DECEPTIVE SPIRIT MEDIUMS IN THAILAND'S FAITH ECONOMY: MOTIVES, METHODS, AND ETHICAL RESTORATION

บทคัดย่อ

Background and Objectives: In Thailand, spirit mediumship represents a complex interplay of cultural tradition, local religiosity, and the contemporary faith economy. Rooted in community practices rather than canonical Theravāda Buddhism, which prohibits monks from engaging in such activities, mediumship occupies a culturally significant yet doctrinally peripheral space.
While many mediums serve meaningful roles within their communities, others exploit their spiritual authority for personal gain, engaging in deceptive practices that harm individuals and erode social trust. This study aimed to investigate the motives, methods, and impacts of deceptive spirit mediums in Thailand's faith economy, and to explore how Buddhadhamma could support ethical accountability and reform. By situating deceptive practices within both cultural and doctrinal contexts, the research sought to provide insights that contribute to peacebuilding, ethical reform, and community resilience.

Methodology: A qualitative design was employed to capture the complexity of lived experiences. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 purposively selected informants from Krabi, Thailand, including victims, former followers, and reformed mediums. Data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis with thematic coding, chosen for its suitability in identifying recurring patterns, psychological drivers, and ethical dimensions within narratives.
This interpretive approach provided an in-depth understanding of deception and its broader social consequences.

Main Results: Results revealed that financial profit, social status, and power were the primary motivations for deception. Mediums used staged paranormal phenomena, fabricated messages, and ritual performances to exploit emotional vulnerabilities and consolidate authority. The consequences unfolded on three levels: 1) Economic harm, as victims faced financial exploitation; 2) Emotional harm, including trauma, disillusionment, and betrayal; and 3) Social Harm, marked by the erosion of trust and weakening of community cohesion. This hierarchy underscores the urgent and far-reaching nature of the problem.

Involvement to Buddhadhamma: This study reflected the principles of applied Buddhism within the context of globalization, integrating Buddhist ethics with contemporary concerns and demonstrating how Buddhadhamma could support ethical accountability and reform. The Brahmajāla Sutta explicitly prohibits bhikkhus from engaging in wrong livelihoods such as fortune-telling, divination, charms, spirit mediumship, and exorcism, highlighting the incompatibility of these practices with Buddhist discipline. While spirit mediumship lies outside canonical Buddhism, the ethical teachings of Buddhadhamma particularly Sīla (Ethical Conduct), Sati (Mindfulness), Karuṇā (Compassion), and karmic accountability, emerge as culturally resonant resources for reform. The study identifies both the strengths (Cultural Relevance, Moral Grounding, Community Accountability Through the Sangha) and limitations (Selective or Superficial Application of Buddhist Ethics) of relying on religious principles for reform. Integrating Buddhist ethics could enhance spiritual integrity and mitigate manipulative practices in local contexts.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that spiritual deception poses significant risks not only to individuals but also to community trust, cultural integrity, and policy credibility. This research illuminated the psychological, cultural, and structural factors that sustain such practices, highlighting the urgent need for ethical reform. A multi-pronged approach is recommended, combining regulatory oversight, public education, and the establishment of clear ethical standards for spiritual practitioners. Importantly, integrating culturally embedded ethical frameworks, particularly those rooted in Buddhadhamma, can facilitate moral transformation, strengthen community resilience, and promote sustainable, trustworthy spiritual practices. Such integration can foster moral transformation, advance peacebuilding efforts, strengthen community resilience, and promote sustainable spiritual practices. Failure to act risks entrenching exploitation and eroding the social fabric, whereas proactive reform offers the potential for transformative change guided by Buddhist ethics.