Mano Laohavanich
Mano Laohavanich (monastic name Mettanando Bhikkhu) is a Thai politician, former professor of Buddhism at Thammasat University, and former Buddhist monk. He is most famous for his public statements against Wat Phra Dhammakaya, the largest Buddhist temple in Thailand.
Laohavanich was born in 1956 and attended several competitive schools in Thailand in his childhood. After graduating from Chulalongkorn University he ordained as a Buddhist monk at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen in 1982. While still a monk, Laohavanich studied abroad and earned degrees from Oxford, Harvard and Hamburg University.[1][2] He later returned to Thailand and stayed at Wat Phra Dhammakaya for two years before leaving in 1994, with Laohavanich and Wat Phra Dhammakaya giving highly conflicting accounts about his time there. Afterwards Laohavanich published various Buddhist scholarly works while moving around different temples in Bangkok. Laohavanich's theories were often considered unorthodox and the cause of major controversy in Thailand, leading to Laohavanich leaving the monkhood in 2007.
Following the 2014 coup d'etat, Thailand's newly established military junta appointed Laohavanich to its National Reform Council, a committee the ruling junta described as preparing Thailand for return to democracy.[3] After his appointment Laohavanich appeared in the Thai media extensively, criticizing various groups including Wat Phra Dhammakaya in a manner critics described as 'fake news'.[4] Laohavanich was later also hired as a special consultant by Thailand's Department of Special Investigation during the 2016–17 legal case against the honorary abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Luang Por Dhammajayo.[5] Following his work on the military junta's National Reform Council, Laohavanich began a political campaign as secretary-general of the Prachachon Patiroob (Reform People Party), a pro-junta political party that advocated military dictator Prayut Chan-O-Cha remaining in power after the 2019 Thai general election.
Early life and monkhood
Mano Laohavanich was born May 17, 1956, his mother was a pharmacist and his father a medical doctor.[6][7] Laohavanich attended primary school at Assumption College, a private all-boys Catholic school, and then later went to study at Triam Udom Suksa School, a competitive upper-secondary school in Thailand.[1][8] Laohavanich went on to Chulalongkorn University where he studied medicine.[8]
Laohavanich's first encounter with Wat Phra Dhammakaya was in 1973, at the age of sixteen, when he attended part of a training program hosted by the temple, although he would not start attending the temple regularly until 1975.[1][9][note 1]
While Laohavanich did end up receiving his medical degree, he later ordained as a Buddhist monk in lieu of pursuing a medical career. He ordained at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen in April 1982.[10] After ordaining as a Buddhist monk, Laohavanich went on to study abroad, earning degrees in Indian literature and theology at Oxford and Harvard University, financed by Wat Phra Dhammakaya.[7][11]
After several years abroad, Laohavanich returned to Thailand and spent two years at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani before moving to another temple in 1994.[10][11] Despite the fact that Laohavanich is most famous for his public statements against the temple he lived at during this time, accounts of his time there have been disputed. Wat Phra Dhammakaya's account of the outspoken critic's time at the temple describes Laohavanich as a self-absorbed "narcissist" who got into several conflicts with other monks at the temple.[11][12] In contrast, Laohavanich has claimed that he was a "founding member" and a "top leader" at Wat Phra Dhammakaya,[13] as well as "a rising star envied by other followers".[7] Despite these disputes, due to his education credentials, Laohavanich was generally considered to have been the most well-known monk at Wat Phra Dhammakaya during his time there, next to the then abbot Luang Por Dhammajayo and the vice-abbot Luang Por Dattajivo.[14]
