Buddhist monk
- Thailand News
Disgraced monk shakes foundations of Buddhist faith in Thailand
In a scandal that’s rattled the pious halls of a renowned temple in Don Sak District, Surat Thani Province, a disgraced monk has brought shame once more to the Buddhist faith of Thailand. The abbot, once a spiritual leader, is now at the centre of a sordid tale involving indecent selfies sent to a laywoman, enveloping the temple in scandal…
- Thailand News
Holy brows: Monk’s DIY eyebrow hack sends Internet into frenzy
A monk’s innovative eyebrow solution left the Internet in stitches after photos of his welfare card verification saga went viral yesterday. The Buddhist monk, whose name was not disclosed, encountered a modern-day dilemma at a blue-flag store. The state welfare payment app couldn’t match his face to the photo on his welfare card, thanks to his bare brow: a hallmark…
- Thailand News
Billionaire’s heir shuns US$5bn fortune for life as forest monk
In a tale that sounds straight out of a spiritual bestseller, Ajahn Siripanyo, the only son of Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan, turned his back on a US$5 billion inheritance to pursue the humble life of a Buddhist monk. Ananda, one of Malaysia’s richest tycoons, oversees a sprawling empire that includes telecom, satellites, oil, real estate, and media. Yet his son,…
- Thailand News
Thai monk in Isaan denies sexual encounter allegation with followers
A Thai monk in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham denied engaging in sexual activities with his followers and accused another monk of attempting to tarnish his reputation due to a financial dispute. The accusations against the renowned monk surfaced after the news Facebook page J Moi V+ (เจ๊มอย v+) shared the story yesterday, November 25. The page claimed to…
- Thailand News
Holy smoke: Abbot’s ‘vow of lavishness’ amid girlfriend scandal
The deputy abbot of a temple in the Isaan province of Maha Sarakham renounced his monkhood last night after being accused of having a girlfriend and providing her with a luxurious lifestyle. The deputy abbot’s violation of monastic rules was first revealed by the Facebook news page, คุณท้าวศรีสุวรรณภิรมย์ภักดี (Khun Thao Srisuwan Phiromphakdee), yesterday, November 4. The page began the story…
- Thailand News
Unholy muddle: Monks caught in naughty habits in defrock shock
Police officers and a village head raided a monk’s quarters, resulting in the defrocking of two monks for engaging in drug use, drinking alcohol, and having an illicit affair with a local man’s wife. The raid occurred after receiving complaints and evidence of inappropriate behaviour. The search took place at a temple in Lahan Sai district, Buriram province yesterday, October…
- Thailand News
British-Thai monk and Thai national artist win diplomacy award
Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award named three remarkable figures as this year’s recipients, the Thailand Foundation revealed yesterday. A revered monk, an iconic composer, and a leading cultural institution will be honoured for their monumental contributions to promoting Thai culture and values across the globe. The prestigious honour has gone to Phra Phrompacharayanmuni (Ajahn Jayasaro), a British-Thai Buddhist monk, whose dedication…
- Thailand News
Deceased monk found on Udon Thani road sparks safety concerns
A monk was found dead on a road in Udon Thani province, leaving locals puzzled about the circumstances. The incident, which occurred around 8pm yesterday, September 6, has raised concerns about road safety and the need for better street lighting in the area. Police Lieutenant Apiwut Leepontong, an investigator at Nong Han Police Station, received a report of a monk…
- Thailand News
Kalasin monk exposed by activist for possession of drugs and guns
Renowned Thai social activist, in collaboration with the Kalasin police and local administration, intervened to help a young man allegedly threatened by a monk. During the investigation, police discovered firearms, methamphetamine, and marijuana in the monk’s quarters. At 2pm yesterday, July 7, at Khao Wong Police Station in Kalasin province, social activist Kanthas Phongphaiboonwetch, also known as Gun Jompalang, coordinated…
- Thailand News
Shady ex-monk accused of leaking naked images in major scandal
