Report Sex Scandal Shakes Thai Buddhism: Monks Defrocked Amid Allegations

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Thai PBS World

 

Thai Buddhism is facing a storm of controversy as a scandal involving senior monks erupts. A woman, known only as Golf, revealed affairs with eight monks, including the abbot of the celebrated Wat Phra Phutthachai. This revelation has led to the defrocking of senior monks, shaking public faith in the revered institution.

 

The scandal follows closely on the heels of another involving Phra Dharma Wachiranuwat, former abbot of Wat Rai Khing, who was defrocked for allegedly diverting temple funds to sustain a clandestine relationship.

 

Such incidents cast a shadow over Theravada Buddhism, where the vow of celibacy is central to the monastic life but often breached.

 

Historical parallels are many, with accounts of monk misdemeanours dating back to 1685, which once prompted royal intervention to maintain monastic purity.

 

King Mongkut (Rama IV), after hearing of similar scandals, took measures to reinforce monastic discipline. He encouraged the public to report transgressions, reflecting a longstanding struggle to maintain the integrity of the monkhood. These incidents have often led to widespread public and governmental action to protect the institution's sanctity.

 

Booncherd Kittitarangkoon, deputy director of Thailand's National Office of Buddhism, has issued warnings to monks about the risks posed by seemingly innocent interactions with women.

 

He advises vigilance against women who may approach monks under the guise of offering alms or spiritual appreciation, which can quickly turn into inappropriate relationships if boundaries are crossed.

 

Booncherd emphasises that these interactions can begin with innocuous discussions on religious topics but may escalate to more personal, and potentially compromising, exchanges.

 

He urges monks to remain cautious and to adhere strictly to Buddha’s teachings, which counsel against unnecessary interactions with women to preserve the monks' spiritual commitments.

 

In response to these scandals, Thai authorities and Buddhist leaders are called to reinforce the ethical codes within the monkhood to prevent future violations. The incidents highlight the need for ongoing vigilance and education to safeguard the integrity of the Sangha and restore public confidence.

 

As the Thai Sangha confronts these challenges, the focus remains on upholding the traditions that form the foundation of Theravada Buddhism, ensuring that both monks and laypeople maintain the values that promote spiritual enlightenment and moral integrity.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS World 2025-07-14

 

 

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

A woman, known only as Golf, revealed affairs with eight monks

So Golf's "body count" is at least 8 that we are aware of. 

 

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Historical parallels are many, with accounts of monk misdemeanours dating back to 1685

 

That's because it's not natural to try to go through life abstaining completely from sex.

Time for the fake facade to come down once and for all and stop expecting human beings to be saints. 

 

[Hawaiian]

16 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

That's because it's not natural to try to go through life abstaining completely from sex.

Time for the fake facade to come down once and for all and stop expecting human beings to be saints. 

 

Agree.  This is what happens when religious doctrine conflicts with natural instincts.

[Gsxrnz]

Golf probably has Hierophilia, although I think the term really means a man's fetish regarding Nuns.  Either that or a fetish for bald blokes in orange garb.

 

Actually now I think about it, (nuns, that is), I have some empathy for golf. 

[daveAustin]

36 minutes ago, webfact said:

As the Thai Sangha confronts these challenges, the focus remains on upholding the traditions that form the foundation of Theravada Buddhism, ensuring that both monks and laypeople maintain the values that promote spiritual enlightenment and moral integrity.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS World 2025-07-14

 

 

To become enlightened does not preclude abstaining from sexual interaction. In fact, copulation to orgasm between lovers is one of the portals to being present. The universe built us this way, but some people made up rules ‘because they know better’. Monks giving it up all might think it commendable, but they are foregoing a big part of living to try to attain something that can be achieved without being a dry hermit. To the op, it’s hypocritical, but I don’t blame them. 

[blaze master]

My abstaining from sex is not solely by my own choice.

