The book 'How to Chant for Maximum Merit and Virtue' Author: Editorial team of Liang Chiang Publishing House Published by: Liang Chiang Publishing House for Buddhism Price: 18 baht

"Any household that regularly practices chanting and worshipping the Buddha, cultivating virtuous discipline, will experience no quarreling but only forgiveness and compassion. Such a home becomes a place of supreme happiness and comfort throughout life until its end. Therefore, the practice of chanting and worshipping the Buddha while cultivating virtue holds great benefit. If practiced consistently with sincere intention, one will transform from wrongdoing to righteousness and experience lasting happiness." – Dharmic teachings from Phra Tham Singhaburajacharya (Luang Por Charn Jitdhamma), former abbot of Wat Ampawan, Sing Buri province.

Though Buddhism, founded by the Buddha, emerged over 2,500 years ago, its light of dharma continues to illuminate and guide the path of life, helping people understand right from wrong. However, the benefit one receives depends on each individual's dedication to studying and learning Buddhist teachings.

Chanting is another method for acquiring wisdom, as it originally served as a means of memorization – reciting teachings orally, a practice called "mukhapatha." The Buddha instructed Venerable Upali to recite and memorize the Vinaya (monastic code) and Venerable Ananda to recite and memorize the Sutras, which proved invaluable during the First Buddhist Council, as these two senior monks accurately preserved the Buddha's teachings without error. Later, chanting developed as a protective practice against various dangers, earning it the additional name "protective chanting."

Today, regardless of what one hopes to gain through chanting, as a Buddhist practitioner, when you bow and chant before the Buddha, strive to understand the dharma by studying the meaning of the chants. Upon understanding, practice accordingly so your life proceeds smoothly and safely.

It is hoped that the contents of this book, filled with chants and teachings on how to achieve maximum merit and virtue, will help you recognize the value of merit – goodness – and the value of virtue – wisdom – as foundations for lasting happiness.

May the true dharma remain in your heart forever.

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**'The Yellow-Furred Animal' – A Critical Examination of Buddhist Monks** **The Core of Suffering's Foundation in 'Mulmadhyamakakrika'**

"Those who associate with the wicked inevitably become wicked..." – A teaching from Phra Buddhagosha (P.A. Payutto) of Wat Yanawesakawan.

This week's column introduces a quality book from Inbend Publishing: "The Yellow-Furred Animal" by Uten Promadaeng, a short story collection critically examining Buddhist monks and religious beliefs. Many Buddhists of previous generations view criticizing monks as sinful karma creation. Some witness monks exhibiting misconduct but dare not speak or rebuke them, treating the monkhood as a privileged status above ordinary humans. Society reveres them; food and money flow to them without effort; wrongdoings often go unchallenged. Some behave like gangsters or influential figures cloaked in yellow robes. Modern monks are no exception – today's sangha seemingly does everything: fighting, drinking alcohol, engaging in sexual misconduct, committing fraud, purchasing ecclesiastical ranks. This book addresses these issues directly through short stories that largely critique monks. This appears to be the first and only collection of its kind, priced at 299 baht.

In late April 2569, Suchin Wajkij, Governor of Phatthalung Province, presided over the opening of a cultural and religious tourism development project titled "Phatthalung City of Arts: Home of Uncle Nora" at Wat Tha Khae in Muang District, Phatthalung.

Amidst an atmosphere of joy, reverence, and vibrant community spirit, people from all directions—tourists, nora descendants, and devotees of nora masters—gathered to return to their ancestral homeland and participate in the sacred teacher veneration ceremony following ancient traditions.

The Nora Teacher Ceremony at Wat Tha Khae is well-known throughout Phatthalung and neighboring provinces. Descendants of nora lineages return annually to perform inherited rituals. The ceremony represents the pinnacle of nora artistry, and all who revere nora masters must participate yearly as a show of gratitude to ancestors and teachers. This tradition of goodness is passed down to future generations, strengthening virtue in society and promoting peace. It also promotes tourism in the area.

The "Nora Teacher Ceremony at Tha Khae" is not merely a ritual—it is a ceremony of spirit and gratitude, a place of remembrance for nora masters and lineage ancestors. Through significant ceremonies including teacher dances, ritual purifications, hair-cutting ceremonies, and cloth-tying rituals, performers advance toward becoming complete master nora artists. This is the highest ceremony in the nora arts lineage and the heart of faith for nora descendants everywhere, embodied in the saying: "Wherever you are, you must return to pay respects to the teacher at Tha Khae." In 2569, people from all regions participated in the first day's ceremony.

The Nora Teacher Ceremony at Wat Tha Khae is special because it attracts thousands of participants—nora masters, performers old and young, and enthusiasts.

Annual activities include nora house and city establishment ceremonies, teacher invocations, teacher offerings, bodhi tree cloth-tying, shrine dances, ritual purifications, foot-stepping rituals, twelve-step dances, ritual cleansing dances, swan-gliding dances, twelve-verse performances, and sword-swallowing acts.

These activities demonstrate that nora is deeply woven into southern Thai life, blending Buddhist beliefs with Brahmanical traditions and spirit worship, creating rituals passed down through generations.

Nora's beauty—the distinctive performing art of Southern Thailand—gained international recognition when UNESCO registered "Nora: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," affirming the value of Thai wisdom to the world. This made the "Nora Teacher Ceremony at Tha Khae" a significant landmark for cultural travelers from both Thailand and abroad.

