The impulse to believe the absurd when presented with the unknowable is called religion. Whether this is wise or unwise is the domain of doctrine. Once you understand someone's doctrine, you understand their rationale for believing the absurd. At that point, it may no longer seem absurd. You can get to both sides of this conondrum from here.
Buddhist Temple Left Without Monks After They All Test Positive for Meth: It follows a string of criminal scandals involving monks in Thailand, where authorities are reporting record-breaking quantities of synthetic drugs. by Gavin Butler MELBOURNE, AU November 29, 2022, 8:07pm https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz7ke/ ... -test-meth
THE MONKS, INCLUDING THE ABBOT, WERE SENT TO REHAB AFTER FAILING A URINE TEST. PHOTO BY HUGH SITTON VIA GETTY IMAGES.
A small Buddhist temple’s entire abbey of monks was defrocked, dismissed, and sent to rehab this week after every one of them tested positive for methamphetamine.
All four monks at a temple in Phetchabun province's Bung Sam Phan district, in central Thailand, were forced by police to take urine tests on Monday. All four of them, including the abbot, failed.
The monks were subsequently sent to a health clinic to undergo drug rehabilitation, local official Boonlert Thintapthai told AFP, leaving the temple without holy men and raising concerns among local worshippers that they wouldn’t be able to conduct “merit-making”—that is, donating food to monks as a good deed.
Boonlert said more monks would be sent to the temple to allow people to carry out their religious obligations.
It’s not clear why police targeted this particular temple, nor these particular monks, to test for drug use—but the action comes amid a broader national campaign to tackle the trafficking of illicit substances.
Thailand, like many other nations across Southeast Asia, has in the past two years seen a major uptick in the volume of meth passing through the country. Much of that can be traced back to the Golden Triangle—a notorious fountainhead for the synthetic drug trade, where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet—and, more specifically, the conflict-riven hills of Myanmar’s Shan state.
In the wake of the Myanmar coup, which in February 2021 saw the Burmese military overthrow the government and plunge the nation into chaos, record-breaking quantities of both crystal methamphetamine and meth pills, otherwise known as “yaba,” have continued to pour out of the Triangle and flood the region. Production and trafficking of illegal synthetic substances hit record levels in 2021, with authorities collectively seizing nearly 172 tons of methamphetamine and more than 1 billion yaba tablets.
This is not an isolated case of Thai monks behaving badly either. In recent years, the sacred institution of Thai Buddhism has been tarnished by a series of high-profile arrests and scandals relating to corruption, murder, and drug trafficking among its clergy.
In March, Luang Pu Tuanchai, a monk who rose to fame in 2020 after claiming to have omniscient powers, was charged with drunk driving and drug possession—and subsequently disrobed—after police found him carrying dozens of methamphetamine pills. Earlier in January, another monk was similarly disrobed after being caught consuming methamphetamine pills and selling them to local youths.
Such controversies have eroded public faith in Thailand’s Buddhist monks, with experts telling VICE World News in March that the nation’s Buddhist monastic order was in need of reform to weed out bad actors and restore the religion’s image of purity and righteousness.
“The ultimate goal of Buddhism is for the people to get enlightened,” said Somboon Chungprampree, a social activist and executive secretary of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists. “[But] most of the society is learning that not all those who are wearing saffron can be a holy or respectable person.”
Buddhism is the official religion of Thailand, and followed by about 93 percent of the population. The country is home to more than 300,000 monks.
Four Buddhist monks in Thailand have been shipped off to rehab after they all tested positive for meth.
The holy men — including the temple’s abbot, or head monk — failed the drug tests in the Phetchabun province’s Bung Sam Phan district on Monday, an official told Agence France-Presse.
“The temple is now empty of monks and nearby villagers are concerned they cannot do any merit-making,” said the official, Boonlert Thintapthai.
Police forced the monks to undergo urine tests after they raided the temple as part of the province’s crackdown on drugs.
The monks, who haven’t been named, have since been sent to a health clinic to undergo drug rehabilitation.
Four Buddhist monks failed the drug tests in the Phetchabun province’s Bung Sam Phan district on Monday. ViralPress
They were also immediately booted from the monkhood in the wake of their positive tests — leaving their tiny temple without any religious leaders.
Merit-making is a Buddhist practice that involves followers donating food to monks as a good deed.
Back-up monks are being sent to the temple so villagers can practice their religious obligations, the official said.
All the monks were immediately booted from the monkhood. ViralPress
Police forced the monks to undergo urine tests, which came back positive for meth, as part of Thailand’s crackdown on drugs. ViralPress
It wasn’t immediately clear if any drugs were also found stashed in the temple.
Thailand is a major transit country for methamphetamine flooding in from neighboring nations and pills sell for as little as 50 cents on the street.
