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Sangha Council insists Phra Dhammachayo needs not be defrocked

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Sangha Council insists Phra Dhammachayo needs not be defrocked

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BANGKOK: -- The Sangha Supreme Council reaffirmed on Wednesday Phra Dhammachayo, the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya, needs not be defrocked because the embezzlement case against him has already been finalized and there was no appeal.

The council headed by Somdet Phra Maharatchamanglacharn or Somdet Chuang, the acting Supreme Patriarch met today to discuss the embezzlement case against Phra Dhammachayo after the Department of Special Investigation recommended that the controversial monk should be defrocked as earlier judged by the late Supreme Patriarch.

Mr Chayapol Pongseeda, deputy director of the Office of National Buddhism, said that the DSI would be notified of the Sangha Supreme Council’s ruling within Friday.

He explained that since the case was already finalized, it was not necessary for the council to rule whether Phra Dhammachayo should be defrocked or not.

In the letter of notification to the DSI, both the Sangha Supreme Council and the Office of National Buddhism insisted that they had the issue for over 100 times during 2001-2003.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/150440

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-- Thai PBS 2016-02-11

And an armoured bank car was required to properly show his gratitude.

I love the show for people that might observe these meetings: all barefoot, alms bowls nicely displayed under the table. So pious :rolleyes: Meanwhile, in the real world... -_-

Edited by SABloke

They have found the new path to Nirvana, and definitely not under a tree...

ah leadership at it's best

Nice to see all the donations being put to good use.

Let's not defrock him as one day we might be in the spotlight and need the same help.

Sangha Council insists Phra Dhammachayo needs not be defrocked

I can just imagine how that meeting went:

Supreme Monk: "Guys, you wanna see him nekkid?"

Not-So-Supreme Monk: "No way!"

Less-Supreme Monk: "Blech!"

Natural-Bald Monk: "I would rather watch TV."

Body-Odor Monk: "Yes I do, I want to compare!"

...

The issue is one of jurisdiction.

The DSI has no right to tell the Sangha Council who is or is not a monk.

If the DSI wants to pursue their cases against Dhammachayo, they should proceed with a criminal court case.

But the abbot has already been cleared of wrongdoing.

It's fine if you don't like him, or his cult, but your religious views (or the DSI's for that matter) are not relevant to his right to religious freedom, and to be a Buddhist monk.

The issue is one of jurisdiction.

The DSI has no right to tell the Sangha Council who is or is not a monk.

If the DSI wants to pursue their cases against Dhammachayo, they should proceed with a criminal court case.

But the abbot has already been cleared of wrongdoing.

It's fine if you don't like him, or his cult, but your religious views (or the DSI's for that matter) are not relevant to his right to religious freedom, and to be a Buddhist monk.

Has he been cleared? I thought it was an ongoing investigation. Also didn't the previous Supreme Patriarch actually defrock him already, but then subsequently died so nothing actually happened!

I love the show for people that might observe these meetings: all barefoot, alms bowls nicely displayed under the table. So pious :rolleyes: Meanwhile, in the real world... -_-

?? Those are thai style trash canisters/spittoons. Alms bowls aren't decorated, the exception being for lustral water and big events ... and those aren't carried during almsround.

No big deal though, seeing the level of understanding many have in this forum of Buddhism.

The sangha council are there to excercise non-existent authority (and to look 'venerable' while doing it). Rank in the form of ecclesiastical titles is useless, and another way for the thai to keep the status culture alive.

Edited by hookedondhamma

I love the show for people that might observe these meetings: all barefoot, alms bowls nicely displayed under the table. So pious rolleyes.gif Meanwhile, in the real world... sleep.png

With their personal drivers waiting in the parking garage cleaning their Benz.

I love the show for people that might observe these meetings: all barefoot, alms bowls nicely displayed under the table. So pious :rolleyes: Meanwhile, in the real world... -_-

?? Those are thai style trash canisters/spittoons. Alms bowls aren't decorated, the exception being for lustral water and big events ... and those aren't carried during almsround.

No big deal though, seeing the level of understanding many have in this forum of Buddhism.

The sangha council are there to excercise non-existent authority (and to look 'venerable' while doing it). Rank in the form of ecclesiastical titles is useless, and another way for the thai to keep the status culture alive.

I saw they weren't alms bowls after I posted...couldn't be bothered to change my post as my sentiment remains the same. The sitting monks are hypocrites of the highest order and I know enough about Bhuddism to know that even the notion of such a council should be frowned upon. To be clear: I call BS on all religious institutions

Edited by SABloke

The picture in the OP needs some explanation about who is who....

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Edited by bangon04

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