monk

  • Eastern Thailand NewsUnable to find a temple home, monk living in bus terminal

    Unable to find a temple home, monk living in bus terminal

    The Thaiger recently covered “The Terminal, Bangkok Edition” – a story of a woman stranded in the terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport for two months waiting for her pickup. Now, in the Trat province, a uniquely Thai version of the Hollywood movie starring Tom Hanks has transpired. A monk in the eastern province of Thailand found himself stranded in a bus…

  • Thailand NewsWinter is Coming to Thailand… I GMT

    Winter is Coming to Thailand… I GMT

    New rule for cash deposit machines from November 15th. Ministry eyes steps to spur spending. Bangkok could hit lows of 15°C by end of October. Drunken monk with an axe causes chaos smashing cars. Flood-damaged Phuket returning to normal. – all are coming up today.

  • Thailand NewsDrug Testing Police officers & Crackdown on Drugs in Thailand | GMT

    Drug Testing Police officers & Crackdown on Drugs in Thailand | GMT

    Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse theme park opened today. 3,500 police officers in Chiang Mai take drug tests. Honouring the 6th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death. The new MRT Yellow Line monorail train starts a trial run today. Monk ends Buddhist Lent with a bang in northeast Thailand. Airline flight capacity is up, Thai tourism officials hopeful. – all are coming…

  • Thailand NewsVIDEO: Elephant kills monk in eastern Thailand

    VIDEO: Elephant kills monk in eastern Thailand

    A 66 year old Buddhist monk was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Chanthanaburi province in eastern Thailand on Saturday. The terrifying moment was captured by CCTV. At 5am yesterday, a monk came out of his hut and discovered the body of Phra Prachon Suksingh outside on the temple grounds. It was clear that he had been trampled…

  • Thailand NewsAn Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation in Thailand for Foreigners

    An Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation in Thailand for Foreigners

      Have you ever wanted to visit a temple in Thailand and learn more about Thai buddhism and meditation in English? No matter who you are or what you have been through, iMONASTRY teaches you about the benefits of meditation and provides you with an opportunity to be ordained as a monk, with a possibility of an ongoing visa.  …

  • Thailand NewsFamous Thailand monk caught drink driving, carrying methamphetamine

    Famous Thailand monk caught drink driving, carrying methamphetamine

    A famous Thailand monk, known for his predictions and visions, was reportedly caught drink driving with methamphetamine pills hidden inside his robes after a 20-kilometre police chase yesterday in eastern province Mukdahan, which borders Laos. Police followed a pickup truck after it ran a red light in Mukdahan city. Turns out a famous monk was behind the wheel. Officers chased…

  • Bangkok NewsEsteemed Thai monk dies at the age of 85 after cancer battle

    Esteemed Thai monk dies at the age of 85 after cancer battle

    One of the most revered monks in the kingdom has died at the age of 85. The Bangkok Post reports that Somdet Phra Wannarat, who was abbot of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, a major Buddhist temple in Bangkok, died yesterday after losing his battle with gall bladder cancer. He had served as abbot at the temple since 2015. According to the…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Thailand’s newest airport set to open on March 14

    Thailand News Update | Thailand’s newest airport set to open on March 14

    Police are still baffled over exactly what happened on the night Thai actress, known as Tangmo, drowned in the Chao Phraya. At this stage only two people have been charged over the events – the speedboat’s owner and the skipper on the evening. Beyond that police, whilst not necessarily suspecting foul play, say their mystified as to the different accounts…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Update | Thais evacuate Ukraine & Storm in Thailand damages 200 homes

    Thailand News Update | Thais evacuate Ukraine & Storm in Thailand damages 200 homes

    Forty-seven Thais arrived at the help centre in the Ukrainian city of Lviv with more on their way yesterday… this from the Thai embassy in Warsaw, in neighbouring Poland. The embassy, which is making arrangements to evacuate Thais from Ukraine currently under attack from Russian military forces, said 47 Thai citizens reached Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine yesterday.…

  • Thailand NewsBollywood actor to become monk for 15 days, wants to promote Buddhism in India

    Bollywood actor to become monk for 15 days, wants to promote Buddhism in India

    A Bollywood actor who recently ordained into monkhood in Bangkok said he wants to spread the message of Buddhism in India. In a Facebook post, he said it was time for him to learn Dhamma, understand impermanence, gain knowledge, and “roll the wheel of Dhamma in India.” The actor, Gagan Malik, will only live as a monk for 15 days,…

