Art and Culture Magazine, May 2569 Edition: The Forest Tradition of Venerable Mun Bhuridatto and Bangkok's Elite Devotees Editor: Art and Culture Editorial Board Published by: Art and Culture, Matichon Publishing House Price: 150 baht

In contemporary Thai society, "forest monks" are not merely ascetics retreating into deep forests, but symbols of spiritual purity. Many forest monks have been revered as "arahants" transcending worldly concerns. Images of forest monks venerated by the royal court, elite classes, and people nationwide—particularly in Bangkok—have become so familiar they seem timeless, as if dating back to the Buddha's era. Yet examining history reveals this phenomenon actually emerged in the early reign of King Rama IX. During his reign, forest monks held no elevated status in Bangkok's centers of power. Devotion to forest monks remained confined to local levels, far removed from becoming focal points for Bangkok's elite. The crucial question emerges: how did forest monks from the Northeast transcend their marginal status?

The Art and Culture magazine presents the article "Path of Faith from the Northeast to Bangkok: The Relationship Between Venerable Mun Bhuridatto's Forest Monk Lineage and Bangkok's Elite (1960s-2010s)," researched by Saplot Angkhapichimedha. This article explores the pivotal historical intersection between the forest monk lineage and Bangkok's upper classes.

The May 2569 edition of Art and Culture also features numerous historical articles from various perspectives, including: "Khong-Chi-Mun Before Bangkok: Networks of Champa Relations" by Rungroach Phiromyanukhul; "Heavenly Beings" by Sansnee Veerasilchai; "Rama's Forest Walk in Rama IV's Reign and the Stories He Edited" by Stananth Krutphichet; "Wat Tha-Wat Karong: The Fatal Bullet Point of 'Mr. Reuk'" by Achirwijchay Anthapun; and "Animal Symbols in Ancient Board Games: Entertainment or Ritual" by Phanu Traiveach.

All these articles can be found exclusively in the May 2569 edition of Art and Culture Magazine.

**Guru Critique of Gurus: Inspiring Reflection** **Zen's Natural Path: Sudden Clarity**

The magazine also recommends "Guru Critique of Gurus" by Osho, published by Freemind Publishing at 285 baht. This book revives influential sages and philosophers—from the Buddha to Jesus, Krishna, poets like Laozi and Rumi, philosophers like Nietzsche and Pythagoras, to modern thinkers like Kahlil Gibran and Gurdjieff. The author presents these figures' wisdom in accessible, thought-provoking ways that inspire reflection.

Also featured: "Zen's Natural Path" by Niroat Jitwisut, exploring Zen Buddhism's enlightenment as direct insight into the true nature of reality.

A 32-year-old Malaysian man has sparked online discussion after posting on Reddit about being left to shoulder the full rental cost of a luxury Singapore condo following his fiancée's infidelity. The man previously lived with his fiancée in a master bedroom unit in the Tampines area before their lease expired. When it came time to renew, his fiancée convinced him to upgrade to a luxury condo near Pasir Ris Mall shopping center. Although he preferred a cheaper two-bedroom flat, he eventually agreed to rent the luxury unit for 3,100 Singapore dollars (roughly 80,000 baht) monthly, acknowledging it was "way over budget."

After living there for approximately six months, he made a crushing discovery: his fiancée had been secretly seeing his best friend for nearly two years and had even brought him to the condo. Following their split, they agreed she would pay 550 Singapore dollars (about 14,000 baht) monthly toward the rent. However, after just a few months, she stopped contributing when she entered a new relationship and removed herself from the lease. To make matters worse, she announced her engagement to someone else during the same week they had originally planned to get married.

Now the man must bear the entire rental burden alone, despite earning only 5,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 130,000 baht) monthly, creating severe financial strain. He has attempted to find a subtenant and negotiate early lease termination but has been unsuccessful due to the high rental cost. He also consulted online communities about Singapore's tenancy laws in search of a solution. Many netizens offered advice, with some suggesting he lower the rent temporarily to attract tenants, while others recommended carefully reviewing the lease agreement's cancellation terms.

