Fake Thai monk with porno mag and orange car arrested

[yogavnture]

you all better hide your porno mags and any orange cars u possess

[jerojero]

Some people may argue that almost all monks are fake, so where do you draw the line.

I have lived here years and have studied Buddhism for decades and have yet to find many Buddhist's in Thailand who do not mix in Animism, Hinduism and all sorts of shenanigans into the pot they call 'Buddhism' here.

There are probably real Buddhists (maybe some forest monks?) but you won't find them in the local Wat selling amulets or sprinkling you with Holy Water

.... Precisely. You are right on, my friend.

[smotherb]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

And how many times do we hear of REAL monks, usually senior, up to their necks in questionable behaviour, more often than not involving the aquisition of money and other assets ?

Unfortunately for Buddhism real monks do should things.

What about priests, pastors, rabbis, mullahs, and any other religion's clergy? It seems all religions have their fair share of scoundrels

[Shawn0001]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

And how many times do we hear of REAL monks, usually senior, up to their necks in questionable behaviour, more often than not involving the aquisition of money and other assets ?

Unfortunately for Buddhism real monks do should things.

The REAL monks around where I live charge 600 Baht per chant at a deceased person's wake. Five chanting sessions until the cremation, not bad. And then there is the "the family needs to buy the wat a big tent so the deceased will be happy." Of course the tent maker just happens to be a relative of one of the monks and the price of the tent is three times the regular price. It's all a one way street into the temple. Never any assistance going back to the people. At least that's the way it is here. Nothing but a racket to take advantage of the people.

There is another kind of monk, the kind you might have passed on the highway, walking alone and often without shoes, these monks are on the path and probably what most of us casual observers would consider to be "real", they certainly better fit our western appreciation of what a monk should or shouldn't be.

[Shawn0001]

Some people may argue that almost all monks are fake, so where do you draw the line.

I have lived here years and have studied Buddhism for decades and have yet to find many Buddhist's in Thailand who do not mix in Animism, Hinduism and all sorts of shenanigans into the pot they call 'Buddhism' here.

There are probably real Buddhists (maybe some forest monks?) but you won't find them in the local Wat selling amulets or sprinkling you with Holy Water

None is more mixed with animism that the Tibetan Buddhism that many seem to believe is the "real" Buddhism due to their God King. Anyway, they are not exactly mixing the two but keeping the old deities in the background as Dharma Protectors. Some like to ask things of them, but this has nothing to do with Buddhism, it is perhaps more akin to a Christian dropping a coin down a wishing well. In Sri Lanka, some Buddhists have taken to asking things of Mary, they remain Buddhists, they are not exactly mixing the religions, they just don't quite get the fact that Buddha told them not to pray for personal gain, but then Buddha was an inclusive chap, he didn't have much of a problem with anything people wanted to do, he just wanted to help people and give them some advice. And there really are "real" Buddhists in Thailand, some living as hermits in the forest, others as nomads, you will see them occasionally walking on the road, they tend to be a lot skinnier and tired looking than the ones seeking alms around the town, and they never ever ask for anything, they survive off what the world brings their way, they don't seek to influence that.

[arunsakda]

With a Peugeot 305 he is not doing that well for his scams.

Reckon a real miracle worker with a spanner though!

Edited April 14, 2016 by arunsakda

[Guest]

Some people may argue that almost all monks are fake, so where do you draw the line.

I have lived here years and have studied Buddhism for decades and have yet to find many Buddhist's in Thailand who do not mix in Animism, Hinduism and all sorts of shenanigans into the pot they call 'Buddhism' here.