An ex-monk from Uthai Thani is embroiled in a major scandal, facing serious allegations of physical violence and coercing his ex-girlfriend into a compromising video call. This incident resulted in the unauthorised distribution of her naked images within his temple community. The victim, Manita, sought assistance from a government advisor and the founder of the Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook…
- Thailand News
Monks’ wild antics: Sanctuary showdown ends in poaching arrest
Ongoing tales of monks behaving badly continue, this time in the Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary in northeastern Thailand, as two Buddhist monks, Phra Maha Montri and novice Atikhun Maneewong, were apprehended for allegedly engaging in wildlife poaching. They were released on bail on Saturday, with their relatives acting as guarantors. The arrest took place on Thursday, punctuating ongoing investigations into…
- Thailand News
Monk’s miraculous escape inspires lottery frenzy over license plate
A revered Thai monk known for his amulets miraculously survived a car accident unscathed, sparking interest among local lottery enthusiasts in the vehicle’s license plate number. The incident occurred yesterday when the monk’s car flipped but neither he nor his passengers sustained serious injuries. This event has captivated the public’s attention, with many attributing the fortunate escape to the protective powers of…
- Thailand News
Thai government issuing smart ID cards to Buddhist monks
The Thai government has begun issuing smart ID cards to over 100,000 Buddhist monks across the nation, revealed Puangpet Chunlaiad, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. These ID cards contain crucial details about each monk’s history and are linked to the country’s citizenship database managed by the Interior Ministry. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to enhance…
- Thailand News
Wat Choeng Khao festival merges spiritual rites with lively concerts
The annual festival at Wat Choeng Khao in Saraburi Province promises to be a vibrant blend of religious reverence and festive entertainment as it welcomes visitors to participate in various activities from February 9 to 25. Headlined by celebrated artists including Pu Pongsit and Monkan Kankoon, the event is set to deliver a full-scale concert experience, alongside the opportunity to…
- Thailand News
Buddhist monk Phra Phayom weighs in on ‘year brewing’ social media storm
Renowned Buddhist monk Phra Phayom discusses the recent social media controversy over the Chinese astrological belief of year brewing. He urges people to maintain a good state of mind and to believe in karma and perseverance, citing the example of the heated debate on social media initiated by Prairie Praiwan Wannabutr. Today, reporters asked Phra, the abbot of Wat Suan…
- Thailand News
Monk turns influencer: Thai monk faces backlash for enjoying Japan trip
Thai netizens criticised a well-known Thai monk from Rai Pru Temple in the southern province of Trang after he shared videos of himself and other monks travelling to Japan and enjoying soft ice cream and snow, which is considered inappropriate for monks. The Twitter account, Red Skull, shared a video of the deputy abbot of Rai Pru Temple, Phra Maha…
- Thailand News
Drunk driving monk: Altercation causes 8,000 baht damage to Thai teacher’s car
A video of a drunk-driving Buddhist monk in an inebriated state, engaging in a traffic altercation, has gone viral online. The monk, driving a sedan, collided with another vehicle after crossing into the wrong lane. The incident escalated into a verbal dispute with the other party involved. The police were called, and an alcohol test revealed that the monk’s alcohol level…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai abbot accused of physically and sexually abusing novices
Police rescued three Lao novices from a temple in Mae Rim district, northern Chiang Mai province after the abbot was accused of physically and sexually abusing them. Sex toys, G-strings and beer were found in the abbot’s accommodation. A 20 year old Lao man, Tawanchai, sought help from officers at Mae Rim Police Station after his 12 year old brother,…
- Thailand News
Infamous monk Kay defrocks after directive for capture, following violation of Buddhist law (Video)
