bankei

he does not live by sanskrit,

How does someone live by sanskrit?

Sanskrit is a language - and not even the language of the Theravada sect to which that monk supposedly belongs - this is Pali.

Sanskrit is a dialect of Pali, or did you not know? And Pali is a language too, but other dialect.

50 % scriptures was written in Pali and 50% in sanskrit.

You don't live with you're language or words? Strange man.

Sunisa.

Sunisa,

You should try studying some Buddhism some time - some historical and linguistic aspects. Pali and Sanskrit are related languages but are different - more than dialects.

There are scriptures written in Sanskrit, but the Buddhists in Thailand only accept the Pali scriptures as authoritative. As far as I know there are no Buddhists in Thailand who rely on the Sanskrit scriptures - little has been preserved in Sanskrit anyway,

You also implied above that Buddhists believe in god - and I am sure many Thai Buddhists actually do, but is there any reason to associate this with Buddhism? Is the Buddha some sort of god to you?

Bankei

he does not live by sanskrit,

How does someone live by sanskrit?

Sanskrit is a language - and not even the language of the Theravada sect to which that monk supposedly belongs - this is Pali.

Archaeologists Discover Lost City In Cambodian Jungle

by Scott Neuman,

June 14, 2013 5:37 PM

Australian archaeologists using remote-sensing technology have uncovered an ancient city in Cambodia that has remained hidden for more than a millennium under dense jungle undergrowth.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/14/191727408/archaeologists-discover-lost-city-in-cambodian-jungle

Nice 10min video on the link above.

Bankei

This was not just any ordinary monk; Phra Mitsuo had, in fact, reached one if the highest levels of Nirvana; which would immediately dismiss phenomena such as 'being homesick', or 'wanting to take care of his ageing parents'.

I seriously doubt that. I met him once and he was extremely rude to me. maybe he became "enlightened" after that.

Bankei

There is a current trend throughout thailand to reduce smoking in public areas. Temples have often taken up this and along with encouraging people to give up booze. Some make it a no smoking zone so perhaps a monk might be surreptitious about a quick drag.

It is not considered to break the fifth precept as it is not intoxicating leading to loss of control or mindfulness. It is an addiction ,however, and any good Buddhist should be trying to reduce attachments, especially to sensual pleasures, and since smoking is wasteful and harmful....

Many old monks still chew betel as older people still do...again....a habit... but not a sin...since it harms only the user.

Fred... I just am passing by and saw your comment. Just want to let you know that smoking is breaking the precept#3.

<deleted>?

Abramachariya veramani sikkhampadam samadiyami?

"Abrahmachariya" means refraining from sex!

I was a Monk 2 times.

I find this hard to believe.

What a strange question! "westerners" have strange ideas about Buddhism.

Bankei

maybe true but lets not forget buddhism isnt a religon,,,,

Why are there so many temples? And priests?

What a strange question! "westerners" have strange ideas about Buddhism.

Bankei

Great article.

Look at the pics in the link in the first post. There is the obligatory pointing photo. There is a naked guy dead on the bed and someone has to stand there pointing at him for the camera.

Buddhism has some of the same characteristics as the classic cults. See a well written academic paper by Dr Peter Masefield on the Muni and the Moonies.

Bankei

http://www.iwmcf.org/IWMC.html

Women are not normally ordained in Thailand with saffron robes, but in China or Vietnam they are.

Some now practice in Thailand. I don't know why it causes such a stir.

I believe they wear brown robes in Sri Lanka.

Graham

Bhikkhuni are not normally ordained in Thailand at all. I haven't heard of any reports of higher ordination, but there have been a few women ordained as Sameneri or novices.

The white robed woman 'ordained' in Thailand as Mae Chi are not really ordained according to any vinaya proceedure. They are just laywoman following, selectively, 5 to 10 precepts.

Most, if not all, of the Bhikkhini in Thailand trace their lineage from Sri Lanaka. There is the Dhammananda group and there are other groups independant as well.

