Thread: Buddhist Authorities Hunt Down Monk For Being Too Ripped

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich
Khao Sod English

BANGKOK — Less than a week after anonymous photos of a ripped monk went viral online, national Buddhism authorities are on the hunt for the man, who they say tarnished the religion’s image.


Narong Songarom, deputy director of the National Office of Buddhism said Thursday he had ordered national and provincial Buddhism officials to investigate and find the muscular monk’s identity.


“Against monkhood discipline, this man has put on clothes similar to monk robes and taken photos of himself with fit muscles online. Although not a grave error in the monk’s way, it is an earthly sin that invites societal criticism and damages Buddhism,” Narong said Thursday.

MORE/PICS Buddhist Authorities Hunt Down Monk For Being Too Ripped

Yes, so much better for monks to avoid earthly sin.

I think what they are trying to say is that he has committed the sin of vanity which is against the ethics of monkery.
Given the Thai addiction to materialism, superstition, greed, hypocrisy and ephemeral tomfoolery verging on the imbecilic, I somehow doubt it is that much of a transgression but appearances are all here in the land of the stupid, even it seems in their religious practices.

Yeah sure we can't have a monk showing off muscles... jealous people can't buy themselves ripped abdos, they have to work for it... can't do that.

I would have thought laziness and greed that cause overweight monks were more detrimental...and appart from that rather healthy life to get thoses abdos albeit tainted by vanity, there are more serious issues to address like materialism (phone, jewelry, fancy glasses...), lust for money (if not plain lust in some cases of porn watching or child abusing monks)...

Wasn't sure if he was ripped out of his mind or what...