishonest means. Maintain pure faith, remain steadfast, and do not waver or be shaken by worldly phenomena so that the sublime result may arise for the religion and for our beloved nation and homeland. The time has come to open the seminar on Buddhist propagation personnel.