Still, the positive meth tests is just the latest instance of Thai monks behaving badly.
Thailand is a major transit country for methamphetamine. ViralPress
The positive meth tests is just the latest instance of Thai monks behaving badly. ViralPress
A drug-addled monk named Phra Annipalo, 34, was arrested earlier this month in northern Thailand after allegedly carjacking two vehicles and leading cops on a frantic chase.
He is facing up to three years in jail for the car theft and is also expected to be charged under Thailand’s Narcotics Act.
Sex, Scandals, and Buddhist Monks in Thailand by Brooke Schedneck and Steve Epstein The Revealer Published on December 8, 2022
Numerous scandals are altering the lives of Thai Buddhist monks
(Buddhist monks in Thailand. Image source: Getty Images)
In March 2022, Thailand was abuzz with the story of a leaked audio recording that revealed the clandestine love affair of a 23-year-old Buddhist monk and a 37-year-old model. Phra Ponsakorn Chankeo, or “Phra Kato” as he was known to his many devoted followers, was the young, charismatic acting abbot of Wat Pen Yat temple in southern Thailand. Phra Kato, who, like all monks, took a vow of celibacy, ended up being another source of disappointment for Thai Buddhists, whose religion has been rattled with scandals in recent decades.
Since his ordination in 2017, Phra Kato was considered a rising monastic star who could invigorate Buddhism through his skilled use of social media. His good looks and entertaining talks gained him a huge following on YouTube and Facebook. Many monks at the higher levels of Thailand’s monastic administration, concerned with the declined interest in and practice of Buddhism, thought they had found someone who could appeal to the younger generation and revitalize Buddhist practice.
But this all came crashing down with the release of the audio tape. Adding fuel to the fire, Phra Kato had embezzled 600,000 Thai baht (around $16,000 USD) from his temple, giving half to silence his lover and the other half to silence a reporter. The scandal played out on social media for weeks. Phra Kato and the infamous location of his multiple liaisons, in the backseat of his lover’s parked car on the crest of the Kathoon dam, became a tourist attraction and a popular meme. Phra Kato left monastic life in disgrace, returned the money to the temple, and was charged with embezzlement. He apologized to his fans and asked forgiveness through a video post on his YouTube and Facebook pages. Phra Kato, now Ponsakorn, parlayed his notoriety into becoming a social media influencer.
Phra Kato’s sex scandal rekindled memories of the father (pun intended) of all monastic scandals that engulfed Thailand in the 1990s: Phra Yantra Amaro. There is not a Thai who lived through the 1990s who does not know the story of the meteoric rise and fall of the charismatic Phra Yantra. Ordained in 1974, he was well-known as a disciplined monk who practiced asceticism and intense periods of meditation. He also had a reputation for possessing supernatural powers. In 1993, after returning from a world tour where he gave talks on Buddhist teachings, several women lodged accusations with the Thai monastic administration’s governing council saying that he had had sexual relations with them. One woman also claimed that he fathered her child. She demanded that Phra Yantra have a DNA test to prove he was the father, which he refused. In 1994, the Phra Yantra scandal was Thailand’s most widely reported news story, equivalent to America’s OJ Simpson trial. By 1995, there was incontrovertible evidence that Phra Yantra engaged in sexual relations. He had used a credit card to pay for his visits to brothels on trips to Australia and New Zealand. The governing council announced that he must disrobe for violating sangha (“Buddhist monastic community”) rules and for breaking his vow of celibacy.
These monks’ sexual affairs were so significant because violating the rule against sexual intercourse is one of the four most serious rules for Theravada monks. A monk who breaks one of these rules must disrobe and can never ordain again.
(Phra Kato. Image source: The Times)
Phra Kato’s and Phra Yantra’s scandals were far from the first or last to befall Buddhist monks in Thailand. On the evening of August 29, 2021, seven monks–four of them abbots–were caught drinking beer and feasting on roasted pork in the sacred chanting hall of Wat Phan Sao in Chiang Mai. Monks in Thailand are not allowed to eat after noon, and alcohol is strictly prohibited. The monks were arrested for breaking COVID-19 protocols and expelled from the sangha for breaking their sacred vows.
Newspapers in the 1990s were filled with stories of monastic scandals. There were countless reports of sexual misconduct, drinking, gambling, stealing from temple bank accounts, using and selling drugs, and even murder. Now, in the age of social media, these scandals are even more widely publicized. Each time another scandal goes public, Thai lay Buddhists question the role of monks in society as monks themselves consider their own relationship to the sangha.