Young actor Lee Thanatpong, who continues to deliver content for his fanbase, recently attended the launch of "Lemon Lens," an influencer monitoring and brand performance platform designed to support modern marketers at The Athenee Hotel Bangkok. He opened up about stepping into the influencer world, creating more content for followers, and his choice to decline BL series roles.

Is the new influencer launching with strong engagement? "I just started. I've been using TikTok for a long time, but mainly for relaxation—listening to ASMR, watching pimple-popping videos. Those are so soothing for sleep (laughs). I watched constantly but never thought I'd upload anything myself. Lately, I wanted to try it out. At first, I told everyone this was a real account, but nobody believed me. Eventually, I did a live stream and the engagement just started picking up. I'm mainly focusing on live content now, but not too frequently. I want to create some distance so they miss me before I come back—but they don't seem to miss me (laughs). If it's working, then thanks!"

What else are you working on these days? "I have events constantly, mostly outside Bangkok. I'm glad to go, but it's a shame the media doesn't always come along. We'll be riding together next time. I also have series in the works—waiting to roll cameras and waiting for them to air."

Are you having a busy year? "Every year is busy. I try to do series every year. Many people message saying they miss me, but I'm constantly working. When I'm on set, I don't usually upload updates about filming. With my latest project, we wrapped months ago, but I haven't posted any behind-the-scenes photos because the script was so intense and exhausting. But I promised everyone I'd share more."

How many series will we see this year? "Throughout the year, I kept saying they'd air this year, but recently I found out they're airing next year (laughs). And with the new project that just started filming, I'm already saying that one's also coming next year."

What are the roles like? "As I've gotten older, the roles I receive lean more toward professional characters. For example, in '669 Emergency Line Becomes Love,' I played a rescue worker. When we made the deal, they didn't mention I'd be doing rope work or falling in water—that was quite the challenge. The upcoming project starting in October has me playing a teacher with a complete image change—different speech, walk, hairstyle. Based on the script I've seen, it seems doable. Feel free to reach out. I want to keep playing challenging roles."

Many actors these days have solo singles. Will you be doing one? "I actually mentioned before that I'm working on music. I've made so many tracks that I feel ready to record anytime. I'm more naturally inclined toward the music production side, but for vocals, I need someone to write the right lyrics. Recently, my friend has written several songs for me, and he keeps messaging asking when I'll record (laughs). Will it be T-Pop dance style? No, I need to be true to myself. I'm not naturally comfortable with dancing—I'm not great with my body that way. Music is more my strength."

Have BL boy-love roles been coming your way? "Yes, constantly. But I don't really feel suited for them. I don't think I can pull them off well. I'd rather younger actors or those naturally suited to that genre get those roles. My vibe has always been more versatile. If you put me in a BL series, I probably wouldn't do as well as my peers."

What kind of scripts are being sent to you? "I don't usually read scripts all the way through. Just brief treatments. If I'm not comfortable, I'm worried I'll do a bad job and ruin my career as an actor. After 10 years in the industry, I don't want people saying I played poorly (laughs). I do read them first and give clear reasons when I decline. Sometimes I feel I'm more mature for certain ages. There are many reasons—it's not just about whether it suits me."

It shows that lately...

A checklist of 10 behaviors that many people believe are "healthy" but are actually silent threats undermining your body—the more you do them, the greater your health risk.

Compiled by the Thai News Online team May 15, 2026

Reporting from international media sources. In an era where health information spreads rapidly on social media, countless self-care tips may create misunderstandings, leading to excessive or incorrect practices.

Here are the 10 most common health misconceptions:

1. Drinking fruit juice or eating too much fruit Many believe fruit can be consumed without limit, but in reality, fruits contain high amounts of fructose. When the body receives too much, the liver must work hard to metabolize the sugar, which may increase the risk of fatty liver disease and high uric acid levels. Particularly with fruit juice that has had fiber removed, blood sugar spikes rapidly and increases metabolic burden on the body.

2. Walking or exercising immediately after eating helps digestion The belief that moving your body after a meal aids digestion may actually harm your stomach. After eating, your body needs to send blood to the digestive system, but exercising diverts that blood to muscle instead, resulting in incomplete digestion and increasing the risk of cramping, gastritis, or acid reflux.