The ceremony overflows with religious, artistic, and cultural activities set against a warm, simple community atmosphere brimming with northern charm. It reflects Phatthalung as a city of wisdom, arts, and faith, welcoming visitors to experience profound and memorable cultural tourism.

You will fall in love with Phatthalung—the city of faith, the city of arts, the city of enchantment unforgettable.

A 42-year-old woman from Changsha, Hunan Province has become a cautionary health case after developing an 8-centimeter esophageal burn from eating excessively hot hot pot too quickly. The incident occurred in March while she was dining with friends, but overwhelmed by hunger, she immediately consumed the food straight from the pot without waiting for it to cool. Shortly after, she experienced chest tightness and drank ice water to relieve it, thinking the symptoms were minor. However, the next day her condition dramatically worsened, with severe pain even when swallowing water, forcing her to seek treatment at Changsha's 8th Hospital. Doctors diagnosed her with an unusually large 8-centimeter esophageal wound, nearly one-third of an adult's entire 25-30 centimeter esophagus. Dr. Wu Xiaojing explained that many people mistakenly believe the esophagus can tolerate high temperatures, but it can only withstand approximately 50-60 degrees Celsius, while hot pot food can reach 80-90 degrees Celsius. Doctors also warned that drinking ice water immediately to cool the burn can actually further irritate the esophagus, causing more severe internal tissue damage and increasing ulcer risk. The case, publicized in May, sparked online debate about Chinese eating habits, particularly the popularity of consuming extremely hot foods and hot water, which many believe are beneficial for health. Doctors emphasize that while esophageal burns can heal with prompt treatment, repeated injuries significantly increase the risk of esophageal cancer long-term, warranting serious caution.

The Forestry Department has issued an open letter addressing concerns raised by Chaloempong Saengdee, a Democrat Party MP representing Phuket's District 2, during a parliamentary session on May 20, 2025. Saengdee expressed public concern about delays in criminal proceedings against a former civil servant dismissed from service in 2015 for corruption involving falsified aerial analysis to unlawfully facilitate land deed issuance in Freedom Beach, Phuket and Koh Kradan, Trang. Despite the criminal case showing no progress over 11 years, reports suggested the official continued receiving monthly pension payments, sparking public outcry over inequality and national loss.

Forestrly Department Director Nikorn Sirojananon recently telephoned Saengdee to clarify the situation and issued an open letter reaffirming the department's zero-tolerance stance on corruption. The director confirmed two key facts:

First, regarding disciplinary action against two Forestry Department officials involved in the unlawful Freedom Beach land deed issuance, the director exercised authority under Section 57 of the Civil Service Act, B.E. 2551 to order their dismissal. The Supreme Administrative Court upheld the dismissal orders in both cases, and the Office of the Ombudsman is reviewing the criminal aspect of the case.

Second, regarding the reported pension of 67,560 baht monthly, the department clarifies it has not paid any pension. The dismissed official has no entitlement to pension under the Civil Service Pension Act, B.E. 2494, Section 8(1), which states that civil servants dismissed for misconduct have no right to regular pension benefits.

The director reiterated the department's firm stance against corruption and commitment to proactive forest protection measures, while thanking Phuket's parliamentarian for raising these concerns in the national interest.

The Forestry Department is intensifying crackdowns on forest crimes in response to an urgent order from Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin, aimed at dismantling illegal timber smuggling networks across the country. Lt. Gen. Nantachat Supharmongkol, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, has been designated to command a joint operation bringing together central region enforcement units, the central enforcement center, Regional Forestry Office 10 in Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri's Natural Resources and Environment Office, Bang Pla Ma District administration, and the Central Investigation Police Bureau. Operating on a search warrant, authorities raided a major illegal wood processing factory in Bang Pla Ma District, Suphan Buri Province, arresting the factory owner and seizing large quantities of protected timber and machinery.

Minister Suchart stated that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is committed to strictly enforcing the law against capital groups and illegal wood processing operations across all dimensions, with the Forestry Department tasked to conduct thorough investigations and direct enforcement actions. Lt. Gen. Nantachat has been assigned to closely oversee and monitor official performance, integrating resources from all sectors to enforce the law against violators without exception and protect the nation's natural resources and interests.

"The ministry has a clear policy to decisively suppress illegal forest destruction and illegal lumber mill operations," the minister said. "If violations are discovered in any area, officials are ordered to immediately arrest and prosecute offenders according to law, while expanding investigations to pursue all behind-the-scenes parties through the justice system."

On May 21, 2025, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Forestry Department Director General Nikorn Sirirojananond ordered the central region enforcement unit and central enforcement center to coordinate with the 10th Regional Forestry Office in Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri's Natural Resources and Environment Office, Bang Pla Ma District administration, and the Central Investigation Police Bureau to search and inspect wood processing factories in Suphan Buri Province.

Initial results of the operation led to the arrest of one suspect, the factory owner, who confessed. Officials charged him under the Forest Act B.E. 2527, Section 48, for operating an illegal wood processing factory with over 0.20 cubic meters of processed timber without permission, and Section 64 bis. The suspect was detained and all evidence seized, including wood processing machinery and protected timber species such as teak, rosewood, and Afzelia wood. Evidence was transferred to Bang Pla Ma Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Additionally, the factory site contained substantial quantities of processed wood and machinery still undergoing inspection. Officials obtained supplementary search warrants to continue operations on May 22, 2025. The Forestry Department pledged to maintain its commitment to enforcing the law and prosecuting violators continuously.