By Kenneth So
May 26, 2006
CONCERNING THE NEWS ON "CAMBODIA TO ABOLISH PRISON SENTENCES FOR DEFAMATION"
P.M. Hun Sen must be congratulated for delivering on his promise to abolish prison sentences for defamation.
I wonder who the other 6 lawmakers at the National Assembly who did not vote to support the amendment.
CONCERNING THE NEWS ON "PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN BANNED VIDEO PHONE"
It is commendable on the part of the First Lady Bun Rany and P.M. Hun Sen trying to prevent the declining of Khmer morality further into the abyss. However, banning video phones is not the real solution to the problem.
The First Lady Bun Rany argued that people will use video phones to send obscene images, thus negatively impacting Khmer social morality that will lead to more sexual exploitation of women and children. Does this phenomenon apply only to Cambodia? How about the rest of the world, will the video phones lead to the decline of the civilization? Saudi Arabia that has one of the tougher laws about pornography anywhere in the world still does not ban video phones. Can we stop progress? How about letting the market determines the demands for the video phones?
Firstly, morality starts at home. Parents must be good examples to their children. Secondly, morality starts at school where ethic classes and morality must be taught. Thirdly, morality starts with Khmer leaders who occupy high positions. They must show the rest of the country they can lead good and clean lives. Their lifestyles and vices have one of the greatest influences on our children. Fourthly, morality starts in Wat Khmers where monks must abide by the teaching of Buddha.
CONCERNING "MOHANIKAY & DHAMMAYUTH (THAMAYUTH)"
Traditionally the highest ranking monk in Cambodia has a title of "Supreme Patriarch" (Samdech Preah Sangkhareach, such as Samdech Preah Sangkhareach Chuon Nath). Now P.M. Hun Sen has elevated the Mohanikay branch to "Great Supreme Patriarch." How would we call the Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong in Khmer? Would we say "Moha Samdech Preah Sangkhareach Tep Vong?
Mohanikay preceded Thamayuth because the Thai King Phya Taksin decided to reform Mohanikay to strengthen the morality of Thai people. King Mongkut (Rama IV) who had been a monk for 27 years completed the reform and called it Thamayuth. Because of the direct involvement of the kings in the reform, Thamayuth is therefore associated with the royal religion. Thamayuth was introduced in Cambodia in 1864 by King Norodom because he was raised in Bangkok with Thai culture.
The differences between Mohanikay and Thamayuth do not involve the doctrine per say but rather in the interpretation of the Vinaya Pitika (Basket of Disciplines). Vinaya Pitika is one of the Tripitaka (Preah Trei Beidok – 3 Baskets) contained in the Canon. Vinaya Pitika, consist of a basic rules and instructions on how monks must live their lives. Essentially, Thamayuth asked the sangha to follow stricter disciplines than that of the Mohanikay. In general, the Thamayuth's
school emphasizes the aspect of giving more priorities to meditation and the study of Buddhism in the search for Nirvana. As to the Mohanikay's school, the emphasis is for the monks to give more sermons and attending and taking care of activities related to Buddhism.
Mohanikay and Thamayuth both have a different role to play in Khmer society. Mohanikay may be relevant and helpful to Khmer society? Thamayuth, because of its emphasis on meditation and the study of Buddhism may be more relevant to the king. Customarily, the king is supposed to be the keeper of traditional and morality values. If the king is strong in his understanding of Buddhism, then he will be the force that unites all Khmers.
It is very regrettable now that Buddhism in Cambodia is becoming a political tool. We should not elevate one branch of Buddhism over the other branch. Both branches of Buddhism have their places in our Khmer society.
Kenneth So
Aryasatya: The Four Noble Truths
Life is suffering
Desire causes suffering
Eliminating desire will eliminate suffering
Following Buddha's Eightfold Path will eliminate desire, thus suffering
May 26, 2006
CONCERNING THE NEWS ON "CAMBODIA TO ABOLISH PRISON SENTENCES FOR DEFAMATION"
P.M. Hun Sen must be congratulated for delivering on his promise to abolish prison sentences for defamation.
I wonder who the other 6 lawmakers at the National Assembly who did not vote to support the amendment.
CONCERNING THE NEWS ON "PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN BANNED VIDEO PHONE"
It is commendable on the part of the First Lady Bun Rany and P.M. Hun Sen trying to prevent the declining of Khmer morality further into the abyss. However, banning video phones is not the real solution to the problem.
The First Lady Bun Rany argued that people will use video phones to send obscene images, thus negatively impacting Khmer social morality that will lead to more sexual exploitation of women and children. Does this phenomenon apply only to Cambodia? How about the rest of the world, will the video phones lead to the decline of the civilization? Saudi Arabia that has one of the tougher laws about pornography anywhere in the world still does not ban video phones. Can we stop progress? How about letting the market determines the demands for the video phones?
Firstly, morality starts at home. Parents must be good examples to their children. Secondly, morality starts at school where ethic classes and morality must be taught. Thirdly, morality starts with Khmer leaders who occupy high positions. They must show the rest of the country they can lead good and clean lives. Their lifestyles and vices have one of the greatest influences on our children. Fourthly, morality starts in Wat Khmers where monks must abide by the teaching of Buddha.
