"A symbiotic relationship with an oppressive regime."
Bhikkhu Bodhi has always shown himself at having the courage to speak truth to power, and the following excerpt certainly puts this on display. In responding to a question from a Burmese listener who asked why the most powerful monks in Myanmar today are not supporting the people, but rather standing by the murderous generals, Bhikkhu Bodhi did not hold back with his answer, which is part of a larger podcast interview he sat for several months ago. He noted quite honestly how some of the more prominent monks found in a Buddhist society develop cushy relationships with those in power, and come to enjoy the assortment of awards, money, and other donations that come their way. As this is a fundamental feature of human nature, affecting even those who may wear the robes, it can have a powerful sway over those who are seen to be on a higher spiritual path.
“Many of the elders in the upper echelons of the Sangha hierarchy are committed to the idea that monks should not be involved in any way and anything that has the slightest odor of politics about it.”
“I understand that there have been large numbers of monks, and nuns as well, who have been resisting the military junta, even as far back was 2007.
And I think, through the years, there have been monks going into maybe the border regions or even crossing over out of the country, and who have been expressing their opposition to the military regimes, the various military regimes. And certainly, in Myanmar today, I know that there are large numbers of monks, probably the majority, who are opposed to the regime.
The problem is that I think with many of the elders in the upper echelons of the Sangha hierarchy, who are largely, maybe because of their tradition, very traditional Buddhist training and background, committed to the idea that monks should not be involved in any way and anything that has the slightest odor of politics about it. And therefore, even if a tyrannical regime takes over the country, the monks should just go ahead in their familiar way, performing their religious services, carrying on their study, their meditation, and just ignore the developments taking place in the political dimension of the national life. So, that is one side, the sort of very narrow traditionalist way of thinking.
And then another side will be the well-established and prestigious monks, who subsist in a kind of symbiotic relationship with an oppressive regime, whereby the rulers of the country provide certain perks and privileges to the monks, treat them very nicely, very kindly, give them honors and awards, support their monasteries, and in that way, they win the favor of the monks so that the monks will advocate on behalf of the autocrats who have taken over the government.”