Thread: Monks can consume ice cream after lunch time, Buddhism Office says

The National Office of Buddhism says ice cream is not "Pana" or fruit juice and that it can be consumed by monks but with conscience.

Clarification from the office came after “ice cream” went viral on the social media when a Facebook user invite Buddhists to offer ice cream as alms to Dhamakaya temple in merit-makings.

But question was raised if ice cream is Pana water which monks can consume or not after lunch time.

However director of the Buddhism Education Division of the National Office of Buddhism Mr Boonlert Sopha explained that ice cream is not Pana water, therefore monks can consume as normal and does not violate Buddhism principles.

However he advised that monks should consume ice cream in a controlled manner or with conscience.

Yesterday ice cream maker Unilever came out to defend itself saying it had nothing to do with the post on Facebook offering ice cream as alms to Dhammakaya temple monks.

The Facebook poster suggests estimating the price of ice cream to offer as alms in cash and offer them as donation to the the temple instead.

The poster said his “ice cream” alms is just his idea of making donation to the temple and he then suggested to others on Facebook, wasn’t aware of triggering a public outcry.

A mass communications academic Prof Parichart Stapitanond said any price assessment of alms for donation is tantamount to put commercial purpose in Buddhism.

This could have direct impact on the particular product or increase interest in it, she said.

As the temple has been a focus of criticism from the public, such invitation to offer ice cream as alms could negatively affect the temple, she added.

Monks can consume ice cream after lunch time, Buddhism Office says - Thai PBS English News

I have thought for long time tha any consumption was forbidden to monks after lunchtime, even water.

Then I saw several monks drinking milk-shake or other sugar-loaded beverage at night while taking the buses... This make me wonder about what are the real rules.

Monks are supposed to be detached from consumption, material goods, they should even walk barefoot if they followed the rules ... it looks like there's some serious bending here, as could be expected I dare say ...

Originally Posted by Hans Mann

that monks should consume ice cream in a controlled manner or with conscience.

baby talk. they'll be asking for some o those coloured sprinkly thingies or a 99.

I can consume ice cream after lunch time. Does this make me a monk ?

Only if you give sermons on sundaes.

I can just imagine monks going round with their begging bowls getting free ice-cream. They should find sellers outside every school at knocking off time.
This is a genuine photo of monks going into Old Trafford.



Monks in Chiang Mai

This would certainly open the door for them to imbibe other delectable items - in hidden quarters, of course...

Let them eat cake...Who gives a fook? (and he's on first)...

Soon, there'll be a revolution...

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

Let them eat cake...Who gives a fook? (and he's on first)...

Soon, there'll be a revolution...

And I do trust this revolution derives in part from the population.
Stop giving them cash offerings.

They have money for arms...(And chicks for free)...

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

I have thought for long time tha any consumption was forbidden to monks after lunchtime, even water.

Then I saw several monks drinking milk-shake or other sugar-loaded beverage at night while taking the buses... This make me wonder about what are the real rules.

None of the rules are secret. Here are the rules for all Theraveda Monks, including Thai. Enjoy

The Buddhist Monastic Code

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/bhkkrule.pdf

List of the 227 rules of p?timokkha

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

I have thought for long time tha any consumption was forbidden to monks after lunchtime, even water.

Then I saw several monks drinking milk-shake or other sugar-loaded beverage at night while taking the buses... This make me wonder about what are the real rules.

None of the rules are secret. Here are the rules for all Theraveda Monks, including Thai. Enjoy

The Buddhist Monastic Code

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/bhkkrule.pdf

List of the 227 rules of p?timokkha

...in which, many go ignored and an in-house/societal acceptance applied.

Originally Posted by Hans Mann

The National Office of Buddhism says ice cream is not "Pana" or fruit juice and that it can be consumed by monks but with conscience.

Are they allowed a 99 cone with a flake n it?

A doubler with 2 flakes?

What about hundreds and thousands sprinkles?

What about frozen yoghurt?

Ice cream mars bars?

Coffee flavoured with macadamia nuts?

I don't think the details of this ruling have been properly fleshed out.

Originally Posted by Hans Mann

However he advised that monks should consume ice cream in a controlled manner or with conscience.

Ice cream with a conscience like free will or just basic sentience or just that they are not allowed to smile while they are licking it?

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

^^ Thanks!

It's a tad complicated (many if and except), here my understanding :

The main rule is no food after noon, excepting some food not considered as real food : water, filtered juice but no coffee, milk (cow, soy), chocolate, infusions are OK as long as it's not made from something you can eat (camomille ok, mint ko as you can eat mint leaves)

Concerning the monks I saw drinking Fruit juices on buses, it seems allowed in afternoon and evening as long as they have been filtered (smoothie is not allowed then), and for many communities the juices from large fruits (watermelon, pineapple, coconut, jack fuits) are forbidden, even if filtered.

