Buddhist Monks Charged with Child Abuse in Thailand

[icy]

When such child abuse happened we question the real motivation of these men behind their purpose of being  ordained as monks.  Such behaviour from the sangha bring shame and disrepute to Buddhism. 




Wednesday 28 May 2014 9:03p.m.
Thai police say they have charged five defrocked Buddhist abbots with sexually abusing eight boys at monasteries around the northern city of Chiang Mai.

The abuse was discovered after police rescued one boy from the abuse ring last year, police said, adding all the children involved were under 15 years of age.

"Four of the abbots volunteered to disrobe, but one denied the charges and was forcibly defrocked," Major General Prachuab Wongsuk, of the northern police region, said on Wednesday.  He said police found alcohol and pornography during a search of living quarters at five monasteries.  Police believe the abbots were acting together and Prachuab predicted that more monks would be arrested soon.

Those charged face a maximum of 20 years in jail if convicted.

Monks in Thailand, where some 95 percent of the population are practising Buddhists, have been hit by a series of scandals, with local media reporting cases of drug-taking, drinking, gambling and visiting prostitutes.

In September, authorities seized nearly $800,000 worth of assets, including a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz, from a monk who was defrocked for a controversial trip in a private jet and who was also accused of fathering a child by an under-aged girl a decade earlier.
AFP


Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Buddhist-monks-charged-with-child-abuse-in-Thailand/tabid/417/articleID/346189/Default.aspx#ixzz330BRscnc

[buddhalovely]

To what extent would this be true? Nowadays, every piece of information found on the web, even news sites such as these are false or overly exaggerated to the point where it stands far from the truth. If a monk is not liable to his words, what is? The article did not specify on evidence to support this statement, why should I believe it. I mean yes, there is a possibility of this happening but how it played out was not informed.

"Monks in Thailand, where some 95 percent of the population are practising Buddhists, have been hit by a series of scandals, with local media reporting cases of drug-taking, drinking, gambling and visiting prostitutes."

Scandals exactly. I would though agree that Thailand may not be the best influence for vowed monks, they are still human and can still be affected by their surroundings ie. Thailand is statistically one of the highest percentile for rape and prostitute acts.  Also not to mention quite a number of monk impersonators. If these monks are truly the followers of buddha's teachings, they would have expected it's consequences of rotting in hell.

[Freyr Aesiragnorak]

It's sad to see this happen... but in my opinion, nothing new or unexpected. These sorts of allegations, and I am not commenting on the allegations or the severity/media hype over these scandals, are nothing new within monastic institutions in any religion from all over the world. It has and continues to provide some sort of ground for these things to occur.

But rather than turn a blind eye to these, the monastic institutions and those of us who have some background in safe guarding against this sort of behavior should work together to minimize this risk of this sort of thing occurring again.

[RedLantern]

A Buddhist should be mindful of the possible effect on themselves and on others of improper sexual activity. In cases of rape and child abuse,one is stealing the dignity and self respect of another.One is also the cause of mental pain,not to mention physical pain.so one is causing harm to another living being.Therefore such behavior is breaking several precepts.
Monks,in a way are ordinary men.Some are bad apples,but that doesn't mean every monk is bad.

[Manjushri]

As long as we are in samsara, we are subjected to the temptations, desires, and vices that the world "offers". There are different motivations and situations as to why people become sangha members, some good, some bad, but the merits needed to be generated to be a pure and holy monk free from the delusions of samsara, is great. Not all monks are good, but not all are bad. It is a pity people use religion for their benefit and further degenerate it, but there are also those who are propagating the holy Dharma and doctrine of Buddha to the best they can so that we can learn and practise to reach the ultimate goal.

There are businessman that rise and fall, there are doctors who perform and who don't, and unfortunately same as monks. For those reading, I hope they can see past these minority in sangha members, and look at the majority who are truly practising, for we are our own destiny.

[rossoneri]

If what is reported are true, it is a disgrace for monks who misused the trust which have towards them by performing such an act. Not sure why do they succumb to their own desires especially if you are an Abbot which i believed it requires a lot of deep understanding and studies in Buddhism.

Looks like degenerating age not only happen among the public but in Sangha community as well, this is very scary indeed, as with this news i am just afraid that general public will have doubts to send their children to the monasteries to learn Dharma. These monks have create a very bad name for the sangha community.

[bambi]

Most of the sanghas in poorer countries were sent by their family when they were young so that the monastery can educate, feed and shelter them. Maybe there are many who are not really interested in Buddhism even though they study it everyday. Sorry to say that I know people who can say hurtful and be harmful to their Guru although they have so much Dharma knowledge.
It is not the Dharma nor the Buddha's fault but the person himself.
I do really hope that this type of disturbing news will not happen again...

[cookie]

Such stories of abuse exists in all religions. Hence it really is not about the religion but the persons involved. But of course, one would expect ordained persons or those who have committed to higher moral vows , to have a greater  integrity and moral values. Unfortunately, it has been proven time again that it may not be so. One wonders why ? Anyway, it is wrong to physically or emotionally abuse any sentient being, irregardless of who you are.

[brian]

I am not too sure if the news is true... but pity goes tot he child being abused. I think it is quite rampant in Thailand where I always hear about child being abused but mainly happening in most if not all third world countries. I think it is all down to the level of education in the particularly community. Feel Dharma is important for these countries to flourish to enable people to understand more about life and to treasure others rather than hurt others.