BANGKOK — Thailand's Buddhism body said it is monitoring monks
nationwide for any inappropriate behavior after a video showed monks
using luxurious personal items while flying on a private jet.
The YouTube video showed one of the monks was wearing stylish aviator
sunglasses, carrying a luxury brand travel bag and sporting a pair of
modern-looking wireless headphones. It attracted criticism from
Buddhists nationwide.
Office of National Buddhism director-general Nopparat
Benjawatananun said Monday that the agency saw the video early this year
and had warned the monks from a monastery in Thailand's northeast not
to repeat the lavish behavior.
A country with the world's largest Buddhist population, Thailand has
attempted to help Buddha's 2,600-year-old doctrine stand the test of
time through a variety of means, including banning the sale of alcohol
on religious holidays. The efforts, however, are sometimes tainted by
the Buddhist monks themselves.
Last year, about 300 out of 61,416 Buddhist monks and novices in
Thailand were reprimanded – and several were removed from the monkhood –
because of misconduct ranging from alcohol consumption, having sex with
women to extortion. The Office also received complaints about monks
driving cars, and scams and false claims of black magic uses by monks.
Nopparat said the Buddhist monks in the video were acting
"inappropriately, not composed and not adhering to Buddha's teachings of
simplicity and self-restraint."
Monruedee Bantoengsuk, an administrative officer at Khantitham Temple
in Sisaket province, confirmed to The Associated Press that the monks
on the private plane lived at the temple but refused to give details
about the trip.
"We can explain this, but not now," she said, saying that the abbot,
who appeared in the video, is currently on a religious tour in France.
The images from the video contrasted with the abbot's message on the
temple's homepage that read: "The true core of those who preach Buddha's
teachings is to not to own any objects at all."
"When Lord Buddha was alive, there wasn't anything like this. There
were no cars, smart phones or cameras, so the rules were much simpler,"
said Nopparat. "While the monks need to keep themselves abreast of new
knowledge, current events and technology, they are restrained to choose
the appropriate tools."
He said one way to prevent the monks from misbehaving is for
followers not to spoil them with valuable objects or vices. "In many
cases, it was the followers who gave the monks the luxury. Some bought
them sports cars. This is by no means necessary."