There are probably real Buddhists (maybe some forest monks?) but you won't find them in the local Wat selling amulets or sprinkling you with Holy Water

None is more mixed with animism that the Tibetan Buddhism that many seem to believe is the "real" Buddhism due to their God King. Anyway, they are not exactly mixing the two but keeping the old deities in the background as Dharma Protectors. Some like to ask things of them, but this has nothing to do with Buddhism, it is perhaps more akin to a Christian dropping a coin down a wishing well. In Sri Lanka, some Buddhists have taken to asking things of Mary, they remain Buddhists, they are not exactly mixing the religions, they just don't quite get the fact that Buddha told them not to pray for personal gain, but then Buddha was an inclusive chap, he didn't have much of a problem with anything people wanted to do, he just wanted to help people and give them some advice. And there really are "real" Buddhists in Thailand, some living as hermits in the forest, others as nomads, you will see them occasionally walking on the road, they tend to be a lot skinnier and tired looking than the ones seeking alms around the town, and they never ever ask for anything, they survive off what the world brings their way, they don't seek to influence that.

More expert Farang insights.

Yawn.

Edited April 14, 2016 by Guest

[Shawn0001]

Some people may argue that almost all monks are fake, so where do you draw the line.

I have lived here years and have studied Buddhism for decades and have yet to find many Buddhist's in Thailand who do not mix in Animism, Hinduism and all sorts of shenanigans into the pot they call 'Buddhism' here.

There are probably real Buddhists (maybe some forest monks?) but you won't find them in the local Wat selling amulets or sprinkling you with Holy Water

None is more mixed with animism that the Tibetan Buddhism that many seem to believe is the "real" Buddhism due to their God King. Anyway, they are not exactly mixing the two but keeping the old deities in the background as Dharma Protectors. Some like to ask things of them, but this has nothing to do with Buddhism, it is perhaps more akin to a Christian dropping a coin down a wishing well. In Sri Lanka, some Buddhists have taken to asking things of Mary, they remain Buddhists, they are not exactly mixing the religions, they just don't quite get the fact that Buddha told them not to pray for personal gain, but then Buddha was an inclusive chap, he didn't have much of a problem with anything people wanted to do, he just wanted to help people and give them some advice. And there really are "real" Buddhists in Thailand, some living as hermits in the forest, others as nomads, you will see them occasionally walking on the road, they tend to be a lot skinnier and tired looking than the ones seeking alms around the town, and they never ever ask for anything, they survive off what the world brings their way, they don't seek to influence that.

Keep writing in this manner, and you may find yourself with 15 years to meditate about it.

Woah, what? Have I been offensive, have I committed a crime? All I am doing is repeating what some very devout Thai Buddhists have said to me, what is wrong?

[Shawn0001]

Some people may argue that almost all monks are fake, so where do you draw the line.

I have lived here years and have studied Buddhism for decades and have yet to find many Buddhist's in Thailand who do not mix in Animism, Hinduism and all sorts of shenanigans into the pot they call 'Buddhism' here.

There are probably real Buddhists (maybe some forest monks?) but you won't find them in the local Wat selling amulets or sprinkling you with Holy Water

None is more mixed with animism that the Tibetan Buddhism that many seem to believe is the "real" Buddhism due to their God King. Anyway, they are not exactly mixing the two but keeping the old deities in the background as Dharma Protectors. Some like to ask things of them, but this has nothing to do with Buddhism, it is perhaps more akin to a Christian dropping a coin down a wishing well. In Sri Lanka, some Buddhists have taken to asking things of Mary, they remain Buddhists, they are not exactly mixing the religions, they just don't quite get the fact that Buddha told them not to pray for personal gain, but then Buddha was an inclusive chap, he didn't have much of a problem with anything people wanted to do, he just wanted to help people and give them some advice. And there really are "real" Buddhists in Thailand, some living as hermits in the forest, others as nomads, you will see them occasionally walking on the road, they tend to be a lot skinnier and tired looking than the ones seeking alms around the town, and they never ever ask for anything, they survive off what the world brings their way, they don't seek to influence that.

More expert Farang insights.

Yawn.

Do you have anything to bring to the conversation or do you only want to bore us with your attempt to belittle?

[Guest]

Quote: "Do you have anything to bring to the conversation or do you only want to bore us with your attempt to belittle?"

Reply:

The truth is I read this too quickly and misinterpreted the first sentence.

No worries ... carry on ..