Parallels to the mistrust of the Catholic priesthood in the United States are instructive. The widely reported pedophile priest scandal has resulted in fewer ordinations and more “priestless parishes.” The current birth rate in Thailand is 1.51 children per mother, even lower than China. Each year there will be fewer and fewer boys who will reach the age of ordination. Parents must decide if they want their son, and it is usually their only son, to pursue the monastic path. These scandals and their amplification through social media mean that having one’s son ordained as a monk is not as prestigious, or as safe, as it once was. Parents may hesitate to entrust the care of their sons to monks whose reputation may not be exemplary.
These scandals are a threat to the compact that binds laity and the sangha. The laity offer food, material goods, and money to temples and their monks. In turn, the laity receive “merit,” which in the Thai Buddhist view negates the effects of “bad karma” – or past unwholesome acts. Although merit can be gained by giving to charities, traditionally, the greatest amount of merit can be gained by giving to monks. The higher the receiving monk’s status, the more merit is generated. When monks are perceived to neglect their part in this reciprocal merit economy by disobeying their rules of renunciation, the merit system is compromised.
How, then, have these monastic scandals, especially the explosive Phra Kato one, affected the daily lives of ordinary young monks? We posed this question to monks living in Chiang Mai, a Buddhist academic center with several monastic high schools and two Buddhist universities.
One monk told us that when he left his temple one day to collect his morning alms, which is one of the signature daily morning rituals of Theravada Buddhism, a group of women pointed at him and yelled “Kato, Kato!” Laypeople, even friends, treated him as the butt of jokes. Friends on Facebook would comment or message him calling him ‘Kato.’ Another monk, while also collecting donations outside his temple, heard lay people jokingly inquiring about monastic activities, while referring to the location of Phra Kato’s affair: “Have you been to the dam today?” This kind of teasing suggests that people believe all monks have secret transgressions and are not following the rules of monastic discipline.
The scandals have created specific concerns about sexual misconduct and male monks interacting with women. According to the Vinaya, the rules that guide monastic behavior and appearance, monks should avoid close contact with women. Yet meditation teacher Phra Kyo told us that he often finds himself teaching in a room with only female students. Phra Kyo is concerned that some people might find it inappropriate for monks to be seen in a room with only women without understanding the context. Monastic life today is now more complicated because of the laity’s judgmental gaze.
Phra Kasem, who lives in a temple in a suburb of Chiang Mai, believes that scandals did not impact his community’s support for him because of their close personal relationship. However, the scandals still affect his monastic life because people have less faith in monks they do not personally know. On the occasions when Phra Kasem is invited to chant at ceremonies away from his temple, his supporters warn him to be careful. They remind him that Phra Kato traveled to other temples, and will say, “look what happened to him!” They worry about the temptation and suspicions monks face outside of familiar surroundings.
Articles about misbehaving monks are not only read by laity, but by monks as well. Monks also read the myriad online comments decrying the decline of monastic purity. Student monks reported to us that they believe the authors of these comments must be lay people who have not studied Buddhist teachings. Because they read only bad news about monks, the student monks presume, such lay people are beginning to lose their faith in Buddhism. They also surmise that lay people who have studied Buddhism will maintain their faith, confident that Buddhism is not affected by a few bad monks. Although monastic misbehavior is a widespread issue, when trying to explain the proliferation of scandals, these monks focus on the “few bad apples” phenomenon. They see monastic training as important, though not always effective, and that some men simply are not ready for the monastic life, which makes the whole institution appear tainted.
The training monks receive is not consistent from temple to temple, which has contributed to ongoing monastic problems. Monks learn about monastic life and proper behavior as part of their training as novices, or for a short period before their ordination ceremonies. It is up to the individual temples and abbots to make sure each ordained male knows how to follow the rules. However, with over 33,000 active temples and approximately 300,000 monks, monastic regulation is uneven.
(Thai Buddhist monks. Image source: Giulio Di Sturco for the International Herald Tribune)
Because of frequent scandals and the reaction of the laity, monks are concerned about the future generation’s support for Buddhism and, indeed, the future of Thai Buddhist practice. Phra Panya shared with us that he has seen very few young people visit his temple, reasoning that the scandals have alienated them. And Phra Ananda told us he thinks the “new generation” believe they can be good people without guidance from monks or the Buddha’s teachings.
Monks who live and study in Chiang Mai agreed that as more of these scandals become known, fewer people go to temples. They report less participation in temple activities after the Phra Kato scandal broke, though they acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic is another factor. Monks typically receive many invitations for them to offer blessing rituals for new houses, cars, or businesses. Lay people would come to temples for their birthdays, anniversaries of funerals, or for ceremonies to increase one’s longevity. But many of these requests have stopped. Lay temple patrons who would typically host a funeral ceremony for several days have now been shortened to one. Chiang Mai monks report that they have received fewer invitations for ceremonies and lower attendance at major Buddhist holidays. Fewer ceremonies result in a decrease in donations. And with less financial support from the laity, student monks must find other means to pay for tuition and other necessary expenses.
