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Monk Defrocked After Robbing Phuket 'money Tree'


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Monk defrocked after robbing Phuket ‘money tree’

Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: A monk chose to be defrocked at the main temple in Phuket Town, Wat Wichit Sangkharam this afternoon after being caught stealing a temple donations “money tree” and running off with 1,000 baht in cash.

Wichit Police were alerted to the theft at 11:30am after local residents near Wat Nakaram (map here) reported a monk absconding with a merit-making “tree” from a local mom-and-pop store.

“The monk went into the store and asked to use the restroom. When he came out he grabbed the money tree and bolted out of the shop,” Sub Lt Sakorn Naklert explained.

“We searched the immediate area and found the bucket the money tree had been in, but none of donation envelopes were found,” he said.

However, while police continued their search for the monk, a group of local villagers caught the 56-year-old in the act of discarding the money tree, now stripped of its cash-filled envelopes.

“After searching his few possessions, we found that the monk was named in his identification book as Phra Boonmee Pasanajitto. He was ordained as a monk at Wat Potan in Chaiyaphum province in 1999. Before he entered the monkhood, his name was Boonmee Wichaisuek,” Sub Lt Sakorn said.

“We also found eight empty donation envelopes and 1,000 baht cash in his bag,” he added.

As Mr Boonmee denied to police that he stole the tree, the officers took him to Wat Wichit Sankharam, where senior monks deliberated whether or not Phra Boonmee should be disrobed for his conduct.

“At first he denied the allegations. However, he eventually agreed to leave the monkhood as the people who caught him said they would not let him go until he was no longer a monk,” Sub Lt Sakorn said.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...tree-19963.html

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-- Phuket Gazette 2013-01-15

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Get rid of buddha and start to worship the baht.

Majority of society do anyway.

Surely it's all about "Lucky"

True, lucky includes money but it is a much wider point of view.

Lucky to have good health.

Lucky to overcome difficulties quickly and easily.

Lucky in love.

Of course lucky for money.

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anybody can become a monk and fugitives and criminals are the best customers if they want to disappear... but a thief remains a thief...

This is not exactly true. Before you can become a monk, you are scrutinized by both the Abbot and the lay people who take responsibility for the temple. At my temple, Wat Kao Lang, in Khok Samrong, Lopburi, many people are turned away by my Abbot. And yes, some are in it for the money, prestige, lazy, etc and etc. But not all. If you have a doubt if a monk walking bindabot, alms rounds, is a monk, ask the Thai people, they know the difference. Real monks never ask for money.. That is completely agains't our rules. And we dam_n sure don't steal from the money tree.

Again, for all you farangs out there. If you have a doubt about whether a person in a orange robe is a real monk, ask the Thai people around you. They know all the real monks for sure. There are four things that will get you kicked out of the monkhood. 1. Killing, not necessarily mosquito's, but most animals including snakes, mice, rats, etc. 2. Stealing, 3. Having sex, with male or female, 4. Pretending you have supernatuaral powers.

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