Is Thai Buddhism a scam? A brief introduction to Buddhist scams in Thailand

When traveling, we sometimes encounter scams, especially when traveling with a group. Some "black-hearted" travel agencies cooperate with local attractions or shops that tourists are interested in to defraud tourists of their money. This phenomenon is not uncommon and disgusting.

But what I didn't expect was that even holy places like Buddhism involved "black heart" travel agencies. For example, Bian Xiao recently heard about this Thai Buddhist scam, which is really irritating. Let's have a look!

Is Thai Buddhism a scam?

Of course, many of them are scams!

It is not uncommon for travel agencies to cheat tourists at the United Nations. It is rare that domestic travel agencies are optimistic about the Buddhist market in Thailand and begin to contract temples.

Many friends feel that the dealers they contact cannot be trusted, so when they travel to Thailand, they always go to the temple to ask for a card, or they are introduced by acquaintances or recommended by tour guides.

Take it back to someone who knows the Buddha's brand: it's fake.

Those friends who can handle fake cards sincerely only need 100 yuan, but they have to spend thousands or even tens of thousands of yuan to buy themselves a souvenir.

In fact, the collusion between Thai temples contracted by travel agencies and domestic businesses has long been exposed in the domestic media:

Introduction of Buddhist scam in Thailand

According to the investigation of Thai media, some famous temples near the seaside in Phuket attract many tourists from all over the world every day, but the temples actually rent some important Buddhist temples to China businessmen, so that they can sell Buddhist items such as Buddhist cards at high prices in the temples.

Many people think that "building a temple" is a bit exaggerated, but the facts always make people feel that profiteers are hard to prevent. The following is a passage from a variety show "World Youth" in China:

I don't blame the tourists for their negligence. I can only say that the travel agency has tried its best to make huge profits.

Why not advise tourists to ask for their own cards?

It is said that the water in China is too deep, but I don't know that everything in Thailand is as deep as that in Wang Yang. It is not only the temples contracted by domestic travel agencies and domestic merchants in collusion, but also the lack of supervision and the proliferation of cottage brands, which are also important factors that make it difficult for tourists to get authentic brands in Thailand:

How can a tourist destination not be commercialized?

Even traditional Thai temples have become tourist attractions with the development of modern society. Such temples often produce commercial things, which can only be called commodities, not Buddhist cards.

This kind of product is similar to the souvenirs of major temples and Dojo in China, and it is marked with the words of opening the light, but because it is completely mass-produced, it has no magic at all.

No one cares about individual booths.

Inside the temple, there are places selling Buddhist cards, which are divided into individuals and temples. Individual stall temples will not manage, that is to say, if stall merchants sell business cards and fake cards, temples will not interfere.

Overflow of copied Buddhist cards

In modern times, some famous temples went downhill because of the death of eminent monks, which led some temples to carve Buddhist cards privately for survival.

It's like Wappebuli, once the first owner of Surin House, Long Pohong. After the death of Long Pohong, a monk, the temple took out some famous Buddha brand molds and then copied them with similar materials.

Ordinary tourist card

About tourist cards, the most popular one in China is probably "Little Red Rope". Many tourists who travel to Thailand and ask for Buddhist cards start from it, and then come back to look for knowledgeable friends: souvenirs.

There are countless such things. I hope that friends who travel to Thailand will carefully identify them and not fall into the scam and pay the tuition in vain.

warn

Many people mistakenly think that it is as simple as asking the Thai Buddha to go to the temple to take out the Buddha's card and mail it to Shanxin, but in fact?

In fact, it is not only a careful job, but also a patient job to run to the temple to get the certificate. Instead of reporting the owner and year like ordering food, good cards are taken to the front like dishes.

After staying in Thailand for so many years, I am still cautious about asking for Buddhist cards. Tourists only stay for a week. This depth is naturally unclear.

Many friends reported that some doubts disappeared when they saw the monks in the temple turn on the lights to bless and sprinkle holy water and relics.

Q: Is that a real monk? Does he practice? Is his blessing useful? Do you know what remains are?

Anyone who has lived in Thailand for a long time knows that this is just a trick of temples and tour guides to deceive tourists who don't know the inside story.

Even more exaggerated, some monks in commercial temples have taken off their robes, but they are only farmers in the village.

To put it bluntly, it is a routine scene. It is not recommended that you go to Thailand to apply for Buddha cards yourself. After all, people who have stayed in Thailand for a long time are afraid to start with Buddhist cards casually. Finally, once again, learn more before choosing. Understanding is more important than choice.