Global Buddhist Network

The Global Buddhist Network (GBN), previously known as the Dhammakaya Media Channel (DMC) is a Thai online television channel concerned with Buddhism. The channel's taglines were "The secrets of life revealed" and "The only one", but these were later replaced by "Channel for the path to the cessation of suffering and attainment of Dhamma". The channel features many types of programs with Buddhist content, and has programs in several languages.

Global Buddhist Network
TypeSatellite network, Cable network (formerly);
Internet (currently)
Country
Thailand
Availabilityworldwide via website and social media
SloganThe only one;
Channel for the path to the cessation of suffering and attainment of Dhamma[1]
OwnerDhamma Research for Environment Foundation
Launch date
2002 (sources state different days)[2][3]
Dissolved2016
Former names
Dhammakaya Media Channel
Official website
http://gbnus.com,
http://www.dmc.tv

The channel started in 2002, as a means to reach remote provinces in Thailand. Controversially, the channel made international headlines in 2012 when it featured a teaching on the afterlife of Steve Jobs. On 26 December 2016, Thai authorities withdrew the permit for the satellite channel permanently, during the legal investigations into the temple by the Thai junta. In April 2017, it was reported, however, that the channel's programming had continued, but broadcast through the Internet only. In its online format, the channel has been renamed Global Buddhist Network.

Background

DMC started in 2002.[2][3] The channel was owned by the Dhamma Research for Environment Foundation, part of the temple Wat Phra Dhammakaya.[4][5] The channel was founded to provide an alternative to the many distractions that surround people in modern life, which lure "people into doing immoral things", as stated by Phra Somsak Piyasilo, spokesperson of the organization.[6] The channel originated from an initiative in 2001 when people living in the far provinces of Thailand wanted to listen to the teachings of the temple. The temple therefore provided live teachings through a thousand public telephone lines, through which people could follow the activities. The telephone lines had many restrictions in use, and the temple started to broadcast through a satellite television channel instead. Later, in 2005, the temple developed an online counterpart to the channel.[6]

The channel is managed by Phra Maha Nopon Puññajayo, who supervises a team of thirty volunteers.[7][8] Previously, it was known by the pun 'the Dhamma satellite' (Thai: จานดาวธรรม).[9][10] The channel was one of the first widely spread satellite channels in Thailand, described as a form of "positive television" (Thai: สื่อสีขาว, lit. 'white media').[11] The channel's taglines were "The secrets of life revealed" and "The only one".[2][12] Although the channel broadcasts over thirty different programs, the soap operas with Buddhist content have been most awarded: in 2008, the channel received an award from the Society for Positive Television in Thailand, and in 2010, it received an award from the National Anti-Corruption Commission—both were given for the edifying effects of the channel's soap operas.[3][13][14] However, a more general award was also given by the House of Representatives in 2010.[3]

In 2016, the channel was ordered to shut down and its permit eventually withdrawn permanently when the junta cracked down on Wat Phra Dhammakaya during the Klongchan controversy.[15][16][17] The channel was later revived in a new digital format, called GBN, short for Global Buddhist Network, which can only be accessed through the Internet.[1][18]

Programming and availability
Former logo of the Dhammakaya Media Channel

The main focus of the channel, as described by the temple, is moral education.[19] It has programs for people of different ages. It broadcasts guided meditations, talks, preaching, songs, documentaries, dramas, live events and cartoons twenty-four hours a day.[2][7] Songs played on the channel are often parody versions of popular songs, in diverse genres, with Buddhist content.[10] They explain Buddhist customs and pay homage to important teachers.[10][20] The programming is aimed at different age groups and diverse communities: e.g. there is a cartoon series about the Jātaka tales for children.[20] The most popular program is a broadcast of a teaching called Fan Nai Fan, which also includes a guided meditation.[21] Before the 2016 crackdown by the Thai junta, the channel could be watched or listened to for free through satellite television, Internet, cable and radio.[22] In 2005, it was reported that DMC had a hundred thousand viewers.[23] In 2016, the satellite channel could be received in all continents in the world, except for South America.[7][24] The channel has programs in Thai, English, Chinese and Japanese language.[2][20]