Phra Ajarn Dr. Phaitoon, a professor at MahaChulalongkornrajavidyalaya Buddhist University in Wang Noi, outside of Bangkok, said that the Phra Kato scandal has resulted in rarer ordinations of novices and fewer monastic students coming through the “pipeline.” Wat Srisoda, a temple in Chiang Mai, usually has more than 600 novices joining their temple school each year, but those numbers have reduced sharply. Last year there were only 50 novices. This appears to be a trend all over Chiang Mai: Wat Pa Pao had more than 40 monastics a few years ago but now has only 10. Over the last five years the number of monastics at Wat Som Phao has reduced by two-thirds.
With the plethora of news about misbehaving monks, there is little room in social media for positive stories about good monks. The problem is that positive stories, such as monks helping to build schools, or providing food for poor families, have no “legs.” These positive articles, appearing in social media, are read by the general public once, but scandals such as Phra Kato’s play out for weeks. Phra Kato’s strong but local media presence was quickly outweighed by the deluge of posts concerning his transgressions.
In July 2022, the new abbot of Wat Phan Sao held a panel discussion to reestablish the relationship between the monks and lay community. One woman brought up the issue of monastic scandals. The panelists focused on looking forward. It is natural, they said, that some monks will not be able to maintain the entirety of the renunciant’s lifestyle necessary to keep the monastic rules. Instead of feeling concerned, one panelist explained, laity should feel relieved. When scandals occur, those who are unable to maintain the monastic life are revealed, and only those who are pure will stay.
While the scandals have had a negative effect on male monks, they have had a positive effect on the small number of female monks, known as bhikkhunis. Monks (bhikkhu) are required to be celibate, forswear intoxicants, and follow the 227 behavioral rules of the Vinaya—the rules that govern behavior and appearance. In contrast, female monks (bhikkhunis) have 311 behavioral rules, and nuns (mae chi) follow eight precepts. There have been, as yet, no reports of bhikkunis or mae chi involved in sexual scandals. However, there are less than 300 bhikkhunis and around 30,000 mae chi in comparison with 300,000 bhikkhus.
Bhikkhunis are not allowed to ordain in Thailand. Instead, candidates travel to Sri Lanka for their novice training and ordination. Although their status as bhikkhuni is not accepted by the Thai sangha administration, they receive much support from lay people throughout Thailand who are aware of their dedicated practice. At the same time, many senior male monastics disapprove of bhikkhuni, believing that the Theravada lineage of bhikkhuni died out in the 11th century in Sri Lanka, and cannot be revived. Since there are fewer bhikkhuni and it takes great effort for them to ordain, they are, in general, committed to the proper practice of monasticism. Luang Mae Dhammananda, the first bhikkhuni in Thailand, feels that Thai Buddhists might be tiring of male monks and their scandals. She has observed an increasing number of supporters who only give alms to female monks and believes this could be attributed to their loss of trust for male monks.
The accumulated impact of these scandals is making Buddhism’s role in Thai society far more complicated. When monks are known to be in breach of their 227 rules there is less trust, more suspicion, and an increasingly fragile monastic-lay relationship. On the other hand, there are clear and prominent examples of dedicated and disciplined bhikkunis, who, although not uniformly accepted because they are women, point a way towards restoring Buddhism’s reputation in Thailand.
Brooke Schedneck is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee. She is the author of Religious Tourism in Northern Thailand: Encounters with Buddhist Monks, published by the University of Washington Press in 2021.
Steve Epstein is a visiting lecturer at the Chiang Mai campus of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Buddhist University in Thailand. He is the author of Lao Folktales, published by Silkworm Books.
Thai Monks Arrested In Child Sex Scandal: Thai Monks Allegedly Caught Fetching Child For Sex Agence France Presse Jun 19, 2013, 09:46 AM EDT Updated Dec 6, 2017
Chiang Khan's 'walking street', Chai Khong. Cocktail Kombi and monks.
Thai police said Wednesday they had arrested two monks for procuring a 14-year-old boy to perform sexual acts with an abbot, in the latest scandal to shake the kingdom's Buddhist clergy.
The pair, who deny any knowledge of the alleged abuse, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted, Police Colonel Wirachon Bunthawi told AFP from the northern city of Chiang Mai.
"The abbot is still at the temple and we're waiting for an arrest warrant for him," Wirachon said.
Based on the accounts of the victim and a driver, the two monks -- aged 20 and 23 -- are alleged to have taken the boy to see the abbot at the temple in Chiang Dao district in the Chiang Mai Province several times since February, police said.