[Lingba]

Instead of a mnok, he should have been disquised as a preist...he would have fit in better

[Bluespunk]

Instead of a mnok, he should have been disquised as a preist...he would have fit in better

Why?

[scotchonrocks]

One anon monkey with two sad looking plod. Definitely his biggest mistake was that he didn't pay them off.

[Shawn0001]

Quote: "Do you have anything to bring to the conversation or do you only want to bore us with your attempt to belittle?"

Reply:

The truth is I read this too quickly and misinterpreted the first sentence.

No worries ... carry on ..

Ah I see, you misread my mention of the Dali Llama, the God King, no worries, panic over, and I must admit, you did have me a little worried there!

[hawker9000]

This guy was a fake and that's that. The following question doesn't concern him.

I've always wondered about the "possessions" thing. Most Thai males spend some time at various times in their lives as monks (and many females as nuns). It's not a permanent thing. They conclude their limited time in the monkhood, perhaps 3 months, and then go back to their normal lives. This most definitely includes the rich and most prominent members of Thai society. At any given point in time therefore, I'd expect a certain percentage of the monk population to consist of these "temporary" monks. Surely they're not expected to abandon all their money & possessions, including cars, while serving these short periods in the monkhood, as the lifelong monks are. But if not, then what are the rules for them?

Ah, maybe I understand a little better now.

The other day in a mall in BKK with my Thai wife and her adult son, sitting eating ice cream.

A monk approached us and asked where the nearest and best shoe shop was.

Our lad suggested a shop.

The monk then asked for money to buy his shoes.

I asked him about the monks precepts and that shoes were not worn by real monks and sent him on his way.

He just smiled and went to the next mug!

IMO, Thai people are brainwashed from birth to give to monks and the Wat - for good luck.

The more given - the better luck both in this life and beyond!

IMO all religions or cults, call them what you will, are all scams and cons and responsible for much of the troubles of the world.

It's a pissing contest - my religion is better than yours - if you don't change to my religion you will be killed....

From the Romans, the Crusades to ISIS, not forgetting the Egyptians, the Pharaohs etc.....

The Druids, Pagans............

This hardly sounds like legitimate behavior for a monk. I'm not sure it's a reason to condemn all religion. A reaction like that is not terribly well thought out and tars with a supremely broad brush sincere believers who make tolerance and the pursuit of peace & goodwill a real part of their daily lives. I'm not religious myself, and am as critical as anyone of a certain religion that has reduced itself to an excuse for global instability, cultism, unrest, and violence, and would agree that historically organized religion has a lot to answer for, but I can't see just dumping all religion, and all believers everywhere, into the same bucket. Religion, like anything else, can be turned to a bad purpose by men. Blaming on religion what is really the doing of selfish, power-drunk men, without realizing this, is terminally simple-minded.

[laislica]

This guy was a fake and that's that. The following question doesn't concern him.

I've always wondered about the "possessions" thing. Most Thai males spend some time at various times in their lives as monks (and many females as nuns). It's not a permanent thing. They conclude their limited time in the monkhood, perhaps 3 months, and then go back to their normal lives. This most definitely includes the rich and most prominent members of Thai society. At any given point in time therefore, I'd expect a certain percentage of the monk population to consist of these "temporary" monks. Surely they're not expected to abandon all their money & possessions, including cars, while serving these short periods in the monkhood, as the lifelong monks are. But if not, then what are the rules for them?

Ah, maybe I understand a little better now.

The other day in a mall in BKK with my Thai wife and her adult son, sitting eating ice cream.

A monk approached us and asked where the nearest and best shoe shop was.

Our lad suggested a shop.

The monk then asked for money to buy his shoes.

I asked him about the monks precepts and that shoes were not worn by real monks and sent him on his way.

He just smiled and went to the next mug!

IMO, Thai people are brainwashed from birth to give to monks and the Wat - for good luck.

The more given - the better luck both in this life and beyond!

IMO all religions or cults, call them what you will, are all scams and cons and responsible for much of the troubles of the world.

It's a pissing contest - my religion is better than yours - if you don't change to my religion you will be killed....

