Sex in the monastery

There's an upsurge of drag queens joining the monkhood according to a recent Bangkok Post. The article also discusses the Buddhist belief that no gay male can become a monk, and how much pedophilia there is among the Thai clergy.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/blogs/index. ... ry?blog=64 (http://www.bangkokpost.com/blogs/index.php/2009/01/30/sex-in-the-monastery?blog=64)

Oh come on Curious!
Some clarifications....
1) this is not an "article" but a post on the blog section with other posters "comments"
2) there is not a claim of an "upsurge of drag queens joining the monkhood" but an observation that there are more obviously visible "katoey" novices
3) there is a discussion about "Buddhist belief that no gay male can become a monk..." but its not clear weather that injuction is against "gay males" or "katoeys".

Adding my 2 cents to the commentary....
Boyfriend, who was farmed out to a monastery when he was 13, will testify that there is a huge amount of sex going on among the young novices. Not surprising when you think of a lot of lonely, homesick adolecent boys thrown together with no other sexual outlet. Think British boarding school.
But the idea that the monkhood is full of pedophiles abusing young boys is just another case of homophobic hysteria.

[x in pattaya]

Oh come on Curious!

just another case of homophobic hysteria.


How very Curious.

Oh come on Curious! just another case of homophobic hysteria.How very Curious.Homophobia? I thought Thailand is supposed to be "gay friendly".

[dab69]

I thought the Bangkok Post was a farang paper.

[x in pattaya]

The MD was a farang but died last year. I think they got rid of most of their farang staff a few years ago. Otherwise, its a Thai owned and operated company.


Bernard Trink apparently has been relegated to writing book reviews despite the fact that his insightful writing would suggest he passed away several years ago.I wonder if he reads the books he writes about.

Bernard Trink apparently has been relegated to writing book reviews despite the fact that his insightful writing would suggest he passed away several years ago.Who?

[dab69]

I miss Trink's columns.
but Idontgiveahoot

[Dodger]

It seems as if the guys statements are more of that pure specultation we seem to get drenched with these days.

I've seen a lot of monks, although don't recall the last time I saw a ladyboy shaking his ass in a safran robe...do you ?

What I have seen, are monks who some times walk around in filthy robes with hand-rolled cigarettes hanging from their lips which causes one to ask...just what in the hell is this guy all about ! Or better yet: some of the older and more senior looking clergy who sit around with bloodshot eyes staring at the side of a tree or something, similar to the side-effects of yaba.

No offense to the Buddhist monkhood, but I've visited the temple in my bf's village many times and found myself being a bit surprised. The head monk is always sitting by himself watching cartoons, usually with a cigarette butt mysteriously dangling from his lower lip, as his flock of novices scurry around doing all the hard chores.

As long as I'm in the mood for a little speculating myself, I'll go as far as to say that some monks join the monkhood for the sole purpose of getting free room and board. Not to mention the residual benefits, e.g., being highly respected within the community they serve, no more back-breaking labor (like they would be exposed to back on the farm), no bills to pay, no families to raise, and they're invited to every party in town...and given money, booze, and free gifts to boot. Not a bad deal when you consider the alternatives.

Hopefully, the monks who join the monkhood for the reasons I just mentioned are few and far between. But it wouldn't surprise me if these guys, again the few, not the majority, got a little ass on the side...Nirvana ?

[x in pattaya]

What I have seen, are monks who some times walk around in filthy robes with hand-rolled cigarettes hanging from their lips which causes one to ask...just what in the hell is this guy all about !


The same thought crossed my mind about your "report." Cigarettes that dangle mysteriously, bloodshot eyes = side-effects of yaba, speculation on motives for joining the monkhood passed off as inside knowledge, "got a little ass on the side," thrown in out of nowhere.


No offense to the Buddhist monkhood... Signaling the start of an offensive rant.