The case comes in the wake of recent controversy in the Buddhist-dominated nation over footage posted on YouTube of three monks flying in a private jet, wearing earphones and sunglasses and travelling with a Louis Vuitton bag.
The video prompted debate over monks' adherence to austere principles which include living without possessions, beyond a handful of robes.
Thailand's Buddhist clergy has been hit by a series of scandals involving monks, with local media reporting cases of drug-taking, drinking, gambling and visiting prostitutes.
Thailand's Tainted Robes: Misbehaving Monks 101 East Al Jazeera English Dec 19, 2014
As scandals involving misbehaving monks rock the nation, 101 East examines if Thailand can save its moral soul.
Nehn Kham was once a hugely popular monk preaching in Thailand's poor northeast region. Today, he is an international fugitive with a $32m fortune that he amassed through fraud.
Buddhists around the world were shocked when footage emerged of the monk on a private plane, clutching a Louis Vuitton bag and fidgeting with high-end gadgets. His extravagance put him atop a long list of misbehaving monks making headlines in Thailand for fist fights, smuggling drugs, selling guns, hiding pornography and more.
In response, Thailand's military junta has set up a 24-hour hotline for the public to report rule-breaking monks. But the junta is also proposing new laws to criminalise breaking any Buddhist rule - a move some fear is an over-reaction that would threaten religious freedom.
101 East exclusively reveals where Thailand's infamous jet-setting monk has been hiding, and meets those on a mission to save the country's moral soul.
Transcript
Welcome to 101 East. I'm Steve Chao. With the shimmering temples and barefooted monks, Thailand represents the serene and sacred image of Buddhism in Southeast Asia. But frequent scandals involving cash, drugs, and guns, have shaken the monkhood to its core. Reporter Pailin Wedel investigates Thailand's criminal monks, and meets those on a mission to save the nation's moral soul.
THAILAND'S TAINTED ROBES: A FILM BY PAILIN WEDEL
[Narrator: Pailin Wedel, Bangkok, Thailand] For centuries, Buddhism has shaped the landscape and culture of Thailand. Temples line the river in the capital Bangkok. More than 90 percent of the nation is Buddhist, and believe in the concept of karma. For every action, there's a reaction. These are the values I was brought up with. I was taught to respect monks as teachers and role models, to honor them as guardians of the nation's moral soul. Monks lead lives of austerity, and self-discipline. They live on charity, renouncing worldly pleasures and possessions in place of prayer, fasting, and meditation. Today, 10,000 monks have gathered to perform a sacred ritual in downtown Bangkok. People offer food and money in return for good karma, an exchange known as "giving alms." The faithful kneel at the feet of the monks as a sign of respect. But that respect is being challenged as a series of scandals shake the public space in the monkhood. Buddhism in Thailand is more than just a religion, it's part of the national identity. So monks are the caretakers and teachers of the religion. Any criticism of the monkhood, or any wrongdoing by monks, is seen as a sensitive issue. But there's another side to the monkhood. Thai media show shocking footage of misbehaving monks every week.
[Reporter] The latest pictures spreading on social media. A monk hugging two foreign women.
[Narrator] Breaking Buddhist vows of chastity is considered a serious offense. But some monks are also breaking the law.
[Woman] He was detained along with a 17-year-old teenager, and they had guns.
[Man] Guns everywhere. Like, dozens of them.
[Woman] They had mobile phones, Buddha statues and more importantly gay pornographic CDs.
[Narrator] The public watches in shame as monks fight other monks, and get arrested for being drunk, eroding the trusted bond between monks and the Thai people.
[Monk] No lies, no more lies.
[Narrator] To understand this deep relationship, I follow someone at the beginning of his journey as a monk. Every Thai man is expected to do this at least once in his life. Some become monks forever. But most men only ordain for a few days of their duty.
[Man] To ordain as a monk is to sacrifice. We have to learn to live without desire, and teach people about the religion. Monks give up normal life and without monks, Buddhism cannot survive.
Norrapat is spending 10 days in the temple as a sign of gratitude towards his elderly parents his head is shaved to show that he's abandoning worldly desires
[Man] In this lifetime, you should ordain for your parents at least once. That's my belief. I hope that this will bring us together again in the next life, and that it will bring my parents good karma. -- Norrapat Engbuneesakul, ordaining monk
[Narrator] This is his last meal with his family as a monk he will follow 227 rules like eating only before noon and having no physical contact with women.
[Men] [Shouting in street]
[Narrator] To announce his ordination, he's carried around the temple three times, representing Buddha, his teachings, and the community.