  • Transport NewsPolice charge motorbike rider for excessive speed through crosswalk that killed doctor last week

    Police charge motorbike rider for excessive speed through crosswalk that killed doctor last week

    After a reflective week of Thai social media mulling over the death of the ophthalmologist Dr. Waraluck Supwatjariyakul last Friday, police have reported new circumstances surrounding the incident. Investigations have revealed that the policeman rider was well in excess of the speed limit when he struck, and killed, the doctor. Police now say that 21 year old Pol Lance Corporal…

  • South Thailand NewsPolice arrest suspects who defrauded monk out of 140,000 baht

    Police arrest suspects who defrauded monk out of 140,000 baht

    Police have been making progress in tracking down members of a call centre group that defrauded a monk in the south of Thailand out of 140,000 baht. Another arrest was made by cyber police, this time a 45 year old woman from Roi Et, whose bank account received payments from the monk. The group of scammers had tricked a monk…

  • South Thailand NewsBomb in Narathiwat explodes, monks and soldiers unharmed

    Bomb in Narathiwat explodes, monks and soldiers unharmed

    In the Deep South province of Narathiwat bordering on Malaysia, a bomb exploded this morning, with 2 monks and 2 soldiers narrowly escaping harm. The explosion took place early this morning on the side of the road in Rueso district of the province that often sees violence and bombings from local insurgents. As is common for Buddhist monks in Thailand,…

  • Crime News63 million baht in stolen donations returned to revered abbot

    63 million baht in stolen donations returned to revered abbot

    Three people, including a temple caretaker, were arrested for allegedly embezzling around 63 million baht donations from a Buddhist temple in the central province Nakhon Sawan. The Bangkok Post reports that the cash has been returned to Wat Huai Duan and police gathered for a formal handover of the more than 63 million baht in cash to the highly respected…

  • News7 monks receive suspended jail terms, 10,000 baht fines from Chiang Mai court

    7 monks receive suspended jail terms, 10,000 baht fines from Chiang Mai court

    7 monks and 1 friend who were found enjoying food and alcoholic drinks Sunday night, 4 of whom were abbots, have been defrocked from the monkhood, fined, and given suspended jail sentences for breaking Covid containment measures. Police, who had received complaints from residents, raided a location for monks at Wat Pansao in Chiang Mai. Bangkok Post says the monks…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Loud BKK protests, Pfizer vax popular, Monk-in-a-skirt | August 16

    Thailand News Today | Loud BKK protests, Pfizer vax popular, Monk-in-a-skirt | August 16

    Yesterday’s anti-government protest in Bangkok led to violent scenes as police and protesters clashed near the Din Daeng intersection of the capital. The director of the field hospital for Thammasat University in central Thailand’s Pathum Thani province, says they will run out of vaccines. Yesterday, large crowds gathered outside of a Lotus in central Thailand’s Samut Prakan as early as…

  • Thailand NewsMonk uses electric cart on morning alms, other monks reportedly not thrilled

    Monk uses electric cart on morning alms, other monks reportedly not thrilled

    A monk in the central Thai province of Ang Thong is being chastised by his higher-ups for using an electric cart to expedite his morning alms. The higher-ups have called his actions “inappropriate”. Wanchai Dhammatharo of Ang Thong City’s Wat Channimitr has been ordered by the chief of the Ang Thong Provincial Office of Buddhism, Sakdanai Woradetch, and Sakdani’s team…

  • Pattaya NewsMonk arrested on charges of assault and drug possession in Chon Buri

    Monk arrested on charges of assault and drug possession in Chon Buri

    Police in Chon Buri arrested a Buddhist monk and seized a small amount of crystal methamphetamine after the monk allegedly slapped a woman in the face during a heated argument. The 32 year old monk was taken back to the temple following the arrest and the abbot defrocked him. He was then taken to the Samet police station and charged…

  • Thailand NewsMan allegedly steals almost 300,000 baht from monk

    Man allegedly steals almost 300,000 baht from monk

    Police in Si Racha, a district south of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand have arrested 21 year old “Constitution” and have charged him with “snatching” and stealing at night from a monk. The monk was relaxing at a “motorcycle resting place”. “Constitution allegedly stole the monk’s cell phone and managed to extract a password for a bank app from…

  • Thailand NewsMonk killed in hit and run

    Monk killed in hit and run

    Phra Charan, a 70 year old monk, was killed in a hit in Bangkok, yesterday. Phra had been a monk for years at the Wat Son temple. 30 metres from the monk’s body pieces of a “black car” were recovered, presumably from the car that struck Phra. When rescue workers arrived at the scene they found Phra’s head and leg…

