Defrocked monk said he liked a little drink - but not often

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Residents of a village in Chaiyaphum got fed up with a monk at their temple who used to deliver his sermons having taken to the bottle. 

 

The police and Sangha authorities were called in and Phra Somboon Kitisaro admitted he liked a drink. 

 

But he said that he didn't drink often. 

 

And he hoped that when it had all blown over he could reordain and take up the holy cloth once more.

 

In the meantime he was going back to his job in construction, a trade he knew well.

 

Police took him away to clear his possessions at the temple in Nong Na Saeng sub-district.

 

He has been removed from the monkhood. 

 

Source: Sanook

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-09-25

I would have respect for the monks if there were some basic standards that these people  had to follow before they could be ordained. For example;

- Not subject to prosecution for an alleged crime

- Not convicted of rape, violence, human smuggling, cruelty or narcotics offense

- Not dependent upon illegally obtained drugs, or alcohol

- Having successfully completed a program of study such that  upon graduation the person was knowledgeable about the religion of which he is a practicing monk

- Uphold the vows of poverty, abstinence and the moral code sworn to.

 

This fellow's drinking was no secret at his temple. It took the long suffering villagers to file an official police complaint to force the temple to  take action. The temple should have intervened long before that, if they took their duties seriously .

They nearly all like a wee tipple & nothing wrong with that,,,, AFTER THE SERMON though

11 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

I would have respect for the monks if there were some basic standards that these people  had to follow before they could be ordained. For example;

- Not subject to prosecution for an alleged crime

- Not convicted of rape, violence, human smuggling, cruelty or narcotics offense

- Not dependent upon illegally obtained drugs, or alcohol

- Having successfully completed a program of study such that  upon graduation the person was knowledgeable about the religion of which he is a practicing monk

- Uphold the vows of poverty, abstinence and the moral code sworn to.

 

This fellow's drinking was no secret at his temple. It took the long suffering villagers to file an official police complaint to force the temple to  take action. The temple should have intervened long before that, if they took their duties seriously .

I lived in a country temple in Lopburi province for 7 years.  I've seen my share of monks living out there in the country who always seemed drunk.  As we all know who've spent some amount of time in Thailand, alcoholism is well spread.  10 baht at the local shop will get you a shot of rice whiskey.  I'm only surprised not more monks are not de-frocked for drinking.