Phra Maha Paiwan Warawanno, a Buddhist monk in Thailand, stands among golden Buddha statues at Wat Soi Thong temple in Bangkok. He insists that the Buddha does not grant wishes like a genie from a lamp. Photo: Tibor Krausz
Phra Maha Paiwan Warawanno, a Buddhist monk in Thailand, stands among golden Buddha statues at Wat Soi Thong temple in Bangkok. He insists that the Buddha does not grant wishes like a genie from a lamp. Photo: Tibor Krausz
Thailand
Lifestyle

Dubious Buddhist religious practices under fire from young Thai monk who’s become a social media star

  • Phra Maha Paiwan Warawanno is known for speaking out against the commercialisation of Buddhism and practices that claim to bring people wealth and success
  • His no-nonsense approach has earned him plenty of fans (and some enemies), especially young Thais who ask him probing questions

Tibor Krausz
Tibor Krausz

Updated: 7:17am, 4 Sep, 2020

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Phra Maha Paiwan Warawanno, a Buddhist monk in Thailand, stands among golden Buddha statues at Wat Soi Thong temple in Bangkok. He insists that the Buddha does not grant wishes like a genie from a lamp. Photo: Tibor Krausz
Phra Maha Paiwan Warawanno, a Buddhist monk in Thailand, stands among golden Buddha statues at Wat Soi Thong temple in Bangkok. He insists that the Buddha does not grant wishes like a genie from a lamp. Photo: Tibor Krausz
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