From the Romans, the Crusades to ISIS, not forgetting the Egyptians, the Pharaohs etc.....

The Druids, Pagans............

This hardly sounds like legitimate behavior for a monk. I'm not sure it's a reason to condemn all religion. A reaction like that is not terribly well thought out and tars with a supremely broad brush sincere believers who make tolerance and the pursuit of peace & goodwill a real part of their daily lives. I'm not religious myself, and am as critical as anyone of a certain religion that has reduced itself to an excuse for global instability, cultism, unrest, and violence, and would agree that historically organized religion has a lot to answer for, but I can't see just dumping all religion, and all believers everywhere, into the same bucket. Religion, like anything else, can be turned to a bad purpose by men. Blaming on religion what is really the doing of selfish, power-drunk men, without realizing this, is terminally simple-minded.

I have the feeling that our ideas are not that far apart in many ways.

You said "This hardly sounds like legitimate behavior for a monk. I'm not sure it's a reason to condemn all religion."

I do not condemn all religions because of this silly Monk.

I condemn them because Religion is a Man Made Creation, It is really the doing of selfish, power-drunk men" as you said.

IMO, religion is helpful for those who don't want to accept the responsibility for thinking for themselves.

They have been given rules and guidelines on how to behave and they have a God who loves them as long as they toe the line.

They only have to have blind faith and believe whatever their "good book" tells them and follow the flock, make no waves and question nothing.

I'm also not religious myself, the only truth that I believe is that none of us are getting out of here alive!

I am fine with those who choose to abdicate responsibility for a belief, but like you, I am as critical as those of certain religions that have reduced themselves to an excuse for global instability, cultism, unrest, and violence,

I actually think that the Earth is self healing and cyclic.

Every so often there is a Natural Disaster which removes or reduces to a minimum, the plague that was "hurting" the planet like dinosaurs, people in the great flood etc.

I loved the TV series Ancient Aliens, very thought provoking..

I also like Science but I don't have blind faith in it.

Scientists are also "Men" and can be corrupted as any man can be.

I don't have a tin foil hat and I am not a preacher of doom, just an ordinary bloke of 74 years experience.

A couple of failed long term relationships and now, finally a good one.

Shame that I am a slow learner and it took so long to get to here LOL

If you have free time, YouTube for "The Ring of Power", an excellent documentary on who is really in charge and controlling everything.

Have a great day.

[Bluespunk]

Hmm...

[Shawn0001]

This guy was a fake and that's that. The following question doesn't concern him.

I've always wondered about the "possessions" thing. Most Thai males spend some time at various times in their lives as monks (and many females as nuns). It's not a permanent thing. They conclude their limited time in the monkhood, perhaps 3 months, and then go back to their normal lives. This most definitely includes the rich and most prominent members of Thai society. At any given point in time therefore, I'd expect a certain percentage of the monk population to consist of these "temporary" monks. Surely they're not expected to abandon all their money & possessions, including cars, while serving these short periods in the monkhood, as the lifelong monks are. But if not, then what are the rules for them?

Ah, maybe I understand a little better now.

The other day in a mall in BKK with my Thai wife and her adult son, sitting eating ice cream.

A monk approached us and asked where the nearest and best shoe shop was.

Our lad suggested a shop.

The monk then asked for money to buy his shoes.

I asked him about the monks precepts and that shoes were not worn by real monks and sent him on his way.

He just smiled and went to the next mug!

IMO, Thai people are brainwashed from birth to give to monks and the Wat - for good luck.

The more given - the better luck both in this life and beyond!

IMO all religions or cults, call them what you will, are all scams and cons and responsible for much of the troubles of the world.

It's a pissing contest - my religion is better than yours - if you don't change to my religion you will be killed....

From the Romans, the Crusades to ISIS, not forgetting the Egyptians, the Pharaohs etc.....

The Druids, Pagans............

