Senior monk takes dim view of "High tech flying monk" on a hoverboard

[webfact]

Senior monk takes dim view of "High tech flying monk" on a hoverboard

 

Thai caption: High tech era monk

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported that a video clip had gone viral on the internet that featured a monk in the south of Thailand on a hoverboard or electric skateboard.

 

The "5G high tech flying monk" was kitted out in saffron robes and saffron mask. 

 

An amusing conversation in southern Thai dialect was had with the person who filmed the monk after coming across him while riding his motorcycle. It was widely shared and commented upon on social media.

 

Sanook sought to garner the opinion of a senior monk by going to speak to the abbot of Wat Suan Kaew in Nonthaburi, Phra Phayom Kanyano.

 

He took a dim view. 

 

Using high tech like this just didn't feel or look right, he intimated. It was far too "earthly" and could lead to public derision of the monkhood as something inappropriate. 

 

Specifically he said that it "lowered the value of the monkhood". 

 

If the monk really found it difficult to walk on his rounds he should adjust his behavior in a different manner rather than using a "kid's toy" like a skateboard, he said. 

 

Thaivisa notes that those who have entered the monkhood are obliged to follow 227 precepts. They are supposed to shun earthly possessions and own almost nothing except robes. 

 

The reality however is somewhat different.

 

Source: Sanook

 

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[rkidlad]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Using high tech like this just didn't feel or look right, he intimated. It was far too "earthly" and could lead to public derision of the monkhood as something inappropriate

Absolute b*****

 

I just witnessed the other day monks kowtowing to a former monk who was defrocked ‘cos he’s a career criminal. What’s your view on that, mush? 
 

 

[Misterwhisper]

6 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

Absolute b*****

 

I just witnessed the other day monks kowtowing to a former monk who was defrocked ‘cos he’s a career criminal. What’s your view on that, mush? 
 

 

Now.... who could that possibly be? 

[Misterwhisper]

As Thai Visa correctly "notes" (is this the new 'fashion word', as it seems to appear in every other article?), many males who are "obliged" to enter the monkhood (usually for 3 months) because it is "customary" find it rather difficult, if not impossible, to let go for any amount of time of things they've become accustomed to, may it be alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex, mobile phones or electronic gadgets. Such is the nature of human beings.

 

And I don't blame them, really. My guess is that a majority of them wouldn't enter the monkhood at all if they had their choice. They are only doing it because of family and society pressure, and because it's something that's "expected" from them.

 

Just imagine it would be customary in Christian societies that all males would have to spend a relatively short while in a monastery. How many of them would give up smoking, drinking, social media surfing, driving their cars, or being celibate? Very few.

 

I, for one, am stubbornly resisting to offer a "wai" to any Buddhist monks, let alone kowtowing before them in worship.

 

> Firstly, I have no way of knowing if an actual criminal or crook is hiding behind the yellow robe.

> Secondly, if they are only "temporary" and simply follow tradition, I find nothing "holy" about them.

> Thirdly, if they are "full-time" monks, chances are rather high that they are even less disciplined than the "temporaries". Look at all those abbots being ferried around in luxury limousines.

 

Having said that, I also would not humiliate myself by kissing the hand of a Catholic priest, crouch before a Hindu "saddhu", or touch the feet of a Muslim imam with my forehead. Religion is the biggest scam ever invented by mankind, no matter which confession it may be. Period. 

  

[djayz]

What's the problem? Better that than abusing young kids. 

[CorpusChristie]

8 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

As Thai Visa correctly "notes" (is this the new 'fashion word', as it seems to appear in every other article?), many males who are "obliged" to enter the monkhood (usually for 3 months) because it is "customary" find it rather difficult, if not impossible, to let go for any amount of time of things they've become accustomed to, may it be alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex, mobile phones or electronic gadgets. Such is the nature of human beings.

 

And I don't blame them, really. My guess is that a majority of them wouldn't enter the monkhood at all if they had their choice. They are only doing it because of family and society pressure, and because it's something that's "expected" from them.

 

Just imagine it would be customary in Christian societies that all males would have to spend a relatively short while in a monastery. How many of them would give up smoking, drinking, social media surfing, driving their cars, or being celibate? Very few.

 

I, for one, am stubbornly resisting to offer a "wai" to any Buddhist monks, let alone kowtowing before them in worship.

 

> Firstly, I have no way of knowing if an actual criminal or crook is hiding behind the yellow robe.

> Secondly, if they are only "temporary" and simply follow tradition, I find nothing "holy" about them.

> Thirdly, if they are "full-time" monks, chances are rather high that they are even less disciplined than the "temporaries". Look at all those abbots being ferried around in luxury limousines.

 

Having said that, I also would not humiliate myself by kissing the hand of a Catholic priest, crouch before a Hindu "saddhu", or touch the feet of a Muslim imam with my forehead. Religion is the biggest scam ever invented by mankind, no matter which confession it may be. Period. 

