Many Monks Defrocked for Drug Abuse

[snoop1130]

 

PHETCHABUN, Nov 29 (TNA) – Many monks including all at a temple were defrocked as officials found the trace of drug abuse in their urine. An abbot escaped from the anti-narcotic operation.

 

On Nov 25, police from the Bung Sam Phan station, administrative officials, village headmen and medical workers conducted drug tests at Buddhist temples in Phetchabun’s Bung Sam Phan district. At least five monks from three temples had narcotic residue in their urine and one of them was an abbot who had been in monkhood for more than a decade.

 

Full Story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1066947

 

-- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-11-29

 

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[RichardColeman]

Personally, I think all defrocked monks should be forehead branded and disgraced monks

[HuskerDo2]

Sad. Priests of all religions were once revered. These days you see drug abuse, raping of children and so many other nasty things. How did these people end up choosing and being selected to be representatives of God. I'd love to see their conversation with God on judgment day trying to explain their actions.

 

Sorry! Do not pass GO. Proceed straight to Hell. 

[Classic Ray]

Maybe it’s time for a Royal Commission involving the Buddhist authorities into the probity and activities at temples nationwide.

 

Many Thai people are still devout Buddhists and deserve a well-regulated and trusted religious institution to reflect their devotion.

 

With the current lack of oversight and ease with which people can enter and leave the monkhood, too many opportunities exist for bad behaviour and criminal activities.

 

Too many scandals eg drunkenness, child abuse, drug abuse, financial cheating (flying saucer temple) are coming to light to allow these practices to continue.

[ronster]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

An abbot escaped from the anti-narcotic operation

In his Porsche ? 

[mrfill]

12 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

Maybe it’s time for a Royal Commission involving the Buddhist authorities into the probity and activities at temples nationwide.

 

Many Thai people are still devout Buddhists and deserve a well-regulated and trusted religious institution to reflect their devotion.

 

With the current lack of oversight and ease with which people can enter and leave the monkhood, too many opportunities exist for bad behaviour and criminal activities.

 

Too many scandals eg drunkenness, child abuse, drug abuse, financial cheating (flying saucer temple) are coming to light to allow these practices to continue.

Crikey - steady on, you're making them sound like Catholics.

[fusion58]

Apparently, these chaps didn’t get the memo: there are no shortcuts to nirvana in Theravada Buddhism. ????

[billsmart]

43 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Personally, I think all defrocked monks should be forehead branded and disgraced monks

Personally, I think all monks who were defrocked because of drug use should not have been defrocked, but offerred help to kick their drug habit by their sangha. 

[ezzra]

So temptations is stronger than religion huh? what with all the social media available nowadays to anyone, and the boredom of being a monk, no wonder monks are having second thoughts...

[Sydebolle]

Well, the men of the cloth again .......... In Thailand there is at least an alternative career afterwards by becoming a mule and find a new spot as a politician, as long as you are not getting thrown into the slammer in the Land of the Semi-Divine ???? 

[TheFishman1]

The monks in Thailand I like many things in Thailand. A lot of fake products TIT

[EVENKEEL]

This little gem made international news. Saw it on my yahoo news page.

[klauskunkel]

"Defrocked Monks" good name for a boy band...

[RobU]

30 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

This little gem made international news. Saw it on my yahoo news page.

BBC News ran it too

[keithkarmann]

The less I say about this subject the better, as I want to retain my freedom.

[SiamAndy]

Too much Yaba daba doo for those monks.

[spidermike007]

I was at a memorial service yesterday. My friend had paid the temple 20,000 baht. Plus we all contributed to the monks. The amount of money that temple alone is taking in boggles the mind. They are like a franchise. 

[steven100]

Sadly I suspect this is common practice at many hundreds of upcountry village temples as well as novice monk abuse.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, ronster said:

In his Porsche ? 

My local temple boss has a "Panther" car in his personal collection..

I kid you not.. 

[placnx]

With ubiquitous mobile phones and social media spreading delusion, it's hard for monks not to be drawn in to meritless amusement including drugs. Maybe society needs to start by reforming the schools. What is happening in the temples is a reflection of society at large.

[khaowong1]

And this brings up the question.  Is marijuana legal or illegal in Thailand?  I had the opinion it was now legal.  So why are they cracking down on users?  

[Phnom Penh Trader]

The Abbot was last seen on board a Gulfstream G800 private jet! ????

[Freddy42OZ]

On 11/30/2022 at 6:50 AM, HuskerDo2 said:

Sad. Priests of all religions were once revered. These days you see drug abuse, raping of children and so many other nasty things. How did these people end up choosing and being selected to be representatives of God. I'd love to see their conversation with God on judgment day trying to explain their actions.

 

Sorry! Do not pass GO. Proceed straight to Hell. 

They are representatives of nothing.   

There is no god, no afterlife and no great power lurking out there watching over you. 

 

[proton]

On 11/30/2022 at 7:24 AM, billsmart said:

Personally, I think all monks who were defrocked because of drug use should not have been defrocked, but offerred help to kick their drug habit by their sangha. 

what about the drunks, kiddie fiddlers and gambling addicts?

[billsmart]

44 minutes ago, proton said:

what about the drunks, kiddie fiddlers and gambling addicts?

Yes, if they are monks, their sangha should attempt to help them, not just "cast them out."

What is your opinion on this? How do you think society should deal with people who commit acts like this? ????

[bangon04]

On 11/29/2022 at 11:59 PM, ronster said:

In his Porsche ? 

private jet?

[bangon04]

On 11/30/2022 at 5:09 AM, placnx said:

With ubiquitous mobile phones and social media spreading delusion, it's hard for monks not to be drawn in to meritless amusement including drugs. Maybe society needs to start by reforming the schools. What is happening in the temples is a reflection of society at large.

is there a shop in Pantip Plaza which sells cannabis? 

[khaowong1]

7 hours ago, billsmart said:

Yes, if they are monks, their sangha should attempt to help them, not just "cast them out."

What is your opinion on this? How do you think society should deal with people who commit acts like this? ????

Drunks and Gambling addicts, yes, find some help for them.  Kiddie fiddlers, put them in jail and throw away the key. 

[jvs]

8 hours ago, billsmart said:

Yes, if they are monks, their sangha should attempt to help them, not just "cast them out."

What is your opinion on this? How do you think society should deal with people who commit acts like this? ????

It all depends,are they monks first and strayed or are they basically

criminals who hide in a temple?

 

[HuskerDo2]

15 hours ago, Freddy42OZ said:

They are representatives of nothing.   

There is no god, no afterlife and no great power lurking out there watching over you. 

 

WOW! Quite a statement. If you think Thailand is hot, wait until you deal with Hell fire.