The reason Laohavanich left the temple has also been disputed, according to statements from Wat Phra Dhammakaya, he left due to several conflicts and because he didn't fit in with the temple culture.[11][12] Laohavanich, however, has given differing reasons as to why he left the temple, one time stating he left because the other monks at the temple developed jealousy toward him,[15] and then another time claiming he left because Luang Por Dhammajayo allegedly tried to convince him he was a god.[16] On another occasion, Laohavanich claimed he left the temple because he allegedly found out that the then abbot was secretly investing in unnamed weapons companies.[8]
After leaving Wat Phra Dhammakaya in 1994, Laohavanich moved to Wat Rajorasarama. He later left this temple as well and moved to Wat Nak Prokand before eventually leaving monkhood completely in 2007.[11] After disrobing, Laohavanich ran an unsuccessful bid for the Thai parliament in the 2007 Thai General Election as a member of the Chart Thai Party.[17]
Legal case of Johnathan Doody
One incident that Dr. Laohavanich was particularly famous for being involved in was the case of Johnathan Doody, a suspect in the Arizona Buddhist temple shooting in 1991. As a result of this bloody shooting, Doody was convicted in 1994 of armed robbery and the murder of nine people, including six monks.[18][19]
While still a monk, Laohavanich took a deep interest in the case from its onset, promoting the idea that Doody was innocent.[20] Laohavanich cited aspects of the investigation as well as cultural reasons as to why Doody could not have committed the crime. Laohavanich stated that "[i]t was inconceivable that a person born of Thai parents would commit such a crime against monks"[17] and published several writings on the case arguing for Doody’s innocence. Still as a monk, Laohavanich even raised money from lay people from numerous temples for Doody's appeal, which sparked criticism from some senior monks.[17]
In 2008, Doody's conviction was overturned on the basis that his confession was not voluntary.[21] The next trial resulted in a mistrial.[18]
In 2014, a third trial concluded that Doody was indeed guilty on all counts, including armed robbery and all nine murders and was sentenced to nine life terms in prison.[22]
Scholarly works
Laohavanich was known for having some unorthodox interpretations of the Tripitaka.[23][24] While he was living at Wat Rajorasaram, he published an article speculating that the Buddha died of a blood disease brought on by eating too much, rather than by food poisoning.[25] This caused disputes with Thai authorities at the time, who considered the publication harmful to Buddhism. This, as well as some of Laohavanich's other theories, resulted in authorities taking away his monastic ID card, effectively forcing him to leave the monkhood.[26]
Something that achieved much attention was Laohavanich's publications on ordained Buddhist nuns, or bhikkhuni. Like some other scholars, Laohavanich believes the Eight Garudhammas, eight restrictions that only apply to bhikkhunis, may not have been the actual words of the Buddha, but were later additions.[27][28] However, Laohavanich claims that these were added much earlier than what most other scholars who argue this believe, during the First Buddhist Council. He has speculated that two of the Buddha's principal disciples, Mahakassapa and Ananda, may have been rivals who competed for the existence of the bhikkhuni order. In 2007, Laohavanich stated:
Perhaps Mahakassappa and the bhikkhus of that time were jealous of the bhikkhunis being more popular and doing more teaching and social work than the bhikkhus. Their anti-women prejudice became institutionalized at that time with the eight garudhammas, the eight weighty restrictions. We must discontinue that prejudice.[29]
Laohavanich claims that, with the exception of Ananda, that Mahakassapa and all of the other monks at the First Buddhist Council were not really Arahants, or fully enlightened beings, as the Pali Canon states.[23][30] Laohavanich states that the true reason for the First Buddhist Council wasn't actually to compile the Tripitaka, but instead was a conspiracy by Mahakassapa and the other 498 monks at the council to get rid of the female order of bhikkhunis.[23][30] Laohavanich argues that the Eight Garudhammas were added by the monks at the First Buddhist Council in order to "eliminate the order of nuns completely and rapidly".[31][32]
Criticism
