สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

8 The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume III - 2011 A Buddhist Perspective on Freedom of Religion 8 Order, the followers ought not to be pleased, happy or elated; they should instead acknowledge the truth of what is genuinely true. 11 The Buddhist stance on Apostasy The closest Pali equivalent to what is known as apostasy in other religions is an ~ n ~ asatthuddessa or an ~ n ~ asattharuddessa 12 , i.e. professing allegiance to someone other than the Buddha as Teacher (after declaring oneself as a Buddhist). Technically speaking, apostasy on the part of a worldling or ordinary person, whether a layman or a monk, can happen. It is, however, an impossibility for a noble or holy person, starting with one in possession of the right view or understanding of the Dhamma. 13 When a Buddhist monk is found to have departed from the Buddhaûs Teaching to embrace another religion (i.e. a case of apostasy), or committed any of the Major Offences, he will be expelled from monkhood. Expulsion from monkhood is the most straightforward way to deal with the issue on the basis of actual facts. If a person does not subscribe to the tenets of Buddhism or abide by the Monastic Order any longer, or if he has violated the monastic rules to the extent that he forfeits his right to remain in the Order, then he is supposed to leave. From the vantage point of that person, departure from monkhood is the best way for him to express his integrity and transparency, by acting in accordance with reality. It is fair and honourable behaviour towards other members of the Sangha community, in which he is unwilling or no longer has the right to live, as disrobing shows that he will not take advantage of that community simply by exploiting its form, or outward appearance, for self-serving purposes. It would indeed be strange for him to still claim his membership in it, in which case it must be taken to be clandestine or deceptive conduct. It would even be stranger if he should further claim that to remain in the Order was his personal freedom of religion. If such 11 From Brahmajala Sutta. For the full text of this discourse, see Walshe, Maurice (trans.). 1995. The Long Discourses of the Buddha. Kandy, Sri Lanka: The Buddhist Publication Society, pp. 67›90. 12 Ven. P. A. Payutto. 2002. Dictionary of Buddhism. [in Thai, but with English translations interspersed]. Bangkok. 13 From Bahudhatuka Sutta. For the full text of this discourse, see Bhikkhu N ~ an⁄ amoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi (trans.). 1995. The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha. Kandy, Sri Lanka: The Buddhist Publication Society, pp. 925›930. 1-15_mac9 4/26/12, 8:09 PM 8