Re: Monks in private jets pass test
Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:29 am
I think you missed the point there, or chose not to attribute it where it was intended to be attributed.binocular wrote: Oh, and papañca rwles, as always.
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I think you missed the point there, or chose not to attribute it where it was intended to be attributed.binocular wrote: Oh, and papañca rwles, as always.
He will probably be very welcome in Francegavesako wrote:So here we go -- Luang Pu Nenkham and money laundering investigation, he will probably ask for exile in France next:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... laundering
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 09598.html
That's a bit difficult, I wonder when this monastery was established, as you see there is a Thai forest tradition monastery in New Zealand called Bodhinyanarama which was established in the 1980's to the best of my knowledge. It presents some obvious difficulties that both monasteries share the same name, and I'm curious to know which was established first.suriyopama wrote:He will probably be very welcome in Francegavesako wrote:So here we go -- Luang Pu Nenkham and money laundering investigation, he will probably ask for exile in France next:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... laundering
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 09598.html
http://bodhinyanarama.org/fr/2013/01/vi ... -mai-2013/
http://bodhinyanarama.org/fr/celebratio ... -mai-2013/
http://www.ledauphine.com/ardeche/2013/ ... bouddhiste
According to their website, it was established on 7 July 1977.BlackBird wrote:That's a bit difficult, I wonder when this monastery was established, as you see there is a Thai forest tradition monastery in New Zealand called Bodhinyanarama which was established in the 1980's to the best of my knowledge. It presents some obvious difficulties that both monasteries share the same name, and I'm curious to know which was established first.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... r-nen-khamThe monk went to Europe and has remained there since video clips and pictures showed him travelling on a private jet and helicopter, wearing expensive trendy accessories, going shopping in Paris, and sleeping with a woman.
Sukhum Wongprasit, one of his followers, on Wednesday urged the CSD to take action against those editing the clips on the monk and the woman. Mr Sukhum said the video was intentionally released to damage Nen Kham's reputation.
Phra Khru Wisutthiyan, chief of Si Sa Ket monks, has given Nen Kham until the end of this month to report to him, and to undergo an internal investigation that includes his disciplines. The monk chief said Luang Pu Nen Kham will be banned from the province if he ignores the order, and his case will be transferred to Ubon Ratchathani province.
Nen Kham has instructed his secretary to tell Phra Khru Wisutthiyan that he was on a "religious mission" in Europe and is unable to confirm the exact date of his return to Thailand.
BlackBird wrote:Sleeping with a women? Are we to assume this monk is no longer a monk?
Of course now we are getting into the realm of the sensational, and I would like to play devils advocate in this situation by saying that the photo does not prove it was a women, it could very well be a man.Later, a photo of the 34-year-old high-profile monk sleeping with a person who looked like a female was circulated on the Thai net sphere.
Local media Manager online reported that the monk has eight wives and two children.
Relationship with females are strictly prohibited for monks, and lavish lifestyle is considered a violation of the monks' precepts.
Apparently he refused to disrobe (not that he had a choice in the matter but nevertheless) - Thailand attempted to extradite him back to Thailand from the States on criminal charges of impersonating a monk, but they were refused it would seem. I wonder if he still wears the robes?gavesako wrote:If some of you remember, more than 15 years ago there was a similar case involving the famous Ajahn Yantra. He faced similar charges and eventually fled to USA where he coninues to live and dress as a kind of Buddhist rishi.
That's an interesting concept. Can you provide an example of such things occuring? I cannot think of one. But my mind is far from perfect.binocular wrote:I think that one of the core problems around these jet-set monks (or the radical Buddhists in Burma etc.) actually has to do with the doubts that the critics themselves have about the Dhamma - but which they refuse to face and deal with, so they take out their frustration on those they perceive as "underperforming Buddhists."
While I think you've made a decent case, and I'm sorry because I feel like I'm nitpicking: I was hoping for an actual example, given the fact you stated categorically that one of the core problems is something existent, and yet you gave no such existent examples of such things happening - Just hypotheticals. That'd be perfectly fine if your previous post hadn't been so definite in saying:binocular wrote:When seeing monks in private jets, thoughts such as these might occur to a person:
"When I see monks in private jets, I get doubts about the Dhamma. I get doubts about whether renunciation of any kind is valid or worth it."
"When I see monks in private jets, I lose all interest to meditate or to do any Buddhist practice."
"When I see monks in private jets, I feel I am in a catch 22, because I know that on the one hand, I am supposed to trust the monastics and cannot make progress without trusting them, but on the other hand, it feels repugnant to trust jet set monks - and what they officially represent, namely Buddhism."
"When I see monks in private jets, I think that if this is Buddhism, then I don't want to have anything to do with it. But if I give up Buddhism, then what am I going to do about my suffering?"
Etc.
However, these concerns may be so painful or overwhelming that the person who has them will fall into denial, and instead just lash out at the jet set monks or other Buddhists they deem offensive. Because, after all, if all the monks (and all the other Buddhists) would behave properly, then one wouldn't be aware of one's doubts about the Dhamma and could - seemingly - carry on as a happy camper.
That sad, I'd like to see what would happen if those who are critical of those jet set monks would go and visit them and personally tell them what they think about the whole matter, how they find that seeing monks living in such luxury or sin affects their outlook on the Dhamma and their practice thereof.
I think a better phrasing might have been 'one of the core problems people might faceI think that one of the core problems around these jet-set monks (or the radical Buddhists in Burma etc.) actually has to do with the doubts that the critics themselves have about the Dhamma - but which they refuse to face and deal with, so they take out their frustration on those they perceive as "underperforming Buddhists."