The Santi Asoke communities were established by Samana Bodhiraksa13
within the Thai social environment in search of the original
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purity of Buddhism and in response to the influence of Western consumerism
which has devalued Buddhist ethics among Thai people.
Judging from his perspective, most monks within the Thai Sangha
(community of monks) are far below the level of purity of sila (morality)
set by the Buddha. Bodhiraksa criticizes the lax behavior, superstitions,
and consumerism of most monks and the self-indulgence,
corruption, and violence of Thai society. To alleviate Thai society
from the domination of transnational capitalism and the influence of
Western consumerism, Bodhiraksa set up the network of Santi Asoke
communities in the central and northeastern parts of Thailand by putting
Buddhist economics and “sustainable economy” theory into practice
at the community level.