Dr. Mano Laohavanich's scholarly works (often penned under his monastic name, Mettanando Bhikkhu) have been the subject of some major controversy in Thailand, resulting in his expulsion from multiple temples in Thailand and his eventual departure from monkhood.[23][24][26] In 2003, following the publication of his theory on Bhikkhuni, Laohavanich said of himself that he "may be the most controversial figure in Thai Buddhism at present".[33] Well known monastic scholar, Venerable Payutto, also known as Somdet Phra Buddhakosajarn, accuses Laohavanich of manipulating facts to mislead people. An example Venerable Payutto cites with regard to Dr. Mano's book, It Started in the Year 1 B.E., is that one person in the book (Mr. Plong) had never traveled to a free country, which in the context was misleading readers into thinking he must have traveled only to communist countries. In reality, the person mentioned had never traveled to any foreign country.[34]
Venerable Payutto has also criticized Dr. Mano for lacking references in his works, stating that Mano Laohavanich's writing "has no references or meaningfulness, and is thus harmful [to Buddhism]". Venerable Payutto has called Dr. Mano's scholarly works a type of "academic mysticism", in which he finds bits of information and makes up logic without investigating the meaning.[34]
Political controversies
Mano Laohavanich is well known for his controversial accusations against Wat Phra Dhammakaya, one of the temples he used to live at when he was still a monk. These accusations increased in number substantially following the 2014 coup d'état. After the coup, Laohavanich was appointed a member of the National Reform Council, a council set up by the military junta to reform Thailand, explained as preparing the country for democratic elections.[35] Since his appointment by the Thai Junta, Dr. Mano has contributed significantly to news reports, described by critics such as news outlet Matichon as 'unsubstantiated claims' (Thai: ข่าวลือ), criticizing former Thai Rak Thai party members, Wat Phra Dhammakaya, and other groups the ruling junta was generally seen being as opposed to.[4]
Dr. Mano has made several controversial remarks about his former temple, Wat Phra Dhammakaya. He gave a contested account of the temple's teachings, claiming the temple had a bizarre secret "esoteric" doctrine that is only taught to inner members, and gave a disputed biography of the life of the honorary abbot, Luang Por Dhammajayo, including allegations that he was a secret Nazi sympathizer and an admirer of Adolf Hitler.[11][13][36] Laohavanich also made claims that Luang Por Dhammajayo wants to conquer the world,[8][36] claiming that the then abbot once secretly told Laohavanich "I don't care about being Supreme Patriarch, I want to conquer the world".[37]
Laohavanich has also stated that Wat Phra Dhammakaya is a threat to the Thailand's military junta and that the temple has been secretly stockpiling weapons.[8] After the claims were made, temple officials allowed news reporters to search the temple for the alleged contraband, and none were found.[38]
On several occasions, Dr. Laohavanich claimed that the temple publicly supports the Red-Shirt movement and that the temple allegedly told visitors to vote for its allied parties,[13] also claiming that Luang Por Dhammajayo wrote a song in praise of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that aired on the temple's 24-hour television station,[39] although this supposed airing was never confirmed. He has also claimed that the temple teaches that the former prime minister was the reincarnation of 18th century Siamese king Taksin.[40] However, scholars and political commentators are not in agreement as to whether the temple has any political connection.[41][42][43] Several major supporters of the temple are also publicly known as members of the Yellow Shirts political pressure group, which strongly oppose PM Thaksin.[42][44][45]
In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Dr. Laohavanich gave a disputed account of the layout of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, stating that the temple possesses a secret escape tunnel that only Luang Por Dhammajayo knows about, a heavily fortified luxury residence with expensive furniture guarded by five hundred monks, a "cyber command centre" with six hundred "cybertroops", and a fortified safe house that holds a stash of gold and treasure.[5] Despite a large scale search operation by authorities, officials did not report any of the items Dr. Laohavanich alleged the temple to have had.[46][47][48] Officials did initially report finding a tunnel, however this was later confirmed to be an underground water facility.[49] In drawing a comparison with the persecution of Falun Gong in China, Voice TV journalist Kham Paka mentioned they were also accused of having a secretive tunnel complex, and Paka continued to list several other similarities with Wat Phra Dhammakaya, both in accusations made and prosecution methods used by government officials.[50]