This hardly sounds like legitimate behavior for a monk. I'm not sure it's a reason to condemn all religion. A reaction like that is not terribly well thought out and tars with a supremely broad brush sincere believers who make tolerance and the pursuit of peace & goodwill a real part of their daily lives. I'm not religious myself, and am as critical as anyone of a certain religion that has reduced itself to an excuse for global instability, cultism, unrest, and violence, and would agree that historically organized religion has a lot to answer for, but I can't see just dumping all religion, and all believers everywhere, into the same bucket. Religion, like anything else, can be turned to a bad purpose by men. Blaming on religion what is really the doing of selfish, power-drunk men, without realizing this, is terminally simple-minded.

I have the feeling that our ideas are not that far apart in many ways.

You said "This hardly sounds like legitimate behavior for a monk. I'm not sure it's a reason to condemn all religion."

I do not condemn all religions because of this silly Monk.

I condemn them because Religion is a Man Made Creation, It is really the doing of selfish, power-drunk men" as you said.

IMO, religion is helpful for those who don't want to accept the responsibility for thinking for themselves.

They have been given rules and guidelines on how to behave and they have a God who loves them as long as they toe the line.

They only have to have blind faith and believe whatever their "good book" tells them and follow the flock, make no waves and question nothing.

I'm also not religious myself, the only truth that I believe is that none of us are getting out of here alive!

I am fine with those who choose to abdicate responsibility for a belief, but like you, I am as critical as those of certain religions that have reduced themselves to an excuse for global instability, cultism, unrest, and violence,

I actually think that the Earth is self healing and cyclic.

Every so often there is a Natural Disaster which removes or reduces to a minimum, the plague that was "hurting" the planet like dinosaurs, people in the great flood etc.

I loved the TV series Ancient Aliens, very thought provoking..

I also like Science but I don't have blind faith in it.

Scientists are also "Men" and can be corrupted as any man can be.

I don't have a tin foil hat and I am not a preacher of doom, just an ordinary bloke of 74 years experience.

A couple of failed long term relationships and now, finally a good one.

Shame that I am a slow learner and it took so long to get to here LOL

If you have free time, YouTube for "The Ring of Power", an excellent documentary on who is really in charge and controlling everything.

Have a great day.

"They only have to have blind faith and believe whatever their "good book" tells them and follow the flock, make no waves and question nothing."

Your statement demonstrates a poor understanding of the revolutionary that is known as Jesus and the many rather tricky questions he left his followers to ponder, it may fit some blind followers but it is certainly not the general idea of the religion, which is all about going against flow when that is what is correct, thus making waves and about questioning everything particularly yourself, but granted, this is probably practiced by a minority of Christians.

[laislica]

Ah, maybe I understand a little better now.

The other day in a mall in BKK with my Thai wife and her adult son, sitting eating ice cream.

A monk approached us and asked where the nearest and best shoe shop was.

Our lad suggested a shop.

The monk then asked for money to buy his shoes.

I asked him about the monks precepts and that shoes were not worn by real monks and sent him on his way.

He just smiled and went to the next mug!

IMO, Thai people are brainwashed from birth to give to monks and the Wat - for good luck.

The more given - the better luck both in this life and beyond!

IMO all religions or cults, call them what you will, are all scams and cons and responsible for much of the troubles of the world.

It's a pissing contest - my religion is better than yours - if you don't change to my religion you will be killed....

From the Romans, the Crusades to ISIS, not forgetting the Egyptians, the Pharaohs etc.....

The Druids, Pagans............

This hardly sounds like legitimate behavior for a monk. I'm not sure it's a reason to condemn all religion. A reaction like that is not terribly well thought out and tars with a supremely broad brush sincere believers who make tolerance and the pursuit of peace & goodwill a real part of their daily lives. I'm not religious myself, and am as critical as anyone of a certain religion that has reduced itself to an excuse for global instability, cultism, unrest, and violence, and would agree that historically organized religion has a lot to answer for, but I can't see just dumping all religion, and all believers everywhere, into the same bucket. Religion, like anything else, can be turned to a bad purpose by men. Blaming on religion what is really the doing of selfish, power-drunk men, without realizing this, is terminally simple-minded.