Bankei

My take,

Generally robe colours will vary from temple to temple. There is no sectuarian differences between Mahanikaya monks and Dhammayut, but in general a Dhammayut would wear the darker colours. So called forest monks generally wear darker colours. The bright orange is usually worn by a city based Mahanikaya monk. Brown robes often worn by northern and maybe north eastern monks. Reddish is Burmese or monks with Burmese influences.

Monks will also change their robes based on wear they stay. ie move temple and they will change colour. There are also various Mahayana monks/nuns in Thailand and these people wear different style of robes, usually, with different colours such as grey.

Hooledondhamma. I think you have misinformation above because you seen to confuse Dhammayut with Theravada. There are two groups of monks in thailand, one called Dhammayut/Thammayut and the other Mahanikaya/Mahanikay. Both belong to the Theravada philosophical school and the Theravada ordination lineage.

Bankei

The are real Bhikkhuni not monks. I should say they are just as real as the Thai monks.

This one is one of a secular sick brain who has no feeling about religion ....

Buddhism cannot strictly be called a religion because it is not a system of faith and worship nor the outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a God or gods having power over their own destiny to whom obedience, service, and honor are due.

Sounds like you have never been to a Thai temple...

This is an Australian thing. Australians are indoctrinated from an early age about Australia being the 'lucky country' and how lucky we are etc. The newspapers frequently show evidence of mass groups of foreigners doing anything to get into Australia - boat people risking their lives to sneak in. Kiwis coming over to live on unemployment benefits etc. This is reflected in immigration policies making it diffucult for Thais to get visas because they won't want to live and will stay here illegally if they get in. etc

Same thing happens in other countries. Look at how Thais are indoctrinated etc.

Incense isn't a BUddhist practice, it is just a practice that Buddhists do.

It's nothing about sexism. It's about the precepts they holding. Buddhist monks have to hold 227 precepts while nuns take only 8 and the novices take 10. Even thai guys have to kneel down to offer things to monks and little novices. Furthermore, Thai guys have to kneel down to offer things to nun as well.

If women don't want to do kitchen job for monk, they have to be Bhikkhuni holding 311 precepts instead of a nun. I had been nun for 2 months and I had to buy things, accepted money from locals because the respected Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni are not allowed to touch money or to cook.

Don't prejudge others by your standards please. If you don't know anything, find it. There are plenty of information from internet.

Isn't one of the precepts for nuns, Mae Chi, to refrain from handling money?

Bankei

I'm a little surprised there's been no reference to precepts in the previous comments. Monks follow 227 precepts in Thailand, and nuns 8 (or, occasionally, 10). It's the number of precepts that gives the status, not the gender.

I disagree with this. Bhikkhuni follow many more than 227 precepts but still subordinate to monks. This is in the Pali scriptures - if a nun ordained for 99 years she would still be junior to a 20 year old monk ordained for 1 min.

Bankei

When I see monks eating in restaurants ( price per meal 300 - 500 person ) are these real monks or fake monks

Could be real monks (as in properly ordained) that are not following the teachings. I have never seen a monk in a restaurant though.

Shouldn't be a problem at the Thai end, but what about when going back to Sri Lanka. You will belong to a different Nikaya. This may lead to exclusions when doing sanghakamma - you might not be allowed into the sima for Patimokha for example.

All of Sri Lankan Nikaya dervived from Thai or Burma, (3 of them) but they have since split into many sub-nikaya. The Siyam nikaya for example derived from the Mahanikaya of Thailand, but this split into 2 over a dispute over a water sima. Each of these has split many times. So if you ordained in Mahanikaya in Thailand would you be accepted in all the subnikaya? Possibly in some but maybe not in others.

The other two are the Amarapura Nikaya and this has many subgroups and the Rammaya nikaya which, I think, hasn't split, so no subgroups. With these you may be better to ordain in the Dhammayut Nikaya in Thailand as this derives from Burma. But I have heard that some groups do not accept the ordination of Dhammayut being valid anymore because the group is no longer so strict in Thailand and there have been many scandals.

Please let us know how you go.

Bankei

Hara means stomach, kiri means cut.

Bankei