Thread: Fewer Thai men entering the monkhood

RELIGION

Fewer Thai men entering the monkhood
ANCHALEE KONGRUT
Saturday November 24, 2007


The number of Buddhist monks and novices in rural areas has fallen sharply over the past four decades, a research study has found. Assoc Prof Channarong Boonnoom, of Silpakorn University's arts faculty, said fewer males entered the monkhood despite tradition giving high regard to monks. The tradition also recognises people who have been ordained as learned men _ a passage from being a boy to a grown-up.

According to Assoc Prof Channarong, the number of monks and novices per population in rural areas and also Bangkok has decreased by almost half. In 1963, there were 237,770 monks and novices when the country's total population was 28.07 million, or one for every 118.06 people. But last year the number of monks and novices was 313,267 among a population of 62 million, or one per 200. Worse still, many were elderly monks who were no longer active.
He conducted the research in Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, he told a seminar at Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (SAC).

The research has pinpointed extended compulsory education to Mathayomsuksa 3 as the major cause of the problem. Parents are afraid that sending their sons to temples may breach the compulsory education regulation. A decline in faith and the poor conditions at monasteries were also reasons for the low numbers.
He pointed out that the quality of monks in today's world appears to be on the decline and said there should be a stricter screening process.
He also suggested that women be allowed to become monks, or ''bhikkuni''.

Unlike Taiwan and Sri Lanka, Buddhist monks in Thailand keep women from the monkhood. Women can only be nuns _ a position without legal status. Sod Daengeid, chief of the Department of Religious Affairs, endorsed the idea, saying a change can boost the number of monks.

bangkokpost.net


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if I'm not mistaken , the hierarchy of the Thai Buddhists , just recently passed a ruling that effectively keeps women out .

My brother in law has just finished 3 months as a novice and he was making money. More than he was getting outside working. From what I can make out it's one big holiday with pay being a novice. So I'm lost as to why it's in a decline.

Buddhism is hardly likely to die out here. And probably there are a lot more people, men and women, going on meditation retreats than ever before.

Originally Posted by Ivor Biggun

From what I can make out it's one big holiday with pay being a novice. So I'm lost as to why it's in a decline.

That's what I was thinking.

Originally Posted by Ivor Biggun

My brother in law has just finished 3 months as a novice and he was making money. More than he was getting outside working.

IB - If you don't mind me asking: How exactly was he making money - from donations?

They bow to the institution, not the person. This is clear in all Thais minds, but lost on westerners. They will expect him to treat his robes (office) with as much respect as they do.

wrong thread .......isp probs , appoligies

I think they're talking about the permanent full-time monk population. The buad thing still happens, but it is only a temporary position/job/assignment and usually lasts a maximum of 3 months as stated above (some I know have done it for as little a 3 days). Almost every Thai adult male I know has done it.

When they buad, yes, there's lots of gifts, celebrating and merit-making but the full-timers lead a somewhat more staid existence.

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Originally Posted by JoGeAr

I think they're talking about the permanent full-time monk population. The buad thing still happens, but it is only a temporary position/job/assignment and usually lasts a maximum of 3 months as stated above (some I know have done it for as little a 3 days). Almost every Thai adult male I know has done it.

When they buad, yes, there's lots of gifts, celebrating and merit-making but the full-timers lead a somewhat more staid existence.

.

Sorry I disagree. I know of full timers that have left the monkdom after many years and have immediately bought land , cattle and got married. All of those things aint cheap. This is Thailand and being on the take is an accepted thing monk or no monk.

Listen, there has been more than one monk discovered to have a HUGE amount of cash in the bank.

They have been none to pimp women and children, run gambling rings and other cash making operations.

The best one that my missus told me about was woman in Isaan goin got the monks and payin them to concoct a potion for them to casue a man to fall in love with them. The monks were slick, they told the woman they had to apply it ALL over the woman's naked body and then the monk would shag the girl as well!

The potion was sometimes ineffective and the woamna had to go back to the monk several times paying more money, getting her naked body rubbed with the potion and getting shagged by the monk.

Oh and it was a bareback shag......maybe the baby batter was part of the love potion???

can't blame the girl for believing it.
After all you believe BS stories like this one, and you are supposedly educated.

Originally Posted by Mid

Fewer Thai men entering the monkhood

Easily rectified, the police have to catch more criminals.

Originally Posted by Abandon

They bow to the institution, not the person

What's the purpose of having monks. Why not give food and money to the institution and not the pilfering person using the institution to cheat people ?