I think it's going to be quite difficult. There's a lot for me to adjust to. -- Norrapat Engbuneesakul, ordaining monk
[Narrator] Inside, a purification ceremony prepares his heart and mind for the task ahead. Norrapat must pledge to resist the temptations of modern life, vows that others have broken. Thailand's most famous misbehaving monk is named Nehn Kham, who made headlines for travelling on a private jet, wearing designer glasses, and toting Louis Vuitton luggage. Authorities estimate he amassed a fortune of 32 million U.S. dollars in more than 40 bank accounts. Police charged him with money laundering, embezzlement, and fraud, but he fled Thailand and disappeared. And these aren't the only crimes he's accused of.
At first, I felt like I fell in love with him. But I didn't know what would happen in the times ahead. I never thought that it could turn out this way. -- "Dao", Alleged Victim
[Narrator] Nehn Kham has also been charged with having sex with a minor. I tracked down the alleged victim in Si Sa Ket province where his temple is. She asked me not to use her real name, so I'll call her "Dao." She was 14 when she met Nehn Kham, and lived with her grandmother who worshipped him. Dao says he would send a car to pick her up for dates.
I'm an adult now. Back then I didn't know anything. I didn't know that he was taking advantage of me. -- "Dao", Alleged Victim
[Narrator] By the time she was 15, Dao was pregnant. Recent DNA tests prove that Nehn Kham is the father of her eldest son.
I don't really have a future anymore. But my son, he has a future. It's not like he doesn't have a father. He has one. His son should be doing better. I don't think about anything else but my son. I just want my son to be comfortable. [Crying] Every time I talk about this I cry. -- "Dao", Alleged Victim
[Narrator This used to be Nehn Kham's temple. This is where he claims supernatural powers, like being able to walk on water, or fly. This is also where he asked many to donate millions to him. Now with him abroad, and on the run, the temple is very quiet, with only a couple of monks living here. A giant Buddha he built here is no longer worshipped. Thai police have cancelled his passport, but more than 18 months later Nehn Kham is yet to face trial. But 101 East tracked him down, living as a free man in the United States.
Some people tell me, Nehn Kham has eight wives. Oh, dear! Since I've ordained, I haven't lost my virginity. I'll tell you what, it's not easy to get me as a husband. -- Nehn Kham
Wat Souvannkiry 3684 52nd Street San Diego, CA 92105 Tel: 619-436-8558 Sunday October 26, 2014
In this footage, leaked to us by a follower, Nehn Kham delivers a sermon at a temple in San Diego, California. It's dated October 26. Although he's been defrocked in Thailand, he still has a large following here.
I am not guilty like the news says. The news has ruined my reputation. -- Nehn Kham
[Narrator] He's been living at his property outside San Diego that bears the same name as his temple. Inside, a large statue is engraved with his name.
I will practice and spread my faith here in the United States from now on. -- Nehn Kham
[Narrator] I requested an interview with Nehn Kham, but he flees once again. His time in California may soon be up. Thai police say they're seeking his extradition.
Former “Nen Kham” gets 114 years for cheating Thai PBS World August 9, 2018
Wirapol Sukphol, better known as Luang Pu Nen Kham Chattiko, former monastic chief of Wat Pa Khantitham monastery in Ubon Ratchathani province, was today sentenced to 114 years in jail for cheating the public, violating the computer act and money-laundering.
The Court also ordered the former monk to return 28.6 million baht to 29 individuals he was accused of cheating.
According to the lawsuit, during the period between Feb 17, 2009-June 27, 2013 Wirapol or Nen Kham deceived people to contribute money for the construction of what he described as the world’s largest emerald Buddha statue. Nen Kham claimed he was told to do so by Indra, a diety of Hinduism, who he said met him in his dream.
Nen Kham told his faithful disciples that the Buddha statue must be built with genuine emerald from Italy. He said a structure supported by 199 pillars must also be built to cover the statue, and the price of each pillar was 300,000 baht. The former monk said more money was also needed to build a gold cast of him; to build a temple in Suphan Buri; and to buy a ship from the United States to transport relief supplies to flood victims.
Nen Kham told the faithfuls to donate money, gold and other property to him at Wat Pa Khantitham monastery in Ubon Ratchathani. Twenty-nine individuals fell prey to his scam and donated altogether 28.6 million baht to him.
According to the lawsuit, Nen Kham transferred 1.13 million baht from the donated amount to buy a Toyota van but has never used the money to build anything he said he would.
The court sentenced him to altogether 114 years in jail. However, according to Section 91(2) of the Criminal Procedures Code, the maximum jail term is limited to 20 years.
The court also ordered Nen Kham to return the money he deceived from the 29 individuals.
In 2013, the case received much media attention. Nen Kham was photographed in July 2013 wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses, holding a Louis Vuitton bag full of US dollars, leading to him being dubbed a “jet-set” monk.
