Monks behaving badly: the sex scandal rocking Thailand’s Buddhist clergy
Monks behaving badly: the sex scandal rocking Thailand’s Buddhist clergy

Monks behaving badly: the sex scandal rocking Thailand’s Buddhist clergy

Stories of monks behaving badly are not uncommon in Thailand, but the scale of a recent scandal has sparked questions about wealth and privilege
The disappearance of a respected monk from his Buddhist temple in central Bangkok has revealed a sex scandal that has rocked Thailand, with allegations of blackmail, lavish gifts and a string of dismissals raising questions about the money and power enjoyed by the country’s orange-robed clergy.
Investigations into the whereabouts of senior monk Phra Thep Wachirapamok unexpectedly led police to a woman who the police suspect conducted intimate relationships with several senior monks, and then blackmailed them to keep the liaisons quiet.
When police searched her home this month they found mobile phones that reportedly contained tens of thousands of compromising photos and videos of the missing monk, and several other senior Buddhist figures. Police also tracked her finances, which they said showed links to temples.
This is hardly new but note that this is just them breaking celibacy not raping or diddling kids.
In general the celibacy aspect of Buddhism is very outdated and a lot of people are being basically forced into monkhood through peer pressure so naturally celibacy is not sustainble in this fashion.
Source: been in Thailand for years