  

 

   You will now be going to hell in three different Religions ????

[colinneil]

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

Specifically he said that it "lowered the value of the monkhood". 

Monks abusing kids, monks flying in private planes, monks scamming people, monks doing/ dealing drugs, now that is lowering the value, if anything is, what that monk is doing is perfectly harmless.

[simon43]

What on earth has it got to do with 5G???

[sweatalot]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thaivisa notes that those who have entered the monkhood are obliged to follow 227 precepts. They are supposed to shun earthly possessions and own almost nothing except robes. 

 

The reality however is somewhat different.

 

exactly that's the problem. Those who don't follow the precepts are not real monks and they should be denied the robe.

[ThailandRyan]

So all of those Monks I have observed driving Mercedes and BMW cars are what, driving a donated vehicle.  How is that shunning all earthly possessions. The same as those with the new I-Phones and tablets.  Kind of hypocritical of the Buddhist tenants wouldn't you say.

[bodga]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Specifically he said that it "lowered the value of the monkhood"

Huh I doubt they could  get any lower,  in the gutter and heading for the sewers the whole  lot of them

[holy cow cm]

Yes and they should not have mobile phones as well. Hypocritical they all are. 

[TooBigToFit]

Many monks live better than most people; they certainly seem to have more gadgets and travel more than me. but what's new. This is Thai Buddhism which is 'Thai Thai' or Thai-style. It's not strict and doesn't follow the original teachings of the Buddha. That's just fact. And most monks don't understand simple morality. People are victimized in many ways all across the nation by evil people and corrupt practices and monks don't blink and eye. Every week a monk or two is caught in crime as well. Then of course the monks actually are put or put themselves lower than Thailand's gods and super rich. So, is there really much true Buddhism in what is happening here.  Thailand is more like a playground for Buddhist beginners. There's lots of play acting going on but very very few people who truly can separate Thai culture and all its silliness and even evils from Buddhism. Well, whatever. If there is any Buddhist reading this, have no fear for these people if you believe, they're wasting this life but of course, they will be reborn and maybe one day figure out what a joke their past has been. The best thing a true devout Buddhist could do to help these lost souls would be to wake them up from their ignorance, idiocy and apathy towards evil doers exploiting Buddhism.

[Grumpy one]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Monks abusing kids, monks flying in private planes, monks scamming people, monks doing/ dealing drugs, now that is lowering the value, if anything is, what that monk is doing is perfectly harmless.

Maybe the head monk wants one also.

To stop any fighting they should all be give one but in a colour to match their robes

Think of the possibilities, Grand Prix Monk racing

[Grumpy John]

Around here you see them smoking, riding 3 wheel motorcycles, driving cars, using mobile phones...

 

But what rings my bell is the wife knows all this and still jumps through all the Buddhist hoops.  I am an athiest and find all religion to be a load of BS but I don't say anything simply to preserve the peace and harmony I enjoy.  

[Grumpy John]

2 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

Maybe the head monk wants one also.

To stop any fighting they should all be give one but in a colour to match their robes

Think of the possibilities, Grand Prix Monk racing

I like that!  Thinking outside the alms box.  Bit like my Monkees theme song which I reworded to Monks...and I remember well the look on my wifes face when I was singing it.  Stare of daggers!  Needless to say I burned that page I wrote it on and never sang that song again!

[Grumpy one]

3 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

I like that!  Thinking outside the alms box.  Bit like my Monkees theme song which I reworded to Monks...and I remember well the look on my wifes face when I was singing it.  Stare of daggers!  Needless to say I burned that page I wrote it on and never sang that song again!

Try the Muppets theme instead of Monks chanting, its a top 40 hit in our house

Thats about how many she gets in before I retreat behind a closed door  

[RichardColeman]

33 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

Around here you see them smoking, riding 3 wheel motorcycles, driving cars, using mobile phones...

Yes, did surprise me first time.

[Burma Bill]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The "5G high tech flying monk" was kitted out in saffron robes and saffron mask. 

Good for him - enjoy life as others appear to do so:-

 

[herfiehandbag]

5 hours ago, Grumpy John said:

I am an athiest and find all religion to be a load of BS but I don't say anything simply to preserve the peace and harmony I enjoy.  

Peace and harmony is quite a Buddhist concept isn't it...

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Senior monk takes dim view of "High tech flying monk" on a hoverboard

You're not a real monk unless you got a "Panther"

[Freigeist365]

9 hours ago, djayz said:

What's the problem? Better that than abusing young kids. 

Rrrrriiight! Looking at the color scheme of the board I wonder which poor kid he stole it from... ????

[BangkokReady]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

He took a dim view. 

As he should.  What's the point in becoming a monk if you ignore the key values?

 

They shouldn't be smoking, drinking, having sex, using electronics for pleasure, none of it.  Otherwise they are shameless hypocrites and should not be in any position to preach to anyone or accept alms.

[katana]

Looks like fun.