I live next to a wat and have seen a lot of monks too, but have never felt the need to check their eyeballs, worry about what's dangling from their lips or to speculate on what they do to relieve sexual tension, anymore than I would Christian monks or Jewish rabbis or Muslim imams.

I'm sure the clergy of any religion include any number of people who joined for dubious reasons or who lose their initial enthusiasm or who do not always practice what they preach. They are all subject to the same temptations and failings that the rest of us are.


these guys, again the few, not the majority, If you believe they are in the minority, why is the totality of your little expose so one-sided?

The monks, for all their failings, do a lot of good in most communities, including providing schools, caring for people with AIDS or drug addiction, counseling, etc.

"got a little ass on the side," is just speculative scandal mongering portrayed as insider knowledge.

Bernard Trink .....Who?

aka the Nite Owl - or the guy who took every opportunity to insist that there was no link between HIV and AIDS. About as well informed as a few of the posters here.

Oh come on kenc!
Some clarifications ....

1) This was originally an article published in the Bangkok Post (Local News) on 29 January ( http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1 ... -monastery (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/10625/sex-in-the-monastery) ) before being re-published the following day as part of the author's blog.

2) There is little difference between "an upsurge of drag queens joining the monkhood" (which Curious said the article referred to) and "Many say they have noticed a stark increase in the number of "katoey" novices who show little restraint in expressing themselves, including the use of cosmetics, the readjusting of robes for a fashionable look, and the public display of feminine gestures" (which is what the article actually said).

3) The way the injunction is reported in the article could hardly be clearer: "As a matter of procedure, the Office of National Buddhism has advised abbots nationwide to be more strict with ordination since it is against the vinaya to ordain the "pandaka," which is routinely translated as "homosexuals"." Any lack of clarity is in the meaning of "pandaka" ( http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php ... 22,0,0,1,0 (http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=22,1522,0,0,1,0) and http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php ... 29,0,0,1,0 (http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=00000000008,00000001429,0,0,1,0) )

Unless you are able to give a better translation of "pandaka" than that given, at length, in the links above or you went to a "British boarding school", or know many who did, your two cents are not worth having.

The last person I thought I would ever find myself defending was Curious, but in this particular case he is simply reporting (accurately) what was written.

[ceejay]

If anyone's interested in the subject of sex in British public schools, I suggest a book called "The Poisoned Bowl" by Alisdaire Hickson. Out of print now, but easily enough obtained via AbeBooks (www.abebooks.com (http://www.abebooks.com))

Interesting read.

[Dodger]

x wrote:


I live next to a wat and have seen a lot of monks too, but have never felt the need to check their eyeballs, worry about what's dangling from their lips or to speculate on what they do to relieve sexual tension, anymore than I would Christian monks or Jewish rabbis or Muslim imams.

You forgot to include Catholic Priests.

[krobbie]

Pandaka ...

The origins of the term pandaka is still debated by Buddhist academics and yet unknown and what and who it meant during Buddha's time is also up for debate. Some commented that it meant a enunch and yet another list 5 types of pandaka of which eunuch is one of them and only the last 3 was deemed to be prevented from being ordinated.

This is a good old cut and paste ... however it is from the Buddhist TV Channel web site.

....Unless you are able to give a better translation of "pandaka" than that given, at length, in the links above or you went to a "British boarding school", or know many who did, your two cents are not worth having.....

Well!
I'll have you know - Mr Smartypants - I've seen ALL the Harry Potter movies.

Won't pay 2 cents for my thoughts? Tell ya what. I'll pay you 2 cents to keep yours to yourself. :tongue:

I'll have you know - Mr Smartypants - I've seen ALL the Harry Potter movies. Won't pay 2 cents for my thoughts? Tell ya what. I'll pay you 2 cents to keep yours to yourself.I think we need to recall that kenc is still in denial about a San Francisco lesbian being the cause of the banking crisis - the-global-financial-meltdown-a-lesbian-s-to-blame-t16042.html (http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/the-global-financial-meltdown-a-lesbian-s-to-blame-t16042.html)