On Thai Rath TV, Laohavanich claimed that Wat Phra Dhammakaya invented a new "high-tech" communication device to mobilize devotees,[51] the device mentioned was later confirmed to have been a tally counter followers were using for mantra meditation.[52]
During the 2016–17 Klongchan Credit Union case against Luang Por Dhammajayo, Laohavanich submitted letters to DSI and held interviews with Thai press calling for an expedition of the case by the Thai Justice Department.[53] This was met with backlash and threat of legal action from board members of the affected credit union,[54] who did not support the case.[55] In regards to the same case, Laohavanich also claimed that the honorary abbot had a lifetime visa to the United States and was planning to flee before trial.[56][57] However, the United States discontinued and invalidated all lifetime visas to the country over a decade ago in the early 2000s.[58][59] Thai authorities also later confirmed that there was no record of the honorary abbot even having a passport.[60]
On a similar note, in January 2017, Dr. Laohavanich claimed that Luang Por Dhammajayo secretly left Wat Phra Dhammakaya along with a secret stockpile of gold and jewels in one of several shipping containers spotted.[61] He later contradicted this claim the following month and stated that the honorary abbot was still inside the temple.[62]
Political career
Following Laohavanich's work on the Thai military junta's National Reform Council, Laohavanich began a political campaign for the 2019 Thai general election. The bid would be the first political bid Laohavanich has made since his unsuccessful campaign in 2007.[17]
In 2018, Laohavanich joined the newly formed Prachachon Patiroob (Reform People Party) led by Paiboon Nititawan, who led the religious committee of the junta's National Reform Council with Laohavanich after the 2014 coup d'etat.[63][64][65] Laohavanich himself was selected as secretary-general of the party.[65] The party supports the continued rule of Thailand's 2014 military junta under military dictator Prayut Chan-O-Cha and has the reform of the Buddhist clergy in Thailand as a central part of its platform.[65][66][67] During the campaign, the party was investigated for using Buddhism for political advertisement but was cleared by the Thai Election Commission.[68][69] The party originally won no seats in the 2019 Thai general election with only 40,000 votes, but after the Thai Election Commission controversially lowered the threshold after the election results were announced, the party gained one seat, allowing the junta-backed Palang Pracharat party to form a coalition government in the lower house of Parliament with the extra seats.[70][71][72]
Bibliography
- Mettanando, Bhikkhu (1994). Meditator's handbook, Bangkok: Dhammakaya Foundation. ISBN 9748920925
- Mettanando, Bhikkhu (2545 [2002]). Hēt kœ̄t Phō̜. Sō̜. 1, Krung Thēp: Samnakphim Phraʻāthit. ISBN 9749029380
- Mettanando, Bhikkhu; Hinueber, Oskar von (2000), "The Cause of the Buddha's Death" (PDF), Journal of the Pali Text Society, XXVI: 105–118, archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2015
Notes
- Laohavanich later claimed he was actually a founding member of Wat Phra Dhammakaya. If this was true, he would have had to have been 13 years old when founding the temple.
References
- Bhikkhu, Mettanando (1999). Meditation and Healing in the Theravada Buddhist Order of Thailand and Laos (Ph.D. thesis). University of Hamburg.
- "Politics in Religion". Foreign Correspondents Club Thailand. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- "Buddhist scholar shares his view about Wat Phra Dhammakaya". Pattaya Mail. 6 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-12-27. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ศึกษา ข่าวลือ ข่าวลือ จาก ยิ่งลักษณ์ ถึง 'ธรรมกาย' [Understanding unsubstantiated news: unsubstantiated from Yingluck to Dhammakaya]. Matichon Online (in Thai). 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- "Secret Sanctum Helps Abbot Take Refuge". Bangkok Post. The Post Publishing. 5 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16. Retrieved 10 June 2016 – via Pressreader.com.