Nen Kham fled to the United States where he stayed for a period before being extradited last year to face court trial.
[Narrator] Back in Bangkok, I meet the man who brought the Nen Kham case to light. Songkan Artchariyasarp, is a lawyer who made it his mission to drive out misbehavior in the monkhood.
We never expected it to become such a big case at a national level, and worldwide. -- Songkan Artchariyasarp, Lawyer
[Narrator] Driven by his desire to protect his religion and country, Songkan has exposed more than 60 monks for misconduct in the past eight years. It has made him somewhat of a celebrity. People crowd into his house asking for help when a monk has done something wrong.
I've been a big fan of your work for such a long time. -- Woman
[Narrator] Songkan uses the media to put pressure on authorities to act against bad monks. Most of his information comes from his popular Facebook page, where he first raised suspicion about Nen Kham. But his techniques have attracted critics.
People say, you're going to hell for exposing a monk. So I turn around and ask them, "Are you really telling me that I'm going to hell?" And instead of answering, they run away. Like Nen Kham has run away. -- Songkan Artchariyasarp, Lawyer
[Narrator] Because monks are placed above ordinary people, reporting them can upset Thailand's complex social hierarchy. Many say Songkan, and his team of investigators, are often the only ones who'll listen.
It's like preventing people from drowning. I take them and guide them to the authorities. And I do it for the good of the world. -- Songkan Artchariyasarp, Lawyer
[Narrator] But Songkan is not the only one uncovering serious crimes by monks. Another, more sinister case, is making headlines. I fly to the northern city of Chiang Mai, where police recently arrested six monks alleged to be running a pedophile ring.
Today, we're going to look at the case of Du Dam. -- Chayakorn Mamungpanitarn, Chiang Mai Police
[Narrator] Chayakorn Mamungpanitarn, is the lead investigator.
The main monk in this ring is Prat Du Dam. And there are five other abbots involved. All together there are six people. And then there are eight kids who are the victims. All of them are boys between the age of 12 and 15. -- Chayakorn Mamungpanitarn, Chiang Mai Police
[Narrator] The boys came forward to the police through a community outreach program. Over seven months, a team of investigators and social workers gathered evidence against the monks.
We went to the temples that the boys mentioned to us, and took photos of the monks. Then we showed the photos to the boys for verification. Du dam was bringing these children to abbots at different temples in the Chiang Mai and ____ provinces, so they could sexually violate them. Du Dam himself got money in return: ten to fifteen dollars each time. -- Chayakorn Mamungpanitarn, Chiang Mai Police
[Narrator] The police raided five temples, and discovered pornography, and sex toys. This is one of the accused monks, who is defrocked and taken into custody.
We also found a camera containing photos of naked boys. We found more than 100 boys in these photos. These were kept in their living quarters. -- Chayakorn Mamungpanitarn, Chiang Mai Police
[Chayakorn Mamungpanitarn, Chiang Mai Police] Behind this wall is one of the five temples where the abbots received the boys from Du Dam, to rape and sexually abuse them.
[Narrator] Are people here still faithful to the temple?
[Chayakorn Mamungpanitarn, Chiang Mai Police] The villagers have been faithful from the beginning. Even today with the news saying that he's been arrested, they are still loyal to the temple. They refuse to acknowledge what he's done.
[Narrator] In the six months involved, only Du Dam is in jail. Four monks are out on bail waiting to be sentenced, while another avoided jail time because he confessed. Chayakorn says the Attorney General plans to appeal for harsher punishment.
Our biggest challenge is dealing with the religious institutions. It seems that they are more interested in protecting the accused monks. -- Chayakorn Mamungpanitarn, Chiang Mai Police
[Narrator] It's taboo for authorities to put monks in handcuffs, or behind bars. They must be defrocked first, which is up to the monkhood itself.
If the police have incontrovertible evidence of such crimes, we don't consider them as monks anymore. If they do something that serious, they are not monks. Real monks could not do something like that. -- Phra Vimon Munee, Monk Police Leader
[Narrator] The monkhood in Thailand has its own justice system. Every province has a committee of Monk police who investigate wrongdoing. Like this one in Chiang Mei. But when there's criminal behavior, like the alleged pedophile ring, Thailand's official police step in. Phra Vimon Munee has been investigating his fellow monks for twenty years. In the eyes of Buddhism, Monk police want offenders to gain understanding through awareness of their wrongdoing.
According to Buddhist belief, people who commit crimes are already dead to goodness. So there is no punishment like execution or hitting, or cutting with knives in Buddhist rules. Under Buddhism, we want them to be aware of their misdeeds, and take responsibility by being willfully defrocked. -- Phra Vimon Munee, Monk Police Leader
[Narrator] To people outside this religion, this might seem lenient. But in Thai society, being defrocked is a serious punishment. It brings shame to the monk and the community he lives in.