CONCERNING "MOHANIKAY & DHAMMAYUTH (THAMAYUTH)"
Traditionally the highest ranking monk in Cambodia has a title of "Supreme Patriarch" (Samdech Preah Sangkhareach, such as Samdech Preah Sangkhareach Chuon Nath). Now P.M. Hun Sen has elevated the Mohanikay branch to "Great Supreme Patriarch." How would we call the Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong in Khmer? Would we say "Moha Samdech Preah Sangkhareach Tep Vong?
Mohanikay preceded Thamayuth because the Thai King Phya Taksin decided to reform Mohanikay to strengthen the morality of Thai people. King Mongkut (Rama IV) who had been a monk for 27 years completed the reform and called it Thamayuth. Because of the direct involvement of the kings in the reform, Thamayuth is therefore associated with the royal religion. Thamayuth was introduced in Cambodia in 1864 by King Norodom because he was raised in Bangkok with Thai culture.
The differences between Mohanikay and Thamayuth do not involve the doctrine per say but rather in the interpretation of the Vinaya Pitika (Basket of Disciplines). Vinaya Pitika is one of the Tripitaka (Preah Trei Beidok – 3 Baskets) contained in the Canon. Vinaya Pitika, consist of a basic rules and instructions on how monks must live their lives. Essentially, Thamayuth asked the sangha to follow stricter disciplines than that of the Mohanikay. In general, the Thamayuth's
school emphasizes the aspect of giving more priorities to meditation and the study of Buddhism in the search for Nirvana. As to the Mohanikay's school, the emphasis is for the monks to give more sermons and attending and taking care of activities related to Buddhism.
Mohanikay and Thamayuth both have a different role to play in Khmer society. Mohanikay may be relevant and helpful to Khmer society? Thamayuth, because of its emphasis on meditation and the study of Buddhism may be more relevant to the king. Customarily, the king is supposed to be the keeper of traditional and morality values. If the king is strong in his understanding of Buddhism, then he will be the force that unites all Khmers.
It is very regrettable now that Buddhism in Cambodia is becoming a political tool. We should not elevate one branch of Buddhism over the other branch. Both branches of Buddhism have their places in our Khmer society.
Kenneth So
Aryasatya: The Four Noble Truths
Life is suffering
Desire causes suffering
Eliminating desire will eliminate suffering
Following Buddha's Eightfold Path will eliminate desire, thus suffering
5 comments:
Just want to make a comment on the issue of "video phone".
Let me take Bun Rany's gross generalization "the people will use video phones to send obscene images and [thereby] negatively impacting Khmer social morality that will lead to more sexual exploitation of women and children."
Nice thought but this is a classic deductive fallacy called slippery slope that argues that if X happens, then Y will follow. Hahha. The major flaw to note is that X doesn't necessarily lead to Y. Hahhaha. It's like saying "if the United States legalize marijuana, next thing you know, everyone will be going to work high, and Congress will be so high it'll legalize cocaine and all other drugs." Hahhah We should note that "legalizing marijuana does not mean that everyone will be going to work high"--X does not necessarily lead to Y. "First of all, not everyone will choose to get high. Secondly, if they do, they may not choose to go to work in that condition, since they're not likely to keep their jobs long that way. Legalizing marijuana certainly doesn't mean that members of Congress will be getting high and making irresponsible decisions like legalizing cocaine and other drugs."
So accordingly, not everyone will choose to use their video phones to send ponographic images to each others. So why penalize the good users for. In the United States, people use video phones to keep in contact between family memebers and friends who are far away.
Here is another one: "Three strikes and you're out policy for convicted felons is NOT a good policy. Before you know it, it'll be two strikes, then one. Then we'll be sticking people in jail for misdemeanors." Hahaha.
This again is a classic slipper slop (if/then scenario) again. Where is the reason or connection that shows that 3 strikes will be reduced to 2 and 1? Hahha.
Khmer people must be modernized now and in the future. Yeah go Khmer people. One day we will rule the whole world and then the whole universe will be under our command. Hahhah.
Oh!
Huh? Why are you so flabbergasted (surprised)? Hhahahahahahah ahhahahaha ahahhahahaha. Man, your "Oh!" just kicks me off my chair and now I am on my back, laughing and kicking the air. Hahhahaahahhhah hahhahah.
hide ladies and x-prolom-see!
there are quite reasonable to ban 3G phone in order to promote morality...
1. to stop my lok-ta in pagoda chat
2. 3G very expensive
3. can send ponography
4. no need to send video but send them to see directly...bla bla bla...
to promote morality
1. when 3G banned the morality will promote?
2. at the moment no 3G what is our morality so far?
3. educate morality can be done by banning sth and not showing and explaining?...
3. so far what my hide ladies and HE have done so far for promoting morality? (include their own family/husband/s)
4. the morality can not be modified to the positive act?
5. who can stop the movement of morality change?
6. bla bla bla no venta (glasses/spectacle?) to see 3G... so better ban it
Actually, if Hun Sen wants to ban the mobile phone, he should ban money altogether because it is the money that is the source of evil in Cambodia right now. During the Khmer Rouge regime when money was outlawed, we don't have any societal problems that face the Cambodians like what we have now existing under the leadership of Mr. Kvang Mkack who obey his wife as if she is the only pussy around. Hahahha.
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