- Bhikkhu., Mettanando (1994). Meditator's handbook (2nd ed.). Bangkok, Thailand: Dhammakaya Foundation. p. 87. ISBN 9748920925. OCLC 85485989.
- Elite Plus Magazine. "Temple at the Crossroads". Elite Creative. Archived from the original on 2016-11-27. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- Rojanaphruk, Pravit (24 June 2016). "Dhammakaya Defector Sees Standoff Continuing for Years". Khao Sod English. Matichon Publishing. Archived from the original on 2016-06-28. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- Bhikkhu., Mettanando (1994). Meditator's handbook (2nd ed.). Bangkok, Thailand: Dhammakaya Foundation. p. 89. ISBN 9748920925. OCLC 85485989.
- Bhikkhu., Mettanando (1994). Meditator's handbook (2nd ed.). Bangkok, Thailand: Dhammakaya Foundation. p. 94. ISBN 9748920925. OCLC 85485989.
- "มโน เลาหวณิช ตีแผ่ข้อมูลที่ไม่เคยเปิดเผยที่ใดมา" [Mano Laohavanich exposes data never revealed anywhere]. Dhammakayafacts.com (in Thai). Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- "โฆษกศิษย์วัดธรรมกายโวย! จี้'มโน' หยุดใส่ร้ายธัมมชโย" [Student and spokesperson Wat Dhammakaya shouts and pushes Mano to stop slandering Dhammajayo]. Daily News (Thailand) (in Thai). Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- Laohavanich, Mano (17 July 2012). "The Esoteric Teachings of Wat Phra Dhammakaya". Journal of Buddhist Ethics. 19. ISSN 1076-9005. Archived from the original on 2016-07-24. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- HEIKKILA-HORN, MARJA-LEENA (1996). "Two Paths to Revivalism in Thai Buddhism". Mahidol University, International College: 97.
- "EXCLUSIVE: Dhammakaya defector slams scandal-hit abbot". BK Magazine Online. Archived from the original on 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- "Tax scandal rocks Thailand's religious institutions and exposes Thai monks' growing penchant for material wealth". 2016-03-29. Archived from the original on 2017-03-18. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- Ngamkham, Wassayos (8 December 2008). "Former Monk Stands by Convicted Killer". Bangkok Post. The Post Publishing. Archived from the original on 2017-02-04. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- Laurie Merrill; Miguel Otarola (24 October 2013). "Judge declares mistrial in temple killings retrial of Johnathan Doody". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on 2015-06-21. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- "Teen-ager convicted in Buddhist temple massacre". The Day (New London). Phoenix. Associated Press. 13 July 1993. p. A12. Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- Stuart, Gary (2010). Innocent Until Interrogated. p. 261–2, 290. ISBN 978-0-8165-0449-7.
- Ngamkham, Wassayos (8 December 2008). "New Hope For Doody Supporters". Bangkok Post. The Post Publishing. Archived from the original on 2017-02-04. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- Schwartz, David (14 March 2014). "Arizona man gets nine life terms for Buddhist temple murders". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- Seeger, Martin (2006). "The Bhikkhuni Ordination Controversy in Thailand". Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies. 29: 168. Archived from the original on 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- Phra Dhammapitaka und die Pali-Kanon-Debatte in Thailand: Ein Beitrag zur Untersuchung des modernen Buddhismus Archived 2017-08-08 at the Wayback Machine [Phra Dhammapitaka and the Pali Canon Debate in Thailand: A Contribution to the Study of Modern Buddhism], 2005, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Hamburg – Carl von Ossietzky, Hamburg.
- "Mettanando – How the Buddha died". www.budsas.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- "Thailand-Crushing royal critics feels so un-Buddhist". www.buddhistchannel.tv. Archived from the original on 2015-05-17. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- "Ananda: The Guardian of the Dhamma". www.accesstoinsight.org. Archived from the original on 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- Tsomo, Karma Lekshe (2013-09-05). Innovative Buddhist Women: Swimming Against the Stream. Routledge. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-136-11426-7.