I have the feeling that our ideas are not that far apart in many ways.

You said "This hardly sounds like legitimate behavior for a monk. I'm not sure it's a reason to condemn all religion."

I do not condemn all religions because of this silly Monk.

I condemn them because Religion is a Man Made Creation, It is really the doing of selfish, power-drunk men" as you said.

IMO, religion is helpful for those who don't want to accept the responsibility for thinking for themselves.

They have been given rules and guidelines on how to behave and they have a God who loves them as long as they toe the line.

They only have to have blind faith and believe whatever their "good book" tells them and follow the flock, make no waves and question nothing.

I'm also not religious myself, the only truth that I believe is that none of us are getting out of here alive!

I am fine with those who choose to abdicate responsibility for a belief, but like you, I am as critical as those of certain religions that have reduced themselves to an excuse for global instability, cultism, unrest, and violence,

I actually think that the Earth is self healing and cyclic.

Every so often there is a Natural Disaster which removes or reduces to a minimum, the plague that was "hurting" the planet like dinosaurs, people in the great flood etc.

I loved the TV series Ancient Aliens, very thought provoking..

I also like Science but I don't have blind faith in it.

Scientists are also "Men" and can be corrupted as any man can be.

I don't have a tin foil hat and I am not a preacher of doom, just an ordinary bloke of 74 years experience.

A couple of failed long term relationships and now, finally a good one.

Shame that I am a slow learner and it took so long to get to here LOL

If you have free time, YouTube for "The Ring of Power", an excellent documentary on who is really in charge and controlling everything.

Have a great day.

"They only have to have blind faith and believe whatever their "good book" tells them and follow the flock, make no waves and question nothing."

Your statement demonstrates a poor understanding of the revolutionary that is known as Jesus and the many rather tricky questions he left his followers to ponder, it may fit some blind followers but it is certainly not the general idea of the religion, which is all about going against flow when that is what is correct, thus making waves and about questioning everything particularly yourself, but granted, this is probably practiced by a minority of Christians.

Well I'm sure you feel that you are right.

As a child I was brought up as a Christian - a protestant.

Thou shall have no other God but me!

Have a little read in the book of Job.chapter 15, verse 5 onward

In fact the whole book is quite interesting.

[Shawn0001]

"They only have to have blind faith and believe whatever their "good book" tells them and follow the flock, make no waves and question nothing."

Your statement demonstrates a poor understanding of the revolutionary that is known as Jesus and the many rather tricky questions he left his followers to ponder, it may fit some blind followers but it is certainly not the general idea of the religion, which is all about going against flow when that is what is correct, thus making waves and about questioning everything particularly yourself, but granted, this is probably practiced by a minority of Christians.

Well I'm sure you feel that you are right.

As a child I was brought up as a Christian - a protestant.

Thou shall have no other God but me!

Have a little read in the book of Job.chapter 15, verse 5 onward

In fact the whole book is quite interesting.

Yes, I am familiar with it, the Book of Job is found in the Old Testament, it is part of the Torah, it also forms the basis of Sharia law, it is of no real use to a Christian other that as a point of reference to all that Jesus was fighting against, not that there are not a great number of Christians who disagree with me.

[hawker9000]

This guy was a fake and that's that. The following question doesn't concern him.

I've always wondered about the "possessions" thing. Most Thai males spend some time at various times in their lives as monks (and many females as nuns). It's not a permanent thing. They conclude their limited time in the monkhood, perhaps 3 months, and then go back to their normal lives. This most definitely includes the rich and most prominent members of Thai society. At any given point in time therefore, I'd expect a certain percentage of the monk population to consist of these "temporary" monks. Surely they're not expected to abandon all their money & possessions, including cars, while serving these short periods in the monkhood, as the lifelong monks are. But if not, then what are the rules for them?

Ah, maybe I understand a little better now.

The other day in a mall in BKK with my Thai wife and her adult son, sitting eating ice cream.

A monk approached us and asked where the nearest and best shoe shop was.

Our lad suggested a shop.