[wozzlegummich]

It's against a basic human instinct to remain celibate. Abstaining from sex never works out well. Just look at the Roman Catholic Church and the havoc its priests have wreaked on children.

 

Spiritual enlightenment and moral integrity can still be maintained even with a healthy sex life. I proffer myself as a shining example. 🤣🙃🤪😜

[wozzlegummich]

Sorry, I had too...

So that means GOLF is a SWINGER?

[novacova]

The monks are further being liberated, cell phones, smoking, drinking, driving vehicles and now this. What’s next? The revelation of kratoy monks, women monks or dope smoking party monks?

[thesetat]

19 minutes ago, blaze master said:

My abstaining from sex is not solely by my own choice.

we know.... it is because no woman wants you.. 

 

10 minutes ago, wozzlegummich said:

Sorry, I had too...

So that means GOLF is a SWINGER?

Golf is not a swinger. She coerces these men to having sex then uses it to get money.. I do not understand why she has not been arrested for it yet. As for the Monks. Their whole religion in Thailand is made up based on true Buddhism. They should just change their laws to allow sex since so many of them have affairs with other men and women. Include drug use along with it. 

[JAG]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Booncherd Kittitarangkoon, deputy director of Thailand's National Office of Buddhism, has issued warnings to monks about the risks posed by seemingly innocent interactions with women.

 

He advises vigilance against women who may approach monks under the guise of offering alms or spiritual appreciation, which can quickly turn into inappropriate relationships if boundaries are crossed.

 

Booncherd emphasises that these interactions can begin with innocuous discussions on religious topics but may escalate to more personal, and potentially compromising, exchanges.

 

He urges monks to remain cautious and to adhere strictly to Buddha’s teachings, which counsel against unnecessary interactions with women to preserve the monks' spiritual commitments.

So the advice is clear - steer clear of the LJs ( lumpy jumpers)!

 

Nothing to do with monks thinking with their willies!

[dinsdale]

30 minutes ago, thesetat said:

She coerces these men to having sex then uses it to get money

[quake]

More Monks.

Up to monkey business.

What's new, nothing.

Carry on Thailand. 

[connda]

It happens more often that publicized. Monks disrobe and disappear.

[blaze master]

35 minutes ago, thesetat said:

57 minutes ago, blaze master said:

My abstaining from sex is not solely by my own choice.

we know.... it is because no woman wants you

 

Nothing gets past you. 

[Bday Prang]

4 minutes ago, quake said:

More Monks.

Up to monkey business.

What's new, nothing.

Carry on Thailand. 

indeed,  The OP headline should have started with "yet another"

[JimHuaHin]

"As the Thai Sangha confronts these challenges, the focus remains on upholding the traditions that form the foundation of Theravada Buddhism, ensuring that both monks and laypeople maintain the values that promote spiritual enlightenment and moral integrity."

 

Like with many of the world's religions, Thai Buddhism is not representing the teachings and practices of their supreme deity.

 

I was born a Roman Catholic, attended Roman Catholic schools, attended weekly mass while in school, and even won my high school's religion prize in the final year of high school.  I my final 2 years of high school I learnt that some of my classmates had been sexually abused by the school's priest and some of the Christian Brothers, while a few of the Christian brothers were alcoholics (as was my father)).

 

After finishing high school I "left" the Church, disillusioned with the contradictions between the teachings of the Church and the behaviour of its "ministers" (priests, Christian brothers and nuns) and so called-Roman Catholics.  Many Roman Catholics, I concluded, were non Christians.  I can say the same about Thia Buddhists.  Apart from the scandals we have recently seen in the Thai press (which have been going on for many decades), I have heard stories from Thai friends of Thai marfia bosses killing people, and then going to Buddhist wats to make a sizeable donation to help "counter" their sins.

 

Many many Thai Buddhists are not Buddhists.  That is the reality.  The institution is morally corrupt.

 

[FlorC]

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

That's because it's not natural to try to go through life abstaining completely from sex.

Time for the fake facade to come down once and for all and stop expecting human beings to be saints. 

