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Thai Buddhism: Monks, Mercs and Women

For Assignment, Linda Pressly explores the rifts and sexual politics challenging Thai Buddhism and its devotees.

An unholy spat is stirring the Sangha, Thailand’s top Buddhist authority – who will become the next Supreme Patriarch, Thailand’s most senior monk? Meanwhile, allegations of ‘cheque-book Buddhism’, cronyism and corruption abound – including allegations about tax-evasion on an imported vintage Mercedes car. Watching quietly from the side-lines are the women who shouldn’t be there at all... For Assignment, Linda Pressly explores the rifts and sexual politics challenging Thai Buddhism and its devotees.

(Image: Thai monks)

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27 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 Apr 201606:06GMT
BBC World Service East Asia

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  • Thu 31 Mar 201602:32GMT
    BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
  • Thu 31 Mar 201604:32GMT
    BBC World Service Online, Europe and the Middle East, South Asia & UK DAB/Freeview only
  • Thu 31 Mar 201605:32GMT
    BBC World Service East Asia
  • Thu 31 Mar 201606:32GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia
  • Thu 31 Mar 201612:32GMT
    BBC World Service except News Internet
  • Thu 31 Mar 201618:32GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
  • Thu 31 Mar 201619:32GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Mon 4 Apr 201601:06GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia
  • Mon 4 Apr 201606:06GMT
    BBC World Service East Asia

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