The monk then asked for money to buy his shoes.

I asked him about the monks precepts and that shoes were not worn by real monks and sent him on his way.

He just smiled and went to the next mug!

IMO, Thai people are brainwashed from birth to give to monks and the Wat - for good luck.

The more given - the better luck both in this life and beyond!

IMO all religions or cults, call them what you will, are all scams and cons and responsible for much of the troubles of the world.

It's a pissing contest - my religion is better than yours - if you don't change to my religion you will be killed....

From the Romans, the Crusades to ISIS, not forgetting the Egyptians, the Pharaohs etc.....

The Druids, Pagans............

This hardly sounds like legitimate behavior for a monk. I'm not sure it's a reason to condemn all religion. A reaction like that is not terribly well thought out and tars with a supremely broad brush sincere believers who make tolerance and the pursuit of peace & goodwill a real part of their daily lives. I'm not religious myself, and am as critical as anyone of a certain religion that has reduced itself to an excuse for global instability, cultism, unrest, and violence, and would agree that historically organized religion has a lot to answer for, but I can't see just dumping all religion, and all believers everywhere, into the same bucket. Religion, like anything else, can be turned to a bad purpose by men. Blaming on religion what is really the doing of selfish, power-drunk men, without realizing this, is terminally simple-minded.

I have the feeling that our ideas are not that far apart in many ways.

You said "This hardly sounds like legitimate behavior for a monk. I'm not sure it's a reason to condemn all religion."

I do not condemn all religions because of this silly Monk.

I condemn them because Religion is a Man Made Creation, It is really the doing of selfish, power-drunk men" as you said.

IMO, religion is helpful for those who don't want to accept the responsibility for thinking for themselves.

They have been given rules and guidelines on how to behave and they have a God who loves them as long as they toe the line.

They only have to have blind faith and believe whatever their "good book" tells them and follow the flock, make no waves and question nothing.

I'm also not religious myself, the only truth that I believe is that none of us are getting out of here alive!

I am fine with those who choose to abdicate responsibility for a belief, but like you, I am as critical as those of certain religions that have reduced themselves to an excuse for global instability, cultism, unrest, and violence,

I actually think that the Earth is self healing and cyclic.

Every so often there is a Natural Disaster which removes or reduces to a minimum, the plague that was "hurting" the planet like dinosaurs, people in the great flood etc.

I loved the TV series Ancient Aliens, very thought provoking..

I also like Science but I don't have blind faith in it.

Scientists are also "Men" and can be corrupted as any man can be.

I don't have a tin foil hat and I am not a preacher of doom, just an ordinary bloke of 74 years experience.

A couple of failed long term relationships and now, finally a good one.

Shame that I am a slow learner and it took so long to get to here LOL

If you have free time, YouTube for "The Ring of Power", an excellent documentary on who is really in charge and controlling everything.

Have a great day.

I've actually seen ROP. Well, as much of it as I could stomach anyway. Purely tin hat stuff. The corruptibility of men, particularly men who through whatever means achieve power, is boundless. Fortunately however, honor is an unknown commodity among thieves, so actual everlasting global conspiracies have no nutrient ooze to evolve in. One gets a start somewhere and greed quickly starts breaking down the molecular bonds. But hidden conspiracy theories, including ones that hold religion responsible for all evil in the world, do quite well in it because the envy, distrust, need-for-drama, need-for-a-scapegoat, we're-all-victims building blocks are always there.

It's all far simpler than that. Bad men doing bad things by subverting things that most people value or even treasure. Religion. The Constitution. Free speech. Freedom of choice. Free enterprise. Charity. The individual. Traditional family. Mankind simply cannot afford to throw all those things out because some men distort them and turn them to their own evil purposes, much as that's the direction liberalism has us evolving toward. I'll take the uncertainty & turmoil of this constantly bubbling brew of disconnected bad guys doing bad things over a supreme, centralized, all-powerful government that pretends to be "keeping us safe" at the cost of our liberties and doing even more bad stuff of its own (but with OUR taxes & property!) - mostly to US - any day.