The channel was also broadcast in public places like temples, hotels and prisons.[23][25] It sought cooperation with other Buddhist countries as well: the temple has assisted with establishing a Sri Lankan television channel with Buddhist content called Shraddha TV,[26] for which it has made content available for free and hired Sri Lankans to help translate.[27][28] For some programs Burmese Abhidhamma teachers were consulted.[29]

Steve Jobs episode

In 2012, the temple broadcast a talk by Luang Por Dhammajayo, the then abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, about what happened to Steve Jobs after his death.[30] The talk came as a response to a software engineer of Apple who had sent a letter with questions to the abbot. Luang Por Dhammajayo described how Steve Jobs looked like in heaven.[31][32] He said that Jobs had been reborn as a deva (heavenly being) living close to his former offices,[31][33] as a result of the karma of having given knowledge to people. He was a deva with a creative, but angry temperament.[34][35] The talk was much criticized, and the abbot was accused of pretending to have attained an advanced meditative state and of attempting to outshine other temples. The temple answered the critics, saying that the talk was meant to illustrate principles of karma, not to defame Jobs, nor to fake an advanced state.[31][32][33]

Critics such as Phra Paisal Visalo and religion scholar Surapot Taweesak pressed the Supreme Sangha Council, who leads the monastic community in Thailand, to investigate further as to whether Luang Por Dhammajayo had fraudulent intentions. Surapot, known for his liberal views on separation of religion and state, was criticized by sociologist Kengkit Kitirianglap and others, however, for abandoning his liberal position. With regard to the teaching about Steve Jobs, Kengkit argued that the state, of which the council is part, should not get involved in what is "true Buddhism" and what is not. Surapot replied that urging the council to crack down on Luang Por Dhammajayo does not go against democratic principles, because the monastic discipline applies to all monks equally.[36][37][38]

Shutdown
Program about the life of the Buddha

In 2014, Wat Phra Dhammakaya came under scrutiny under the new military junta[39][40] and in 2015 was implicated in the Klongchan controversy. 11.37 billion baht ($3.6M, €2.9M or £2.6M, as of April 2018) was allegedly embezzled from the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, in which a portion totaling over one billion baht was found to have been given to the temple via public donations.[41][42][43] The investigations resulted in several failed raids on the temple and the channel was ordered to shut down for thirty days, authorities citing that the channel was used to mobilize people to resist a possible arrest of the former abbot, as people had done during the first raid. The temple appealed to a higher court, denying the accusations and stating that insufficient evidence had been provided.[16][44] The temple further described the shutdown as an infringement of human rights.[13]

The channel's broadcast permit was permanently withdrawn the same month, on 26 December.[16][17] Critics compared the shutdown with the military crackdown during the 1992 Black May protest, news outlet Bangkok Post criticizing the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission for "operating outside the courts and justice system".[15][17] The online channel was still available.[45] Despite the channel being shut down, Thai Rath and other main media outlets have continued to broadcast the temple's ceremonies.[46] The temple has stated that the number of people joining ceremonies has increased since the shutdown, people showing sympathy with the temple and the satellite channel.[47]

Revival and aftermath

On 24 April 2017, a host of the Inside Thailand program on Spring News noticed a revival of the Dhammakaya Media Channel through a new digital format, called GBN, short for Global Buddhist Network. The new tagline of the channel was "Channel for the path to the cessation of suffering and attainment of Dhamma". The channel could be received through the Internet only, and featured very similar contents as before, although the temple's spokesperson assured there would be no further attempts at mobilizing people.[1][18] Thus, the channel continued in online formats only, through a website and a separate online broadcast. As of 2017, the website ranked 674th of all Thai websites on the Alexa ranking.[48]