 

They could stick to jerking off,

or doesn't Buddhism allow that ?

 

[Will B Good]

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

So Golf's "body count" is at least 8 that we are aware of. 

 

 

I wonder if the mod's can tell us if he voted?

[Will B Good]

Why should monks be celibate?

 

I always understood the Catholic church imposed celibacy as a way to avoid any additional costs of priests having wives, but monks? 

[Cameroni]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

A woman, known only as Golf, revealed affairs with eight monks

 

This is why Buddha resisted and opposed the ordination of women. However, he was nagged, implored and harrased by....a woman, his foster mother Mahapajapati Gotami to allow women to be ordained, and eventually the Buddha relented and allowed it. The Buddha's Beta male attendant, Ananda also concurred with the ordination of women and advised Buddha to change his stance.

 

The Buddha relented and allowed the ordination, however, only after imposing 8 additional conditions on women who become ordained, the  Eight Garudhammas. These stipulated that the Budhist nuns, even the senior ones, had to accept their inferiority to male monks. In addition he required the women be segregated from the men. 

 

One of the Eight Garudhammas also sought to protect Buddhist monks from the abuse of female nuns. He also forbade nuns to admonish male monks.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Garudhammas

 

The Buddha was wise indeed. However, he should have kept steadfast and refused women to come anywhere near the male monks, the fact that he relented after being confronted by his aunt and foster mother, who led a delegation of women to request of the Buddha that he allow ordination of women, shows, that the Buddha was too soft. He understood the dangers women would represent for the order, he stipulated they be segregated, and accept an inferior status, but sadly he could not protect monks from the evil designs of women.

 

The lesson is not to be swayed by women, not to be too soft on women. They will always destroy all that is noble and worthy with their evil nature. The Buddha understood this. His attempt at segregating them failed. Even in their isolation Thai Buddhist nuns today work as an evil force in society promoting feminism, which ultimately destroys all societies. This will happen in Thailand too, and in fact is already happening, thanks to the evil seed of feminism planted by Thai Buddhist nuns. The irony is that they use the prestige of Buddhism to further the feminist cause, when the Buddha himself would have been strongly opposed to feminism. The irony.

 

 

[ezzra]

Must have been the urge to get that 'hole in one' in that "golf" course.

[Cameroni]

47 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Why should monks be celibate?

 

Well, in a religion that has as one of its truths that desire and attachment represent obstacles to enlightenment, do you think sexual relations and attachment to a woman would help or hinder Buddhist monks on their path to elightenment?

 

If detachment is a goal, the attachment to a woman and to sex, would surely be a hindrance?

[actonion]

Monks  are as bent as most of the others .........Smoking, Drinking,  owning  a Red plated BMW...seen in Civvies sitting in  restaurant in Walking st

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

shaking public faith in the revered institution.

That train left the station 2015

[Cameroni]

The CIB investigation later found that at least 10 senior monks had been involved with Golf, and many left monkhood after Arj’s scandal made headlines.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40052403

 

Looks like Golf got her claws into more than 8 men.

[Will B Good]

Just now, Cameroni said:

The CIB investigation later found that at least 10 senior monks had been involved with Golf, and many left monkhood after Arj’s scandal made headlines.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40052403

 

Looks like Golf got her claws into more than 8 men.

 

Would have made a better story if she'd made the full 18.

[Cameroni]

5 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Would have made a better story if she'd made the full 18.

 

Looks like she did, she says she also extorted wealthy men and politicians. Not just monks.

 

If this is a picture of her, she's a rather fat unattractive woman, who used completely false Facebook pics.

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-woman-admits-having-relationship-and-children-with-monks

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Looks like she did, she says she also extorted wealthy men and politicians. Not just monks.

 

If this is a picture of her, she's a rather fat unattractive woman, who used completely false Facebook pics.

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-woman-admits-having-relationship-and-children-with-monks

 

Looks like she is full of something......🤢