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Editor's Blog: Head of Ren Ci Hospital charged
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 17:26 — colinlim
He used to hog the headlines for his daring stunts on charity shows, but Venerable Shi Ming Yi is in the news today for a strikingly different reason.
The Head of Ren Ci Hospital has officially been charged with alleged forgery, conspiracy and misuse of funds. The monk faces 10 charges in total, and is currently out on $200,000 bail. Venerable Ming Yi was arrested on Monday night, and has been under probe by the Commercial Affairs Department.
I still remember tearing while watching one of Venerable Ming Yi's stunts on tv a few years ago. He seemed so selfless and stoic back then, which makes it hard for me to accept the fact that he's being charged right now...
But if he's proven guilty, then I think it's a shame that leaders of large charities here are getting on the wrong side of the law. If they could resort to misusing funds, then what should we expect of CEOs heading private companies?
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Members of the Sangha should and must observe vinaya rules.
Ven. Ming Yi as a member of the Sangha must and should observe the Vinaya rules, the 'third basket' of the Buddha-dhamma. If he had, none of this would have happened.
According to these rules, the members of the Sangha (Buddhist monks and nuns) should
primarily involve themselves to the propagation of the Buddha-dhamma and to cultivate themselves spiritually. That's their main duty. members of the Sangha are supposedly "homeless", meaning, not owning anything except for the three robes and daily items for personal hygiene, not BMWs, jades or expensive watches. Other peripheral activities, like running a charity or even a temple is best left to the lay-people who are more knowledgeable of the laws and regulations. As someone said in this blog, power corrupts and monks are not much different from other people, you and me. Monks too like to be in the lime-light and hold the strings to decision-making. This gives rise to the possiblity of temptation. We have seen this happening to a very renowned Thai monk who was eventually dis-robed a few years ago by the Mahasangha of Thailand.
Ven Ming Yi has noble aspirations when he took over the ex-Woodbridge hospital. He was compassionate but not wise enough to know his friends who took loans from him.
These loans as I understand, are from fund of the charitable organisations he heads.
Truly, money and assets are of inconsequential to members of the Sangha, but not to public orgnaisations which are legal entities and subject to jurisdictions of statutory requirements of Singapore. Therein lies the trap that Ven Ming Yi was caught when his friends did not pay up and the Law take a long incisive look into the affairs of his organisations. He is caught. Well, he can get his family to cough up the money afterall, he is from a very well-to-do family. His family is rich enough to give him a detached house to use as a temple when he first started on his spiritual quest (nearly 20 years ago?). I'm surprised that till todate, his organisations did not take up legal action against those friends of his, unless of course, what was told to the public were red herrings.
It is time now for the Buddhist Federation of Singapore to come out to ask its members, especially the abbots and abbesses to declare their assets. And to regulate the activities of the members of the Sangha, and prohibit them from assuming positions in secular organisations. In short, implement the Vinaya rules. Any offender is liable to be dis-robed. This is the solution if the Federation can be empowered to do so.
Sudhamma
17th July 2008
Unwarranted
Ven Ming Yi's jobs were not confined to Buddhist temples. In addition, to the day to day running of a hospital, he was president, chairman, and CEO of a number of religious and social organisations, both locally and overseas. He was not paid the way others holding the same positions are paid,( only allowances). He may have over-look certain company regulations on non lending to key appointment holders, but all benefits generated from the transactions were channelled back to the Buddhist movement and to help society. I do not know this man but find it unwarranted to run him down. It is important for those in key appointments to keep updated with present accounting standards. The Authorities should not over react as it may be wrongly interpreted by society as the sentiment sympathies with Ming Yi
Unwarranted? Keep to the Rules to keep out of trouble.
Leniency is not built into the legal system, especially in Singapore. It leaves compassion and liberal interpretation of the Law to both the prosecution and the judges to extend to the accused. The defence can only plead for leniency, and that there was no intention, implied or otherwise, to cheat the public or to commit any CBT. As said, if members of the Sangha observe with strict compliance to the Vinaya rules, then what befell to Ven Ming Yi would not have happened. The Buddhist Federation in Singapore is weak in this sense that they have no authority to police the behaviour of members of the Order nor to disrobe any Mahayanist monks/nuns when a major affront to the Vinaya rules were committed. As far as the Theravadin monks are concerned, there is one 'Chief Monk' that presides over them (in Singapore and Malaysia) and to keep them in line.
This is a clear demonstration of what kamma is all about, cause and effect, regardless of motives and the legality of the action. You do this action, a ripple effect happens; and sometimes, a tidal wave can result from it. A case of a butterfly fluttering its wings. Mindfulness, is one of the major attributes that each Buddhist can achieve through practice, meditation or otherwise, and this case with a Buddhist abbot shows that it is sorely lacking. All the years of practice and effort are wasted.
Even with the best of noble intentions, Buddhist monks and nuns should keep out of secular affairs. Temptations are just too great, sometimes. It is best left to the lay-people to handle secular affairs, especially finances and managing institutions.
Best regards,
Sudhamma
21/07/2008
its sad. this is gonna affect
its sad. this is gonna affect everyone. people are not going to donate anymore. who will? who can really trust such self acclaimed charitable organisations anymore? which actor/ actress will want to brave stunts to ask for donations which in the end might be misused AGAIN? who then, is going to help the really poor and in need?
Gullible Singaporeans
I really don't understand why they always get caught *shrug*
sigh
power corrupts... sometimes.
MONEY is the source of all
MONEY is the source of all evil..
Guess the temptations are
Guess the temptations are there... Plus the veneration from followers may make them feel that they can do no wrong or that they can get away with anything. And yes, power corrupts. But it's a disappointing situation and I hope the people that these organisations are supposed to help don't suffer for a person's fallabilty.