The closing down of DMC was not the last time that the junta decided to impose sanctions against a media outlet. In March 2017, the junta closed down Voice TV for seven days, after the channel criticized the martial law imposed on Wat Phra Dhammakaya during the junta's crackdown.[49] And in August the same year, Peace TV was also closed down for a month, the junta citing "it broke the rules of the NCPO".[50] Some reports related this to a policy of removing former PM Thaksin's influence, a policy which has also been connected with Wat Phra Dhammakaya.[51][52]

See also

Notes
  1. Ekmahasawat, Danai; Mahitthiruk, Amonrat (24 April 2017). กลับมาแล้วทีวีธรรมกาย ถ่ายสดวันเกิดธัมมชโย [Dhammakaya's television has returned: live broadcast of Dhammajayo's birthday]. Spring News (in Thai). Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  2. ธรรมกายปฏิเสธนำเงินวัดไปเล่นหุ้น เตรียมยื่นคัดค้านปิดช่อง DMC [Dhammakaya denies using money temple to invest in stocks, prepares to appeal to court about closing down DMC]. Post Today (in Thai). Post Publishing. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  3. "ธรรมกายร่ายยาว ช่อง DMC ส่งเสริมศาสนา ไม่ได้สร้างความปั่นป่วนให้สังคม" [Dhammakaya explains in detail: "DMC promotes Buddhism, it doesn't cause unrest in society"]. Thai Rath (in Thai). Wacharapol. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  4. แนะนำตัวช่อง DMC [Introducing the DMC]. Dhammakaya Media Channel (in Thai). Dhamma Research for Environment Foundation. 2 January 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  5. Scott, Rachelle M. (2009), Nirvana for Sale? Buddhism, Wealth, and the Dhammakāya Temple in Contemporary Thailand, Albany: State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-1-4416-2410-9
  6. Kongkrut, Anchalee; Na Ranong, Jetjaras (20 February 2008). "Dhamma Online: Wat Dhammakaya's website allows people to listen to sermons at their convenience". Bangkok Post. The Post Publishing. p. 18.
  7. Nacharoen, Nithit (20 November 2016). เปิดโครงสร้างทีมสื่อวัดพระธรรมกาย [Revealing the organization structure of Wat Phra Dhammakaya's media team]. Kom Chad Luek (in Thai). The Nation Group. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  8. สั่งปิดช่อง DMC ทีวีธรรมกาย [Dhammakaya's DMC Channel closed down]. The Nation (in Thai). 7 December 2016.
  9. ปิดทีวีธรรมกาย กสท.มติเอกฉันท์ถอนใบอนุญาต [Dhammakaya's TV closed down, NBTC unanimously withdraws license]. NOW (in Thai). 26 December 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  10. Pochanalawan, Pinyapan (22 April 2009). 'ทุ่มสุดฤทธิ์...ปิดเจดีย์' ว่าด้วยมหากาพย์ของมหาธรรมกายเจดีย์ ['Fully dedicated to finish the Cetiya': About the saga of the Mahadhammakaya Cetiya]. Prachatai (in Thai). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  11. Buaban, Jesada (August 2016). ความทรงจำในดวงแก้ว: ความทรงจำที่แปรเปลี่ยนไปเกี่ยวกับวัดพระธรรมกายภายใต้ปริมณฑลรัฐบาลทหารปี พ.ศ. 2557–2559 [Memory in Crystal: Changing Memory on Dhammakaya Movement under the Umbrella of Military Junta 2014–2016] (pdf). The science of remembering and the art of forgetting 2nd conference (in Thai). Songkhla-Nakharin University, Songkhla: Southeast Asian Studies Program, Walailak University. p. 3.
  12. Newell 2008, p. 150.
  13. Chotsiripornrit, Natchapan. ปิดทีวีธรรมกาย ชนวนเหตุระดมพล [Closing down channel Dhammakaya, reason used for mobilizing]. Voice TV (in Thai). Digital TV Network. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  14. Vuddhivamso, Phra Sanitwong (2012). "DMC ปีที่ 10 "Change the world" สถานีโทรทัศน์เพื่อการฟื้นฟูศีลธรรมโลก" [10 years DMC: "Change the World", a television channel for reviving world's morality]. DMC (in Thai).
