Central Scrutinizer Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Thailand's gay monks given 'good manners' guide A Buddhist leader in Thailand has announced plans for a new set of guidelines to curb the behaviour of homosexual and transgender monks. The "good manners" curriculum was devised to discourage monks from wearing make-up and tight robes. More than 90 per cent of the Thai population are followers of Buddhism and most men spend at least one year in a monastery during their youth. Phra Maha Wudhijaya Vajiramedhi, a senior monk, told the BBC the guidelines would address issues like smoking, drinking alcohol, walking and going to the toilet properly, which are all detailed in the traditional 75 Dharma principles of Buddhism, and the 227 precepts for monks. But he was especially concerned, he said, by the flamboyant behaviour of homosexual and transgender monks, who can often be seen wearing revealing robes, carrying pink purses and sporting effeminately-shaped eyebrows. Phra Vajiramedhi acknowledged that it was difficult to exclude transgender men from the monkhood but he hoped his course could at least persuade them to limit their more extrovert habits. If successful, the "good manners" course, at the Novice Demonstration School, could be replicated at other Buddhist monasteries and seminaries, he said. Tales of monks behaving badly are nothing new in Thailand. In recent years, they have been accused of running fake amulet scams and violating their vows of celibacy, according to the BBC. The guidelines will be introduced in the northern province of Chiang Rai. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5233282/Thailands-gay-monks-given-good-manners-guide.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Hi, "at least one year in a monastery during their youth" Shouldn't that be 'one week'? Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Very few men spend a year as a monk! It's usually one "phansaa" (rainy season), which lasts about 3 months. But there is no fixed period. I know Thais who have gone in for just 1 to 3 days, though probably a week is more common. Traditionally, boys went in for a short time as a novice, then again for a "phansaa" as young adults. Typical case of a foreign journalist getting things wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 I told the tee rak that the young boy that has shown up here at the ranch WILL be spending some weeks/months at the Wat the next time there is a school break...like, farkin hell he will be laying around all day playing video games, fark that!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekyboy Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 some members are on the run with a contract on them and they hole up in a temple .they cant shoot a monk in a temple . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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