Despite austere rules that were at odds with mainstream Buddhism, Samana Phothirak had a lot of influence.
PUBLISHED: 11 Apr 2024 at 19: 38
Samana Phothirak, the creator of the Santi Asoke motion, passed ahead on Thursday night at the age of 89, according to a blog on Boonniyom TV’s Facebook page.
Samana Phothirak, the man behind the Santi Asoke activity, passed away on Thursday night at the age of 89, according to a blog on Boonniyom TV’s Facebook page.
The spiritual president and leader of Santi Asoke, an austere sect of Theravada Buddhism, died at 6.40am, according to the report.
Samana apparently had asthma treatment at the Warinchamrab Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani before making his way back to the Ratchathani Asok town in the early hours of February.
Samana was born Mongkol Rakpong on June 5, 1934 in Sri Sa Ket. He attended high school and college in Bangkok and lived with his mother in Ubon Ratchathani until he was a child.
While he was a student, he changed his name to Rak Rakpong. After graduating, he worked as a TV network and a component- time art teacher, songwriter and paperboy.
He received the religious title Phothirak after learning about Buddhism and was ordained a Dhammayuttika Nikaya friar at Wat Asokaram on November 7, 1970.
After separating from the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand in 1975, he established Santi Asoke.
Samana’s austere reluctance to eat meat, use money, raise money, or perform supernatural rituals earned him the label of a heretic.
He also participated in the 1992 Black May activities and subsequent demonstrations against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and was a political advocate. He founded the Palang Dharma Party.