Thailand monks living it up with luxuries
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Thailand national Buddhist body has announced it is monitoring monks for any inappropriate behavior following complaints prompted by a video showing Buddhists monks flying in a private jet.
The YouTube video that emerged recently showed one of the monks wearing stylish aviator sunglasses, carrying a luxury brand travel bag and sporting a pair of modern wireless headphones. It attracted criticism from Buddhists nationwide.
The director general of the National Office of Buddhism, Nopparat Benjawatananun, said on Monday that the agency had warned the monks from a monastery in Thailand's north-east not to repeat the lavish behaviour seen in the video.
Watch Video here;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9nLwj-9XPQ
Monruedee Bantoengsuk, an administrative officer at Khantitham temple in Sisaket province, confirmed to AP that the monks on the private plane lived at the temple but refused to give details about the trip.
"We can explain this, but not now," she said, saying that the abbot, who appeared in the video, is currently on a religious tour in France.
The images from the video contrasted with the abbot's message on the temple's homepage that read: "The true core of those who preach Buddha's teachings is to not own any objects at all."
Nopparat said: "When Lord Buddha was alive, there wasn't anything like this. There were no cars, smartphones or cameras, so the rules were much simpler.
"While the monks need to keep themselves abreast of new knowledge, current events and technology, they are restrained to choose the appropriate tools."
He said one way to prevent the monks from misbehaving was for followers not to spoil them with valuable objects or vices. "In many cases, it was the followers who gave the monks the luxury. Some bought them sports cars. This is by no means necessary."
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So are they saying this is a paid trip?
so paid trip comes with bags and glasses as well???
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maybe they got some barcode tattoo on back of their heads....