- "The First Council and Suppression of the Bhikkhuni Order". Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- Mettanando (2002). Hēt kœ̄t Phō̜. Sō̜. 1. Krung Thēp: Samnakphim Phraʻāthit. ISBN 9749029380. OCLC 53894692.
- Seeger, Martin (2006). "The Bhikkhuni Ordination Controversy in Thailand". Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies. 29: 170. Archived from the original on 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- Mettanando (2002). Hēt kœ̄t Phō̜. Sō̜. 1. Krung Thēp: Samnakphim Phraʻāthit. p. 125. ISBN 9749029380. OCLC 53894692.
- Phra Dhammapitaka und die Pali-Kanon-Debatte in Thailand: Ein Beitrag zur Untersuchung des modernen Buddhismus Archived 2017-08-08 at the Wayback Machine [Phra Dhammapitaka and the Pali Canon Debate in Thailand: A Contribution to the Study of Modern Buddhism], 2005, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Hamburg – Carl von Ossietzky, Hamburg. p 165
- Payutto, Venerable Prayudh. ตื่นกันเสียที [It is time to finally wake up] (PDF) (in Thai). p. 180. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- Panichkul, Intarachai (8 June 2016). วิพากษ์ "ปรากฎการณ์โค่นธรรมกาย" สุรพศ ทวีศักดิ์ [Surapot Tawisak: commenting on the fall of Dhammakaya]. Post Today (in Thai). The Post Publishing. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- Yongcharoenchai, Chaiyot (8 March 2015). "Armed with magic, a monk eyes true power". The Bangkok Post. The Post Publishing. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ชุดวิธีคิด ของธัมมชโย วัดพระธรรมกาย [The way Dhammajayo from Wat Phra Dhammakaya thinks], Manager Online, 3 April 2015, retrieved 26 December 2016
- "Beneath the Allegations". The Nation. 24 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16. Retrieved 15 August 2016 – via pressreader.com.
- "TRT and Dhammakaya Temple – perfect match". The Nation. September 27, 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-03-22.
- Diplomat, George Styllis and Patthiya Tongfueng, The. "A Temple Under Siege: Wat Phra Dhammakaya". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
- Head, Jonathan (22 March 2017). "The curious case of a hidden abbot and a besieged temple". BBC. Bangkok. Archived from the original on 2017-03-22. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- Rojanaphruk, Pravit (12 June 2016). "Yellow & Red Seen in Orange Folds of Dhammakaya Scandal". Khaosod. Archived from the original on 2016-12-05. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- Taylor, Jim (6 March 2017). "The perplexing case of Wat Dhammakaya". New Mandala. Archived from the original on 2017-03-08. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ประณีต อ่อนไหว ทำไม บุญชัย เบญจรงคกุล บาทก้าว ธรรมกาย [Refined and fast: Why does Boonchai Benjarongkul step in for Dhammakaya?]. Matichon (in Thai). 21 June 2016. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- Tan Hui Yee (23 June 2016). "Politics and religion coming worryingly together in temple scandal". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- "Thai police end search of temple without finding monk". Reuters. 2017-03-10. Archived from the original on 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- PCL., Post Publishing. "Temple search ends with no signs of Phra Dhammajayo". bangkok post. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- "Thai police raid temple belonging to Buddhist sect". AP. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- "Thai police empty-handed so far in search for prominent monk". AP News. Archived from the original on 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- Paka, Kham (20 February 2017). พุทธศาสนา: เลือกที่ใช่เลือกที่ชอบไม่ต้องทะเลาะกัน [Buddhism, choose your preference and don't fight about it]. Voice TV (in Thai). Digital TV Network. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- "Jomquan asks Dr Mano about new device", Thai Rath, 2016-06-18, retrieved 14 January 2017 – via Dhammakaya Post