If they are not hungry they should drink water only, not sugar-loaded drinks.

As a general course, an obsessed consumption/accumulation trait has developed [over the last generation] within the monkhooddom, in lieu of the humble introspective ideals that were once commonly the norm.

Not a calling or vocation, but an income deriving job.
Something's missing big time from the romantic versions.....and quite dangerous to the culture.

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

^^ Thanks!

It's a tad complicated (many if and except), here my understanding :

The main rule is no food after noon, excepting some food not considered as real food : water, filtered juice but no coffee, milk (cow, soy), chocolate, infusions are OK as long as it's not made from something you can eat (camomille ok, mint ko as you can eat mint leaves)

Concerning the monks I saw drinking Fruit juices on buses, it seems allowed in afternoon and evening as long as they have been filtered (smoothie is not allowed then), and for many communities the juices from large fruits (watermelon, pineapple, coconut, jack fuits) are forbidden, even if filtered.

If they are not hungry they should drink water only, not sugar-loaded drinks.

Agree, Thai Monkhood is clearly bending the rules here, nothing unusual here

You've been given links to the rules, why are you now making new rules up? What you THINK they should be is entirely irrelevant.


BTW, the rules say you can eat if you're travelling.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

BTW, the rules say you can eat while you're charging your iPhone

Fixed that for you..

I would have thought monks live a life of austerity and it doesn't include icecream before or after lunch or anytime in between, gruel and day old bread, yes.

Sounds tempting, Dawg...I'll stick with Dairy Queen...

^ That's what I say...Hell, I'll buy them ice cream on Thursdays at 3:00pm...And they're welcome to come to Todd's coming out party...

^^
While I admit to have few if any knowledge, nowhere in the links provided by someone knowledgeable (or at least who seems to be) there was an article to prove his point so that makes me wonder ... that's all

Same opinion on people who seems to think that Budhism in Nepal is comparable to Thai Buddhism, it's quite different (Therevada / Mahayana)

I don't care about the Ice cream, it just a hint at how bending the rule is natural in Thailand, even for monkhood institutions.... that's all

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

^^
While I admit to have few if any knowledge, nowhere in the links provided by someone knowledgeable (or at least who seems to be) there was an article to prove his point so that makes me wonder ... that's all

Same opinion on people who seems to think that Budhism in Nepal is comparable to Thai Buddhism, it's quite different (Therevada / Mahayana)

I don't care about the Ice cream, it just a hint at how bending the rule is natural in Thailand, even for monkhood institutions.... that's all

If you're in Thailand you're rarely more than 10 minutes away from a temple. Ever occur to you to wander down and ask?

Originally Posted by Farang Ky Ay

Same opinion on people who seems to think that Budhism in Nepal is comparable to Thai Buddhism, it's quite different (Therevada / Mahayana)

That was my basic point to you; so many different types and varieties that you just cannot make blanket statements.

20+ years ago, I lived in Mongolia and had some Tibetan monk friends - massively different to Thai buddhism, never mind the Shinto lot and the... and the... and the...

But what is clear is that in a very hot climate, taking in fluids, especially sugary high calorie ones, when you are fasting over long periods of time makes very good sense.

After spending time with Tibetan monks I was initially shocked at how little the Thai monks seemed to know about basic scripture, etc, but after a period of time I realized that Thai buddism, like any other type, has their own unique cultural elements which makes it different, that's all. No biggie really... What is quite interesting, is to look at the temples in Bangkok and see how the Hindu influences and Chinese Thai influences affect the architecture. Another very interesting area is to compare Ayudhaya temples with Sukhothai temples, and see the very different type of architecture that the Cambodian derived (at least in part) Central Eastern temples from the Western Lanna influenced styles; personally, I much prefer the Ramkhempaeng style buddhist architecture. Sukothai is exceptionally interesting because it was over-run by the Ayudhaya lot who then went on to change many of the temples and statues to their style - you end up having, within walking distance, sometimes literally right next to each other, 3 types: the traditional Sukothai period statues, statues that have been resculpted to Ayudhaya style, and thirdly statues where they went halfway through the changing process then just stopped! Then, coming back to Bangkok, compare that to the later period temples which show a massive Chinese cultural influence (especially places such as the Dragon Temple in Chinatown, but also the Mahayana temple at the end of KhaoSan Rd) along with Hindu scripture (the muriel at the Grand Palace is an excellent example).

It's just one big melting pot really...