On the first day of Lunar New Year, some Cambodian-Chinese people were preparing fruits, food and other flowers in their home. To me, I really did some things in my house as well. Shortly after, I heard voice coming from outside of my house. What is that? I saw the elderly men walking from house to house in order to raise money, saying that, in order to help construct Buddhism building in their commune.
One old bike attached with loudspeaker, recorder player and battery, one of men was speaking out through microphone and two others were holding monk’s bowl for receiving money from people. The last man was walking the bike moving slowly from door to door. At the time, I saw some people giving their small alms into bowls and then the man gave them the wish for Chinese New Year.
I asked myself that what they were doing was the real act in order to collect money to help their pagoda or not. But I personally thought that it was not true. It meant that they have been using Buddhism religion in order for making money other than for helping and improving Buddhism.
To this point, religion has been exploited for their living. And they are trampling on the Buddhism which is the nation religion according to institution. Which institution has to control on this acts?
It is hard to say and judge Vutha. Most of the people are collecting money for good cause [toward the religious amenities] but a handful is using the religious for own gains [as you mentioned]. It’s a matter how we feel and whether or not we should donate. By the way, they can’t just go around 12 months a year simply because Phkar Prak is not 12 months a year.
Sometimes, it is hard to say whether it is good or bad acts. But what i said on my blog, i could think bad act is more than the good one. Because i observed their activities. If they still trample on Buddhism, it is not good.