3. The less you eat or fast, the faster you lose weight Severe fasting puts your body in "survival mode," reducing metabolic rate to conserve energy. This causes your body to burn muscle and water before fat, leading to fatigue, hair loss, and when you return to normal eating, rapid weight gain occurs because your metabolism has slowed.

4. Drinking as much water as possible is always good for health Drinking excess water, such as 4–7 liters at once in a short timeframe, may cause water intoxication or hyponatremia. When mineral salts become too diluted, your kidneys work hard to expel excess water instead of flushing toxins, causing fatigue, dizziness, and disrupting organ function.

5. Misconception that being thin equals good health Low body weight doesn't always mean a strong body, because BMI cannot reflect the proportion of fat and muscle mass. Many people with slim figures actually have dangerous levels of fat stored around internal organs, known as "hidden obesity," which still carries the same risk of diabetes and heart disease.

6. Eating very little salt or eliminating salt entirely Sodium is essential for maintaining fluid balance and nerve function. While excessive salt consumption is harmful, insufficient intake is equally dangerous. Adults should consume at least around 5 grams of salt daily, or about one teaspoon. Eliminating salt entirely may cause hyponatremia, nausea, headaches, and nervous system damage.

7. Exercising intensely in the evening or only on weekends to compensate for sitting all day Sitting for long periods and then exercising intensely to compensate cannot erase accumulated damage. The body, especially the heart and joints, is sensitive to sudden changes. Intense weekend-only exercise may increase risk of heart overwork, muscle strain, tendon injury, and joint damage, while consistent light daily movement provides better health benefits.

8. Using vegetable oil without limit because you think it's healthy [content incomplete in source]

The Forestry Department has responded to the policy directive by inspecting 15 rai of land at Had Nui in Phuket and discovered illegal capital encroachment in the Naka Mountain Range protected forest. The department has ordered demolition within 7 days and plans to develop the area into a recreational forest zone.

On May 15, 2026, Nikorn Sirarojnanont, Director-General of the Forestry Department, disclosed the progress of the active inspection operation at Had Nui. After Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchad Choomklin received urgent orders from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to address grievances and restore justice to the public, he tasked the Forestry Department with urgently resolving the issue.

The Director-General assigned Deputy Director-General Patthanapong Smittiphattana, along with Kosit Nilrattan, Director of the Forest Protection and Fire Control Office, forest resource management officials from the Krabi Regional Office, and coordinating officials from Phuket Province's administrative division, police station, and internal security agency to conduct inspections in the Naka Mountain Range National Forest Reserve area, Subdistrict Karon, Phuket City District, Phuket Province. They discovered ongoing unauthorized land use. Physical inspection revealed construction of additional structures and landscape improvements to attract tourists, including clearing that expanded the open area. The encroachment covers 15 rai 49 square wah within the protected forest area. Evidence was submitted to Karon Police Station on May 14, 2026, for criminal investigation.

Deputy Director-General Patthanapong Smittiphattana stated that the Forestry Department will enforce Section 25 of the National Forest Reserve Act within one week to post notices and demolish all structures without waiting for criminal proceedings to conclude. Any misuse of forestry department areas will be recovered and returned to departmental responsibility. The department will also consider designating the Had Nui target area as a "recreational forest zone" to encourage community participation in protecting the nation's forest resources.

The badminton competition at the Toyota Thailand Open 2026, a World Tour Super 500 tournament, took place at Nimibutr Sports Hall on May 15 in the quarterfinals of the women's singles category. Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong, the former runner-up and world ranking 8, faced her compatriot Pichaiyamol Obasanipat, ranked 27th in the world. In the first game, Pichaiyamol dominated and won 21-19. Pornpawee bounced back in the second game, claiming a 21-13 victory to force a third decisive game. In the final game, Pichaiyamol played better and secured the win 21-15. With this victory, Pichaiyamol advances to the semifinals where she will meet Akane Yamaguchi, the world number 3 and top seed of the tournament.