Paivan Vannabutr: Thailand’s celebrity monk relinquishes his robes to rub shoulders with the stars

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

Paivan Vannabutr, who was once known as Phra Maha Paivan, looks set to become the first former Thai monk to become even more famous after giving up his saffron robes.

 

Just a few days after becoming a layman, he was hired to endorse at least one product online.

 

On December 4, his Facebook following soared above 3.2 million – a big jump from the 2.6 million followers he had one day earlier when he gave up his robes.

 

Quick-witted, sharp-tongued, knowledgeable and humorous, this 30-year-old has what it takes to fly high in the secular world.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/paivan-vannabutr-thailands-celebrity-monk-relinquishes-his-robes-to-rub-shoulders-with-the-stars/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-12-07

 

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[ThailandRyan]

He has all the qualities needed to be a funny man, too bad the Buddhist community can not take a joke yet they enjoy playing with money, buying expensive phones and so on, double standards abound.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Quick-witted, sharp-tongued, knowledgeable and humorous, this 30-year-old has what it takes to fly high in the secular world.

From a robes to riches story.

[Denim]

Ah .....a ' from robes to riches ' story.

 

He saw the light.

[mikebell]

Does this mean RTP can arrest him now for uttering truths?

[Adumbration]

Interesting concept that one can just dip in and out of being holy.

[kg1947]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Does this mean RTP can arrest him now for uttering truths?

he's now just a " common person " without any backing except his knowledge of religion & social issues affecting the masses ....

he should carry a strong amulet and invoke a " CURSE " to anyone who intend to harm him .... and explain this to his followers ....

Edited December 8, 2021 by kg1947
spacing

[Burma Bill]

I like his tee-shirt - three wise cats!!

I bet he is the cat's whiskers!!

[Orinoco]

4 hours ago, Adumbration said:

Interesting concept that one can just dip in and out of being holy.

We all call it two faced.

 

[arithai12]

I used to like Buddhism. Then I moved to Thailand.

Edited December 8, 2021 by arithai12

[zzaa09]

21 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

He has all the qualities needed to be a funny man, too bad the Buddhist community can not take a joke yet they enjoy playing with money, buying expensive phones and so on, double standards abound.

Appears to be more popular now than of the past - see 'im everywhere. Every conceivable type of avenue.....news, cultural, societal programming and assorted venues are for the taking. Good for him.....

[khaowong1]

Good for him.  But I'm afraid his star will dim out pretty soon.  If he can keep his quips and humor current, he might do alright for a while.