[laislica]

hawker, I do agree with you, the evil in the world is Man.

It is our very nature to want more - the best, most productive land etc. for survival.

Generally, animals don't seem to kill for pleasure.

Some "play with their pray" but only in so far as it hones their hunting skills.

Man however, has pushed the boundaries way beyond what is fair or reasonable.

We are abusing technology and putting acquisition over compassion.

The pendulum swings.....

Did you read the 50's sci fi book The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl?

Sci fi back then but has been sci fact for many years.....

In a vastly overpopulated near-future world, businesses have taken the place of governments and now hold all political power.

States exist merely to ensure the survival of huge transnational corporations.

Advertising has become hugely aggressive and boasts some of the world's most powerful executives.

Through advertising, the public is constantly deluded into thinking that all the products on the market improve the quality of life.

However, the most basic elements are incredibly scarce, including water and fuel.

The planet Venus has just been visited and judged fit for human settlement, despite its inhospitable surface and climate; colonists would have to endure a harsh climate for many generations until the planet could be terraformed.

Mitch Courtenay is a star-class copywriter in the Fowler Schocken advertising agency and has been assigned the ad campaign that would attract colonists to Venus, but a lot more is happening than he knows about.

Mitch is soon thrown into a world of danger, mystery, and intrigue, where the people in his life are never quite what they seem, and his loyalties and core beliefs will be put to the test.

[SunsetT]

Conning people out of money, pornography, private car?

They should make him the head of an order somewhere.

He sounds ideal.

Pity he hasn't a plane, but I'm sure he could work on that.

I bet you've never spent time in the monkhood.

He's a FAKE monk. Real monks don't do this.

I assume you are trying to make a poor joke?

Wats and monks everywhere but look at the behaviour of most Thai people. Do they practise the values? It's religion is failing them. Donation, donation, donation,......for protection from ghosts and good luck..........It is all a con! It is all about money!

[SunsetT]

Why is his face blurred out, Buddhism is a revered institution here so shouldn't anyone who brings disgrace to it be exposed to the full ?

With all the money involved why is it I think there will be more to this than meets the eye ?

....Yes! They should show close ups of his face all over the news media so he will be recognised and stopped immediately next time he tries it.

[pattayadude]

what does the fact he has an orange car have any merit for discussion? are orange cars for porno addicts?

[Sawan Chan 7]

Guy on the right looks like Thai Barney Rubble.

and the guy on the left looks like he is ready to beat the living sh.. out of the monk.

Maybe he just looks that way because that's his first arrest of a monk. Now the policeman on the right seems disinterested....probably thinking I've arrested many monks over the years.

Monks are just human....some are good monks...some are bad monks...and some monks are just fake as my Thai wife always tells me.

You need a Thai wife to tell you this?

Does she take you by the hand to immigration to?

[hawker9000]

Guy on the right looks like Thai Barney Rubble.

and the guy on the left looks like he is ready to beat the living sh.. out of the monk.

Maybe he just looks that way because that's his first arrest of a monk. Now the policeman on the right seems disinterested....probably thinking I've arrested many monks over the years.

Monks are just human....some are good monks...some are bad monks...and some monks are just fake as my Thai wife always tells me.

You need a Thai wife to tell you this?

Does she take you by the hand to immigration to?

Is there any worthwhile point whatsoever to that post? 'Best deletion candidate I've seen in awhile.

[Duncan Donut]

Was the cliterature titled ‘Asian Persuasion'?

[Wilsonandson]

Another monk bashing thread. Are the current guardians of Thailand anti-buddhist. No not when they seem to be anti-muslim as well. I know maybe they are anti-religion, the rubbing up to the Chinese has brought about big change. Yes the current 'hob knobs' want life the Chinese way. Or could this be a way to discredit the Sangha council so that the PM can install a pro-military Supreme Patriarch. Therefore giving the General full control over the masses. Control of government, religion and the unmentionables. Full power. Full steam ahead. Twenty more years would be enough to get them through their retirement living life to the full in obscene wealth.