  15. กสท.สั่งปิดทีวีธรรมกายภัยความมั่นคง [NBTC orders closing down Dhammakaya TV, [citing it is] threat to [national] security]. Voice TV (in Thai). Digital TV Network. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017 – via SHTV.
  16. "Thai authorities shut down controversial Wat Dhammakaya temple's 24-hour TV channel amid scandal". South China Morning Post. Agence France-Presse. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  17. "NBTC must abide by law". Bangkok Post. The Post Publishing. 3 January 2017. p. 9.
  18. วันคล้ายวันเกิดครบ 73 ปี พระธัมมชโย วัดพระธรรมกาย-ลูกศิษย์จัดงานทำบุญวันคุ้มครองโลก [Phra Dhammajayo's 73rd birthday: devotees organize Earth Day ceremony]. Thai PBS (in Thai). 22 April 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  19. Thaitrakulpanich, Asaree (7 December 2016). "Dhammakaya Defies Order to Halt Broadcasts". Khao Sod. Matichon Publishing. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  20. Newell 2008, p. 151.
  21. ธรรมกายเตรียมอุทธรณ์คำสั่ง "จอดำ" DMC [Dhammakaya prepares to appeal closing down DMC]. Amarin TV (in Thai). 7 December 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  22. "สำนักสื่อสารธรรมกาย" เปิดแนวรบสื่อเต็มรูปแบบ [Dhammakaya's Department of Communication starts a fully equipped media battle center]. NOW (in Thai). 31 May 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  23. คนแห่ร่วมสัปดาห์วันวิสาขะธรรมกายตั้งซุ้มขายสมาชิก [Many people came to join the Visakha week, Dhammakaya set up stall to sell to members]. Matichon (in Thai). 18 May 2005. p. 13.
  24. "Major Countries Under DMC Channel Coverage". Dhammakaya Media Channel. Dhamma Research for Environment Foundation. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  25. Scott, Rachelle M. (2016). "Contemporary Thai Buddhism". In Jerryson, Michael (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Buddhism. Oxford University Press. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-19-936238-7.
  26. Somarathna, Rasika (21 March 2007). "President meets Thai Bhikkus". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Lakehouse Newspapers. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  27. "Opportunities at Buddhist TV station in Thailand". The Sunday Observer. Sri Lanka. 16 January 2011. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017 – via Highbeam.
  28. Lankacom PVT (11 November 2017). "Screening of "Love Over", an English short film based on a true story". The Island. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  29. Lwin, Ye (19 April 2010). "Thai TV to air Abhidhamma show". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  30. "The Crisis in Thai Buddhism". Asia Sentinel. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  31. "Steve Jobs now an angel living in parallel universe". Sify. New Delhi. Asian News International. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  32. ธรรมกายแจงปมภัยศาสนา [Dhammakaya responds to issues that threaten [Buddhist] religion]. Thai News Agency. 3 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  33. Hookway, James (31 August 2012). "Thai Group Says Steve Jobs Reincarnated as Warrior-Philosopher". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  34. กระฉ่อนโลกออนไลน์ ธรรมกายเผย'สตีฟ จ็อบส์'ตายแล้วไปไหน [Circulating through the online world: Dhammakaya reveals where Steve Jobs went after his death]. Thai Rath (in Thai). Wacharapol. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  35. Chantarasiri, Ruangyot (27 August 2012). สังคม ความเชื่อ และศรัทธา [Society, beliefs and faith]. Lok Wannee (in Thai). p. 2.