  • Thailand NewsSupreme streetwear makes deal over T-shirt featuring monk

    Supreme streetwear makes deal over T-shirt featuring monk

    Wat Ban Rai, a small temple in Nakhon Ratchasima, has reached an agreement with popular streetwear brand Supreme for using an image of their monk. In February the temple became aware that the global clothing brand was using a stylised photo of a well-known monk from their temple, Luang Por Khun, without having ever asked permission. They had threatened lawsuits…

  • Northern Thailand NewsMonk suspected of running off with 70,000 baht in donations

    Monk suspected of running off with 70,000 baht in donations

    A 64 year old monk in the Isaan province Buri Ram is suspected of running off with 70,000 baht in donations made to the temple. The monk, as well as the thousands of baht in cash, have been missing for the past week. The abbot of a temple in the Nangrong district had made a request with the temple committee…

  • Thailand NewsThai monk beheads himself with guillotine in attempt to reach nirvana, followers could face charges

    Thai monk beheads himself with guillotine in attempt to reach nirvana, followers could face charges

    A monk, apparently ‘seeking nirvana’, has beheaded himself with a handmade guillotine in the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lamphu. Police are now investigating to determine if any of the monk’s followers should be charged for helping the abbot with his untidy path to enlightenment. The monk, Dhammakorn Wangphrecha, reportedly spent 5 years planning his death and believed it would…

  • Northern Thailand NewsUPDATE: Divers rescue monk stuck in flooded cave in northern Thailand

    UPDATE: Divers rescue monk stuck in flooded cave in northern Thailand

    Update: The monk was safely rescued from the flooded cave at around 11:30am today. Divers say the monk was fatigued and had a low fever. Original story… Rescue workers are attempting to free a Buddhist monk who has been stuck in a flooded cave in northern Thailand for at least 4 days. The monk, named in a Pattaya News report…

  • Crime NewsMonk kicks Thai teenager in face after he refuses to buy him food

    Monk kicks Thai teenager in face after he refuses to buy him food

    A monk in northern Thailand’s Lampang Province has allegedly taken matters into his own hands by kicking a Thai teenager in the face after he refused to travel 5 kilometres to buy food for the monk. According to the 16 year old boy’s mother, her son was visiting a young monk at the local temple and was playing games with…

  • Thailand NewsMonk’s image on American brand shirt draws criticism from Thai Buddhists

    Monk’s image on American brand shirt draws criticism from Thai Buddhists

    The American clothing brand Supreme is under fire for using an image of a revered monk as well as several Buddhist “yant” designs on a line of shirts they’re calling “Blessings Ripstop Shirt.” Thailand’s National Office of Buddhism says they plan to submit a letter to the clothing company for using the image of the well-known and respected monk without…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today – Week in review | January 30

    Thailand News Today – Week in review | January 30

    Thailand News Today covers five days of the news week. Now we have a weekend edition which goes over the biggest, or best stories, from the past week. Out every Saturday afternoon, catch up with Jett and Tim’s major Thai news stories. Welcome to the Thailand News Today Week in Review.

  • Northern Thailand NewsMonk arrested on drug charges, allegedly told police methamphetamine was a merit gift

    Monk arrested on drug charges, allegedly told police methamphetamine was a merit gift

    Police arrested a 45 year old Buddhist monk for allegedly getting high on methamphetamine at a temple in the Isaan province Buriram. The monk allegedly told police that a follower gave him the drugs as a merit gift and convinced him to take it. Satuek district police say they received a complaint from the Baan Kok Mueng temple’s abbot claiming…

  • Northern Thailand NewsYoung monk killed by wild elephant while meditating

    Young monk killed by wild elephant while meditating

    A young Buddhist monk was found dead on a mountain in the Northern province Kamphaeng Phet. Reports say the 21 year old was killed by a wild elephant while he was meditating. The monk walks down the mountain everyday at 6am to receive his daily alms, according to the village headman Kraiwan Nontibut in the Saeka district. When the monk…

  • Pattaya NewsMonk found hanged at Chon Buri temple in apparent suicide

    Monk found hanged at Chon Buri temple in apparent suicide

    A 68 year old monk has been found hanged at a temple in the eastern province of Chon Buri, in an apparent suicide. The Pattaya News reports that police and rescue workers were called to a temple in the sub-district of Baan Suan at around 7.30am yesterday. The body of the dead man was found hanging near the monk’s housing…