Page 26 - Applied Buddhism

The fact that some Buddhist devotees expressed to me (because
I was a member of the organising committee) their displeasure over
Monks it unacceptable for monks this kind of behaviour implied two things: firstly, these devotees who
Lay people normally find
were from Kuala Lumpur were not aware of the fact that smoking
and Tobacco to smoke. They generally was common amongst monks of the Thai tradition residing mostly
in the northern part of Malaysia (in the states of Perlis, Kedah and
cannot understand how
Consumption monks who are supposed Kelantan). Secondly, it means that devotees generally find the
behaviour unacceptable.
– A Malaysian purification can indulge in a To further understand the scenario, one needs to understand
to live a simple life of
Scenario social vice. the ethnic composition and religious affiliation of the people of
Malaysia.

Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-religious country of 22 million
people (based on population census of 2000). The Malays constitute
In 1999, the Young Buddhist Foundation of Malaysia organised 53 % of the population. By constitutional definition, all Malays are
a Sanghika Dāna (offering of food to the Sangha) in a prestigious Muslims. The Chinese constitute 26 % of the population. 86.6 %
convention centre in Kuala Lumpur. Immediately after the Dāna, of them are Buddhist-Taoist-Confucianists while 9.5% of them are
monks were seen streaming into the toilet. Soon afterwards, smoke Christians. The Indians constitute 7.6 % of the population. 84% of
was seen emitting from the toilet. Some Buddhist devotees at the Indians are Hindus, and 7.8% are Christians. The Kadazans of
first thought there was a fire, but they soon discovered, to their Sabah and the Ibans of Sarawak are mostly Christians.
displeasure, that the smoke came from about 30 monks puffing
away in the toilet. Viewed by religious affiliation, one would notice that the

Muslims comprise mainly Malays and some natives of Sabah and
There were about 400 monks present at the occasion. It means Sarawak. The Hindus are almost all lndians. The Christians are the
that about 7% of the monks were smokers. Since there are only most multi-racial, comprising 64% lbans and Kadazans, and the
about 800 monks and nuns in Malaysia, the above sample percentage rest Chinese and Indians.
could well represent the population percentage.

The case of interest here is that the Buddhists are almost all
The 30 monks were all from the Thai Theravāda tradition and ethnic Chinese, and as many as 98% of them would be Buddhist-
since there were about 250 of them present, it means that about Taoist-Confucianists. Only a small percentage of Buddhists in
12% of the Thai Theravāda monks were smokers. Malaysia are Thais and Sinhalese.

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