HOW ARE SOCIAL CLASS AND SPATIAL DISPARITIES RELATED TO  THE SMOKING HABITS OF THAI MONKS?

Phrasrisombhot Waranyu Sonchun; Phramaha Serichon Narissaro; Phoobade Wanitchanon

Authors

Phrasrisombhot Waranyu Sonchun Graduate School, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Nakhon Sawan Campus, Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Phramaha Serichon Narissaro Buddhist Research Institute, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand
Phoobade Wanitchanon Faculty of Social Sciences, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand

Keywords:

Social Class, Spatial Disparities, Health Disparities, Smoking, Thai Buddhist Monks, Buddhism

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Since the United Nations announced the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, countries worldwide have prioritized achieving these targets, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when ensuring good health has become a central, collective concern.
To achieve good health, it is imperative to consider the social determinants shaping health outcomes. Thailand places strong emphasis on well-being and holistic health. Smoking poses a major challenge in achieving this goal as it constitutes a risky health behavior that negatively affects overall health outcomes. This study examines smoking among Thai Buddhist monks,
an issue that has remained underexplored in existing scholarship. Smoking among monks not only directly affects their health, but also intersects with the sensitivities of monastic disciplinary principles (Vinaya). To analyze this phenomenon, the objective of this study was to examine how social class and spatial disparities revealed the social complexity underlying the smoking behavior of Thai monks.

Methodology: The study aimed to understand the differences in smoking decisions among Thai monks, who represent a culturally specific population. It drew on the concepts of social class and spatial disparities to explain smoking patterns among monks. This quantitative research used secondary data from a questionnaire administered to 911 monks and novices. After managing the dataset, statistical analyses were conducted using ordered logistic regression.

Main Results: Important considerations regarding population health and sustainable development must account for the obstacles to achieving good health within the contexts of social environments, cultural patterns, and the lifestyles of particular population groups. The results demonstrate the relationship between social class, spatial disparities, and smoking among Thai monks. When considering the dimensions of educational attainment, ordination hierarchy, region of residence, and place of residence, a correlation with smoking behavior among Thai monks was observed.

Involvement to Buddhadhamma: This article is situated within Applied Buddhism, focusing on understanding the relationship between health risks and Buddhism. Health risks arising from smoking reflect relevant Buddhist principles, particularly the Five Precepts, in which tobacco
is regarded as an addictive substance and a form of vice. Smoking not only has adverse effects on physical health but is also associated with diminished mental, intellectual, and social well-being. Although the monastic disciplinary code (Vinaya) does not explicitly prohibit or permit smoking, the practice remains a matter of concern. Nevertheless, an important tool of Buddhist principles, the Four Noble Truths, provides a fundamental framework that can be practically applied to support smoking cessation. The process begins with recognizing that smoking leads to suffering (Dukkha, Unsatisfactoriness), followed by identifying the reasons or causes underlying the smoking habit (Samudaya, The Origin of Suffering). Once these causes are identified, monks who are determined to quit smoking can set personal goals to eliminate the source of suffering (Nirodha, The Cessation of Suffering). This understanding can then be translated into practical actions in their daily lives, such as gradually reducing cigarette consumption until complete cessation is achieved (Magga, The Path Leading to The Cessation of Suffering). Furthermore, monks who intend to quit smoking can apply the principle of yoniso manasikāra (Wise Reflection) by considering the harms of smoking, seeking information from credible sources about the health risks associated with tobacco use, and committing themselves to the reduction and eventual cessation of smoking.

Conclusions: Thai Buddhist monk's decision to smoke may stem from underlying social and cultural structures, which increase their health risks and hinder the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals.

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