Forest Recollections - Scholar Monks vs Practioner Monks

As Thailand began to "develop", particularly in the 1960s. With huge US aids, many roads were built all over the country, electrification, commercialisation of agriculture. These "development" were imposed and forced on the rural people, through the police, military and western education systems. (p243) Road inrease from 2118 km in 1960 to 27,595 km in 1989.
The northern region, previously large tract of forest and not easily accesible, become easy reach of Bangkok.

The central Sangha in Bangkok to began exert its control and form by imposing its form of Buddhism. Prince Mongkut, son of King Rama II, established a new nikai (lineage) known as Thammayut. It places more emphasize on study of Pali text and canons. Techings were pass down via text in Bangkok Thai.
The thudong monks - emphasize more on meditation and practice. the teaching were pass down orally and via a apprentice format.

There were regular tension, as the Thammayut tries to exert its control via academic and administrative monks. The monks focus on text learning, exams, staying in one place and building up (wats, sala etc etc). Titles were given based on exam passed. Titles give the monks its vested power and authority.

The thudong does not believe staying in one place. When a sense of permanence arise, they move on. The thudong monks does not hve titles nor believe in it. They gain respect from the help rendered to the villagers, like curing illness, or them overcoming fears ( as in staying in cemetries, forest, caves that the villages believed are protected by spirit. )

This is particularly pertinent in our society today for practitioners - does reading all the available material found in books, journals, internet help one to understand Buddhism and become a better BUddhist? and achieve the ultimate goal - reaching nivarna . Obviously not, otherwise all the academicians, Phd would hve reached nivarna. There would hve been millions of living Buddhas in the western world and the realm of universities.

The thudong monk tradition shows that without practising and incorporating it into one's daily life, reading, learning Buddhism is no different from being an theorectical expert in a subject matter - engineering, genetic , marketing etc etc. There are tons of academic BUddhism expert - who can argue till the cows come home and yet not affected by it. Just a like a scientist and it investigative subject matter.

A simile would be 2 motor mechanics - one learn and has achieve superior knowledge through study (as in a course in the college) but has never repair a car. Versus a mechanic who has not study any text, but learn through assisting the master, learn by observing and then repair car hands on. We know that the academic mechanic can draw beautiful drawing, explain how the care engine works in presentation. However, it is the mechanic who rise apprenticeship - that by listening and moving how the engine move - can narrow down the problem and repair it.

I believe that it is important to balance the two - reading and practising, maybe in 20-80% portion. And importantly, to carefully select a genuine master, who has been through the jouney and be guided by them.

As one reflect on how Buddha "taught" - the thudong monks follow the tradition - the Buddha did not leave any books or recorded form of his teaching, only much later was his teachings recorded by his disciples, he wander around, helping those that need helps.