Note Cards from 1937 - 38 (page 3)

Some thoughts on Society:

The masses have lost faith in the bhikkhus:

These days, the masses have lost faith in the bhikkhus. This is because they are bhikkhus just "to be bhikhhus" (only in name or form). This means that they have diverted themselves out from their rightful paths. That is, although bhikkhus today are educated and much trained, they lack an important quality — the willingness to carry out ones own duties. In other words, they have lost loyalty and are unfaithful in carrying out the Buddha's wishes for his genuine disciples (savaka), for the sake of the happiness of the manyfolk who respect and support the bhikkhus in all ways. The bhikkhus have collectively abandoned a most important principle, namely, to willingly sacrifice personal sukha (happiness, well-being) for the sukha of the world’s peoples, in line with the Buddha's own practice throughout his life. They go on selfishly and narrow-mindedly pursuing their personal sukha under the patronage of the dayakas (supporters, devotees) without the least self-awareness.

(27 July 2480)

More Notecards from the 1930's