Monk punks

[Flashermac]

When Thais ask me how long I've been here, I sometimes tell them I came here when Thailand was still a Buddhist nation. Some look puzzled, but the more intelligent ones often agree. Thailand has become much more materialistic over the decades since I first came in 1973. Back then upcountry people especially seemed to be happier with a simple life. Of course, the Bangkok rich have had something to do with that ... clear cutting forests, polluting the streams, generally making it more difficult for farmers to survive the way they used to.

 

A long time monk once said to me that he has almost given up on educating the people. He said nowadays the serious monks just try to keep them from becoming more any materialistic than they already are.