Cash-Soliciting Monks - Far Away In Middle Earth

[Coss]

 

Cash-Soliciting monk in Queen St

 

 

Questions surround people dressed as Buddhist monks who are targeting tourists and shoppers in Queen St to solicit cash donations for a Thai temple.

 

An Auckland Thai temple says it is against the rules for Buddhist monks and nuns to ask for donations, and questions the monks' activities.

 

At least three were spotted during the busy lunch hour yesterday, one wearing Nike sports shoes, and another a branded watch.

 

A monk offered this Herald reporter a Buddha image and a prayer-bead wristband, then asked for donations - first to "cover the cost" of the items, then seeking larger sums for the Thai temple.

 

He flipped open a notebook showing people had donated sums of between $5 and $200 to the cause.

 

"Donate more and you get more blessing and peace from Buddha," said the monk in Nike shoes.

 

He would not give his name or say which temple he was from. He said he had just arrived from Thailand and also needed money to help cover the cost of his air ticket.

 

After the reporter identified himself, the monk claimed he spoke no English and began chanting and walked away.

 

A woman said one of the monks followed her into a Queen St shop and asked her to get "cash out" from her Eftpos card after she told him that she had no cash.

 

"I felt pressured into giving him $10 just to go away."

 

Chavaritch Mounlath, spokesman for the Thai Watyarnprateep Buddhist Temple in Kelston, confirmed that the temple was not seeking any public donations.

 

"They are definitely not Thai monks. The type of robe they are wearing is more Chinese, and you don't see monks wearing Nike and jeans under their robes," Mr Mounlath said. "We would advise people against donating anything to them because they could be imposters, and what they're doing is basically wrong."

 

Mr Mounlath said that if the monks were from Thailand, their eyebrows would have been shaved.

 

It was also against monastic rules for monks to solicit or beg for money, he said.

 

"Monks do go out with alms bowls, but they do not ask for things, and what they get must have been given willingly," he said.

 

"They would never ask for cash from strangers, or sell prayer beads and religious items in this way."

 

Yesterday, a spokesman for the Auckland Council said city officials were aware of a monk operating in Queen St.

 

"Council staff have observed the monk giving away literature and beads, for which he doesn't ask payment. As this is for religious reasons he does not require a permit under the current Street Trading Bylaw," he said.

 

"Council's City Watch staff have received three complaints about him asking for donations over recent weeks, but this was done in a passive way and was not a breach. Harassment was not mentioned."

 

In March, a man in monk's robes was issued with a police warning for his behaviour in soliciting donations in Auckland and Wellington.

 

Officers said it appeared unlikely that he was collecting donations for religious purposes.

 

According to police, that man was a Chinese national who had spent time in Australia.

 

Last year, the Buddhist Council of NSW warned against bogus monks preying on tourists in Sydney.

 

- NZ Herald

[bust]

Coss if they are the same as the crew from Sydney they fly in from Taiwan for the summer trade. Very aggressive bunch.

 

http://youtu.be/gqnWwlzQWg0

[Flashermac]

Speak to them in Thai and see what happens. Then speak Mandarin and see how quickly they answer! Some years ago, I used to see the fake Chinese monks begging on Sukhumwit. One Thai temple even had a dummy dressed in Chinese style and a sign condemning the fake monks for damaging real monks' reputation. I thought they were gone, but I ran into one a few months ago in Bangkok. I think it is illegal to dress as a monk, if you are not one. I presumed the Sukhumwit police had been paid off not to intefere.

 

An important rule for Theravada monks is that they are forbidden to ask for anything. They may only accept what is freely offered to them, even something as minor as a glass of water.

[Dexi]

Saw one in CM last year waving and ' blessing ' tourists on Tapare road whilst holding out a bowl for donations.He smiled at me but made a hasty retreat into a shop when I gave him a knowing look.Pretty sure he was a fake as this was 8-9 pm when monks should not be out ?

[Guest]

Thai monks shave their eyebrows once a month ........... the story behind this.

 

Years ago when Thailand and Burma were at war the Burmese sent spies across the border dressed as monks, Thailand got all it's monks to shave their eyebrows to catch them out. Of course the Burmese spies followed suit but when they returned to the Burmese court the Thai spies there were able to identify them.

 

What a pity there are scum around that use deception such this to obtain money that discredit Thailand and it's people.

[radioman]

What a pity there are scum around that use deception such this to obtain money that discredit Thailand and it's people.

 

It's about fake monks, not Thai politicians and policemen!