  36. Thaweesak, Surapot (26 August 2012). สตีฟ จ็อบส์ ฉบับธรรมกาย กับปัญหาธรรมวินัยและการประยุกต์พุทธธรรม [Dhammakaya's version of Steve Jobs and the dilemma of Vinaya and applying Buddhism]. Prachatai (in Thai). Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  37. Kitirianglap, Kengkit (31 August 2012). ปัญหาธรรมกาย-พระไพศาล-มหาเถรสมาคม-สุรพศ และบททดลองเสนอเกี่ยวกับสถานะของสถาบันศาสนาในสังคมไทย [The dilemma of Dhammakaya, Phra Paisal, Supreme Sangha Council and Surapot, and a hypothesis about religious institutions in Thai society]. Prachatai (in Thai). Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  38. Thaweesak, Surapot (1 September 2012). ปัญหาการอ้าง 'ศาสนาเป็นอิสระจากรัฐ' กับความชอบธรรมในการดำเนินการทางพระธรรมวินัย [The issue of citing 'religion is independent from the state' and justice in Vinaya procedures]. Prachatai (in Thai). Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  39. Dubus, Arnaud (22 June 2016). "Controverse autour du temple bouddhique Dhammakaya: un bras de fer religieux et politique" [Controversy regarding the Dhammakaya Buddhist temple: A religious and political standoff]. Églises d'Asie (in French). Information Agency for Foreign Missions of Paris. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  40. ธรรมกายแจงปมภัยศาสนา [Dhammakaya responds to issues that threaten [Buddhist] religion]. Thai News Agency (in Thai). 3 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  41. Tan Hui Yee (23 June 2016). "Politics and religion coming worryingly together in temple scandal". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  42. พิษเงินบริจาคพันล้าน [Poisonous donations of a billion baht]. Thai PBS (in Thai). 2 May 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016. Lay summary – Dhammakaya Uncovered (21 April 2016).
  43. ฟังทนายพระธัมมชโย แจงคดีร้อน [Let's listen to the lawyer of Phra Dhammajayo, providing information about a controversial lawsuit]. Spring News (in Thai). 28 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016. Lay summary – Dhammakaya Uncovered (21 April 2016).
  44. "Regulator takes temple TV off air". Bangkok Post. The Post Publishing. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  45. ตั้ง ธัมมชโย เป็นเจ้าอาวาสกิตติมศักดิ์ ธรรมกายหันไลฟ์สดผ่าน FB-Youtube แทนหลังช่อง DMC ถูกปิด [Dhammajayo appointed as honorary abbot, after closing down Dhammakaya broadcasts live through Facebook and Youtube instead]. BEC-tero (in Thai). BEC World. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  46. ศิษย์ธรรมกายแน่นสวดมนต์ข้ามปี [Dhammakaya's devotees chant in great numbers with New Year]. Thai Rath (in Thai). Wacharapol. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  47. ธรรมกายโชว์คนเยอะแน่นวัด โวเมื่อรู้ว่า DMC ถูกปิดคนยิ่งมา [Dhammakaya shows great number of people, boasts that when DMC is shut down, people joining only increase]. Bangkok Biz News (in Thai). The Nation Group. 8 December 2016.
  48. "dmc.tv Traffic Statistics". Alexa Internet. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  49. "มติบอร์ด กสท.สั่งปิด "วอยซ์ทีวี" เพิ่มเป็น 7 วัน หลังอนุกก.ผังรายการ กสทช.ให้ปิด 3 วัน" [Board of Broadcasting Commission orders closing down Voice TV for four more days, after its planning subcommittee ordered three days shut down]. Thai PBS (in Thai). 27 March 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  50. "นายกฯ ยันปิด "พีซทีวี" ไร้ใบสั่งการเมือง ไม่เกี่ยวคดี "ปู" จำนำข้าว" [PM denies closing down Peace TV for political reasons, nothing to do with lawsuit pawed rice Yingluck]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 10 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  51. "NBTC suspends red-shirt Peace TV's broadcasting licence 30 days". Thai PBS. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  52. Mérieau, Eugénie (4 April 2015). "De la récupération politique du bouddhisme" [About the political recovery of Buddhism]. Gavroche (in French). Archived from the original on 29 July 2017 – via Alter Asia.

References
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