Thailand's Dhammakaya Temple Under Scrutiny (youtube.com)
Isn't Buddhism supposed to be about renouncing worldly things, especially like ostentation. This is quite the jem of architecture.
The power of the temple (it's leading monks) is the biggest threat to the military since the coup. There are a lot of followers. When the government sees that, they would like to control it. Also it is seen as a sign of the changed brought to Asia by the economic boom. The temple is designed (?) to connect with the middle class, unorthodox techniques and practices. The military says the temple has ties to ousted former PM Shinawat.
Emphasis on making large donations, which it says is a way to make merit. 'How much merit you want to accumulate is up to you.'
The government has tried to remove the abbott. They want to replace him. Reported.