Monks can consume ice cream after lunch time, Thailand's Buddhism Office says

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Monks can consume ice cream after lunch time, Buddhism Office says



BANGKOK: -- The National Office of Buddhism says ice cream is not "Pana" or fruit juice and that it can be consumed by monks but with conscience.

Clarification from the office came after “ice cream” went viral on the social media when a Facebook user invite Buddhists to offer ice cream as alms to Dhamakaya temple in merit-makings.

But question was raised if ice cream is Pana water which monks can consume or not after lunch time.

However director of the Buddhism Education Division of the National Office of Buddhism Mr Boonlert Sopha explained that ice cream is not Pana water, therefore monks can consume as normal and does not violate Buddhism principles.

However he advised that monks should consume ice cream in a controlled manner or with conscience.

Yesterday ice cream maker Unilever came out to defend itself saying it had nothing to do with the post on Facebook offering ice cream as alms to Dhammakaya temple monks.

The Facebook poster suggests estimating the price of ice cream to offer as alms in cash and offer them as donation to the the temple instead.

The poster said his “ice cream” alms is just his idea of making donation to the temple and he then suggested to others on Facebook, wasn’t aware of triggering a public outcry.

A mass communications academic Prof Parichart Stapitanond said any price assessment of alms for donation is tantamount to put commercial purpose in Buddhism.

This could have direct impact on the particular product or increase interest in it, she said.

As the temple has been a focus of criticism from the public, such invitation to offer ice cream as alms could negatively affect the temple, she added.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/149313


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-03

[DM07]

No bigger problems?

Seriously?

[Hawk]

Who made all these silly rules? Humans of course.

[ivan96822]

Wow! They're really living it up now! I suppose this will make more people eager to live their barren, selfless, boring lifestyles...

[roo860]

Can they have an ice lolly instead?

Edited February 3, 2016 by roo860

[jaywalker]

This concerns me.

Ice cream could be a gateway vice that leads to wearing high heels.

[DrTuner]

Do they mean the strawberry or chocolate flavor? What about sorbet? Gotta be careful or you'll miss your train to nirvana.

[CoreanoOzzie]

They deserve some basic pleasures in life.

[Reigntax]

Another major reform issue solved.

[colinneil]

They can consume ice cream, but not whilst trying on ladies shoes, or using an i-phone.

[stickylies]

Who made all these silly rules? Humans of course.

Male humans to be precisely...

[DrTuner]

They deserve some basic pleasures in life.

Yeah, sex, drugs and rock'n'roll.

[attrayant]

I always eat my ice cream with conscience. Usually hot butterscotch conscience.

[bluebluewater]

But they must wait on the good scotch until happy hour

[Robbie Dye]

They can eat it behind Walls!

[SOTIRIOS]

....ice cream.....1500 baht........???

....Unilever........detergent........???

[bkktrapper]

They smoke cigarettes , watch porn, play with phone all day .

Ice cream, hookers ,beer and meth is next?

[stoneyboy]

I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream.

Even monks.

Edited February 3, 2016 by stoneyboy

[jacky54]

while shopping for the latest smartphone or laptop, monking ain't what it used to be

[MaeJoMTB]

Can they have an ice lolly instead?

Only after lunch if it's fruit flavour.

[chickenslegs]

Dammit! Longer queues at Swensen's.

[midas]

I say this is the thin end of the wedge

[Artisi]

They smoke cigarettes , watch porn, play with phone all day .

Ice cream, hookers ,beer and meth is next?

Think you might find this is already on the books for some....

[connda]

Nothing new here. Anything semi-liquid are that is a solid and can melt. Ice cream, yogurt, various drinks or frozen drinks. City monks will probably be less picky than forest monks who tend to hold more strictly to the Patimokka.

[bkktrapper]

The monk is there to get money same as everyone in Thailand .

There's only one faith that is "more money " if you believe other wise you are a fool.

[ratcatcher]

Just before they watch Manchester United at Old Trafford.

[ratcatcher]

Nothing new here. Anything semi-liquid are that is a solid and can melt. Ice cream, yogurt, various drinks or frozen drinks. City monks will probably be less picky than forest monks who tend to hold more strictly to the Patimokka.

Patimokka. Is this a new Swensens flavor?

[hookedondhamma]

Can they have an ice lolly instead?

of course, as long as there's no milk in it.

while the people working there are very lovely, trying to control how the order of more does things really says alot. The office of buddhism has good intentions but seem to be trying to control Dhamma, which can't be controlled.

[momtaz]

was it banned before,,?

I just learned about this issue, a good progress then,

they must be eagerly awaiting to lift the ban on other items soon!

[hookedondhamma]

Nothing new here. Anything semi-liquid are that is a solid and can melt. Ice cream, yogurt, various drinks or frozen drinks. City monks will probably be less picky than forest monks who tend to hold more strictly to the Patimokka.

Patimokka. Is this a new Swensens flavor?

genius - thanks for the laugh. It is the 227 major rules that one takes on when becoming a monk (in therevada). There's a split in views though and many don't follow the training rules nowadays. Some even say some rules are antiquated to a degree m