[Police] Why weren't you at the temple?
[Monk] I was doing my walking meditation.
[All Policemen] Ohhhh!!!
[Narrator] This monk has been caught selling food that was donated to him. Both police and military are called to the scene. When questioned, he's unable to recite any Buddhist prayers. He's declared a fake, and disrobed. After he's in custody, I'm allowed to talk to him.
[Narrator] People are saying you sold the food you received from alms.
[Man] Ha ha ha ha ha. No, I didn't sell anything. I was going to eat it myself. It's only after I've finished what I can eat that I bring the rest to family and friends.
[Narrator] So, have you been defrocked?
[Man] Yes, I've been defrocked at Nonchai Village.
[Narrator] Did the monk leadership defrock you, or did the police defrock you?
[Man] The monk leadership.
[Narrator] How are you feeling about this now?
[Man] I feel a little sad.
[Narrator] You feel that you are innocent?
[Man] Yes.
[Narrator] In response to the number of bad monk cases in the media, Thailand's military government wants to clean up the image of Buddhism. It has set up a hotline to receive calls from the public reporting suspicious monk activity. In just five months, they've received 900 calls.
[National Office of Buddhism Hotline Operator] Hello, this is the National Office of Buddhism hotline.
We see cases like complaints about misbehavior with women, misuse of money, gambling and drugs. These make up the majority of the cases we see. -- Chatchai Chuchau, National Office of Buddhism
[Narrator] Inspector General Chatchai Chuchau works with the monk police to investigate complaints. He says his department has resolved about 800 cases so far, but he admits that their power is limited.
The biggest punishment they can get is to be defrocked. After they are defrocked, our job is over. -- Chatchai Chuchau, National Office of Buddhism
[Narrator] He wants something much stronger for monks who break Buddhist rules: to be punished under criminal law. And Thailand's military government is drafting a bill to do just that. This means, breaking a vow of celibacy could result in fines, or jail time, for the monks, as well as for the women they're caught with. Even minor violations of Buddhist law could become criminal acts in Thailand.
Like if we see that people are putting Buddha images on the ground, this would be illegal, and the new law will help us. -- Chatchai Chuchau, National Office of Buddhism
[Narrator] This would set a new precedent in Thailand, using the power of the State to enforce Buddhist rules, which critics fear would threaten religious freedom. It's been a week since Norrapat became a monk, and he's trying hard to ignore all distractions.
I definitely miss my family. My oldest child is 35 years old now, but I've always lived with my family, but I've just ordained, so of course I miss my family. -- Norrapat Engbuneesakul, ordaining monk
[Narrator] His days at the monastery are spent meditating and reading Buddhist literature. And he says it's forcing him to think differently about his life.
I have definitely changed. I follow the precepts according to Buddhism, and I am now more present. I used to drink a lot, to the point that I would lose consciousness. But now that I've ordained, I know that it's a bad thing. After this, I'm going to change, and be a new person. I will stop drinking. Ordination has made me a better person. -- Norrapat Engbuneesakul, ordaining monk
[Narrator] Thailand has 350,000 monks. Most, like Norrapat, managed to stay out of trouble. Bad monk cases get widespread attention, because it's unexpected and shocking. But it's unclear if more monks are misbehaving, or if the modern age is simply exposing their frailties.
My advice to other men is to ordain when you are ready. Not when someone asks, or forces you to. You need to know what you want out of being a monk, and why. And prepare yourself for ordination. That's my advice to them. -- Norrapat Engbuneesakul, ordaining monk
[Narrator] In the forest, on top of a mountain in northern Thailand, Phra Sema Gatathammo is deep in a walking meditation. He has dedicated his life to Buddhism, choosing to live without money, or smartphones, and instead devotes his days to following his faith. But he understands why some monks struggle.
People believe that monks should behave strictly according to the scriptures. But misbehavior can happen in every nation, and every religion. -- Phra Sema Gatathammo, Forest Monk
[Narrator] He says ultimately, monks are just regular men.
Like all humans, we have different levels of sincerity. Monks are the same. People have big expectations for us, that we need to always be pious, strict. But there will always be times when that's not the case. Monks are just the same as other people. -- Phra Sema Gatathammo, Forest Monk
[Narrator] Though new scandals leave fresh stains on the faith, Thais aren't abandoning their religion. The monkhood is under more public scrutiny than ever, but across society, everyone, from private citizens to the government, is stepping in to protect Buddhist values. They know the stakes are high. Buddhism and the Thai identity are closely intertwined. And if Buddhism becomes tainted, so too will the nation's faith in itself.
