The Santi Asoke ( "Peaceful Ashoka") is an ascetic sect of Theravada Buddhism established by former television entertainer and songwriter Phra Bodhirak. Bodhirak declared independence from mainstream Thai Buddhism in 1975. He had originally ordained within a monastery recognized by the sangha, but left to form a new sect which aimed to reform the Thai Forest Tradition.
History
Phra Bodhirak was born Mongkhon Rakphong in 1934 in northeastern Thailand. He was a popular television entertainer who turned to Buddhism at age 63.
Bodhirak subsequently established four monasteries: (1) Santi Asoke Monastery at Khet Bang Kapi, Bangkok; (2) Si Asok Monastery at Kantharalak District, Sisaket Province; (3) Sali Asok Monastery at Phaisali District, Nakhon Sawan Province; and (4) Phathomma Asok Monastery at Mueang Nakhon Pathom District, Nakhon Pathom Province. The monasteries consist of temples, pavilions and parsonages as on a par with wats.
In 1989, after Bodhirak declared himself a partially enlightened person (Pali: Sakadagami; lit. 'once-returner'), he was formally excommunicated from the mainstream Thai sangha.
Practices
Bodhirak established Santi Asoke as a revival of the forest monk tradition.
The Santi Asoke movement also rejects the magic and superstition of Thai Buddhism. Bodhirak has been highly critical of monks within the sangha and took his teachings to lay Buddhists where he denounced other monks at monasteries for eating meat, consuming cigarettes and engaging in supernatural rituals. He denied membership to the mainstream sangha upon establishing his own centre in Nakhon Pathom.