Religious Cult Or Alcohol Joint; Many People Many Voices: Thai Social Media Viral Video Shows Followers Get Drunk
July 26: Thai media visited the temple of a new religious cult in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham to interview its leader after a viral TikTok video revealed he encouraged followers to get drunk at the cult ceremony.
The cult leader, Phra Ajarn Kampee, or Rue Si Kham Phee, says the ceremony isn’t based on Buddhist principles, adding his sermons are based on the learning he’d taken from other great teachers.
The cult leader admitted the ceremony didn’t make anyone rich but encouraged people to work hard for their money.
A female TikTok user posted a video joining a ceremony with the cult in Maha Sarrakham.
The video revealed participants wearing an all-white costume with a red headband. sitting on the floor eating food and drinking alcohol. The men, dressed like priests, are seen walking around the followers encouraging them to pray and chant.
The video caption said, “Join the ceremony if you want to be rich. The ceremony will open your fate and fortune. Don’t stop drinking while you are in the ceremony. Drinking beer to get gold, drinking rice whisky to be rich. The more you are drunk, the more money you will get. #PhraAjarnKampee.”
The cult ceremony went viral on Thai social media with many netizens saying he is a fraud. Some said the followers were tricked, would lose money, and suffer from poor health due to alcohol.
Others commented on the video saying, “It’s a beer buffet place,” “I wanna go there to get drunk,” or “Is the alcohol drink included in the ceremony package?”
According to reports by local media, who visited the temple, Phra Maha Munee Khru Tham Gao Goat, in Chiang Yuen district in Maha Sarakham province. They found followers from all over the country waiting to meet the cult leader with prior reservation because the leader meets only 50 visitors daily.