In accordance with Buddhist law, the recent defrocking of Khanech Suchinano, also known as Kay, highlights the consequences of violating monastic discipline and the measures taken by relevant authorities. Khanech, also known as Kay, was officially defrocked following a directive for his immediate capture. He originally entered monkhood via a mass ordination programme organised by a temple. According to a…
- Phuket News
Governor’s serene journey: Phuket official’s monk ordainment sets tone for upcoming retirement
In preparation for his forthcoming retirement on September 30, Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew initiated a 15-day monk ordainment at Wat Pa Phutthaphot Hariphunchai in Lamphun province. The ceremony, conducted by the revered Chao Khun Luangpo Arayawangso, was held on Saturday night, August 26. The governor’s decision to take temporary monkhood reflects a deep-rooted Thai tradition and is a testament to…
- Thailand News
Young man ordains to thank heroic student who saved life with CPR after crash (video)
Three months after a near-death motorcycle accident, a young Thai man, Jame, has entered the monkhood to express his gratitude to a heroic 17 year old student, who performed CPR and saved his life. The student, Kanasak Nakte, is a volunteer rescuer in Surat Thani province in South Thailand. The incident took place on February 15, when a motorcycle collided…
- Thailand News
Phra Ratchawacharangsi, renowned Thai monk, dies at 89 after lifetime of devotion
Thai monk and respected author Phra Ratchawacharangsi, known for creating the sacred book “Man Pithi”, has passed away peacefully at the age of 89 after 69 years of religious service. The revered figure succumbed to his illness yesterday at Bangkok Hospital. The news of Phra Ratchawacharangsi’s passing was shared on the Facebook page of Buddhist News, with followers and fellow…
- Crime News
Imposter monk scams temples, steals over 20 robes worth 20,000 baht
A man disguised as a monk stole over 20 Buddhist monks’ robes worth 20,000 baht from Chong Lom temple in Samut Sakhon province yesterday. The imposter claimed to be the abbot of the temple and loaded the stolen items into a white Isuzu D-Max pick-up truck with Bangkok registration, as captured on CCTV. Yesterday, a man dressed as a monk…
- Thailand News
Thai Buddhist monk’s daily life TikTok goes viral (video)
A video showing a day in the life of a Thai Buddhist monk went viral, garnering over 600,000 views within hours, as the TikTok vlog gained praise from netizens and increased interest in monastic life. Yesterday a Thai Buddhist monk using the TikTok handle @mek_tc posted a video blog (Vlog) offering a glimpse into the daily life of a monk.…
- Thailand News
Buddhist monk’s car crash meltdown in Bangkok
Police rushed to suppress a potentially volatile incident after a Buddhist monk smashed a car and later hid in the main hall of the Lao Temple in the Bang Khun Thian district of Bangkok. A local told police that he believed the monk was out of control due to stress after learning too much online Buddhist doctrine. The monk was…
- Thailand News
Buddhist abbot’s secret affair with married woman results in disrobing
A Buddhist abbot found himself embroiled in controversy after allegedly having a secret year-long affair with a local woman. The family of the woman visited the temple to confront the abbot, leading to the revelation of evidence that subsequently pressured him to disrobe. Yesterday, April 30, a group of family members arrived at a temple located in Chumphon province, due to…
- Northern Thailand News
Thai monk does goal celebration after escaping military conscription (video)
A Buddhist monk ran around the room like a celebrating footballer upon drawing a black card at a military conscription draftee selection event in Nakhon Ratchasima in northeast Thailand on Sunday, meaning that he won’t be required to serve in the military. Cheers erupted from the crowd when a black card was drawn for 24 year old Phra Phuwanai Gayputsa…
- Thailand News
English-born Buddhist monk Ajahn Jayasaro becomes Thai
HRH the King may have bestowed Thai nationality upon famous farang Buddhist monk Ajahn Jayasaro back in 2020 but it took almost three years to get his Thai ID card. On Sunday, Phra Ajahn Jayasaro took photos for his new Thai ID card in Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeast Thailand. On March 9, 2020, King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand bestowed Thai…
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- Thailand News
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