- DSI เต้นตามล่าองอาจ ธรรมนิทา โฆษกวัดพระธรรมกาย หลังมีภาพโผล่ฝรั่งเศส [DSI chases Ong-at Thammanitha, Wat Phra Dhammakaya's spokesman, after image from France appeared], Freedom Thailand (in Thai), 10 January 2017, archived from the original on 10 February 2017, retrieved 14 January 2017CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- "KCUC Members Show Division Over the DSI Allegations Against Ven. Dhammajayo". Dhammakaya Uncovered. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ประกิต ปธ.กรรมการบริหารแผนฟื้นฟูสหกรณ์คลองจั่นแถลงท่าที หลังนายธรรมนูญ-ไพบูลย์ ยื่น DSI เร่งคดี [Prakit, chairman of Committee for Recuperating Klongchan Credit Union, gives response after Mr. Thammanun and Paiboon submit [request] to speed up lawsuit], 11 May 2016, archived from the original on 10 February 2017, retrieved 14 December 2016 – via Luangphi ThongCS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- Credit union request an end to all civil and criminal lawsuits against Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Thai News Network, 29 April 2016, retrieved 14 December 2016
- "Supporters Deny Embattled Monk Is a Flight Risk". Freedom Watch International. Fort Lauderdale. PR Newswire. 24 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-05. Retrieved 10 June 2016 – via The Business Journals.
- ธรรมกายว่าไง!หมอมโน แฉธัมมชโยมีวีซ่าตลอดชีพสหรัฐ พร้อมบินหนีตลอด [Dhammakaya stupid? Doctor Mano reveals that Dhammajayo has lifetime visa for the States, may flee any time]. Amarin TV. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- "Visas for US in an Old Passport". Trip Advisor. Archived from the original on 2016-09-24. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- "Visitor Visa". US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- "Authorities confident Dhammachayo does not have passport - The Nation". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
- หมอมโน อ้างวงในคาดธัมมชโย หอบของมีค่าหายไปกับคอนเทนเนอร์ตั้งแต่ 27 ธ.ค. [Doctor Mano claims internal source expects Dhammajayo to have fled since 27 December, carrying valuables]. Thai Rath (in Thai). Wacharapol. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- Corben, Ron. "Thai Authorities Continue Standoff at Buddhist Temple". VOA. Archived from the original on 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- Dubus, Arnaud (22 June 2016). "Controverse autour du temple bouddhique Dhammakaya: un bras de fer religieux et politique" [Controversy regarding the Dhammakaya Buddhist temple: A religious and political standoff]. Églises d'Asie (in French). Information Agency for Foreign Missions of Paris. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ธรรมกายแจงปมภัยศาสนา [Dhammakaya responds to issues that threaten [Buddhist] religion]. Thai News Agency (in Thai). 3 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- "Suthep vows to reinvent Thai politics". Bangkok Post. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
- BANGPRAPA, MONGKOL (3 March 2018). "'Outsider' PM talk swirls as 42 new parties register". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
- "Regime rattles sabre at young bloods". Bangkok Post. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
- Charuvastra, Teeranai; Reporter, Staff (2019-02-12). "Buddhist Group Wants Party Disbanded for Citing Buddha". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
- Charuvastra, Teeranai; Reporter, Staff (2019-02-26). "'Buddha's Teaching' Party Cleared of Exploiting Religion". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
- Thaitrakulpanich, Asaree; Reporter, Staff (2019-03-25). "Surprises, Snubs of Thailand's 2019 Election". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
- "Thailand's junta marks the king's coronation with more election-rigging". The Economist. 2019-05-09. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
- Rojanaphruk, Pravit; Writer, Senior Staff (2019-05-11). "Paiboon Threatens to Sue Party-List MP Detractors". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2019-05-18.