canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

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canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by yartims » August 12, 2019, 4:11 pm

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30374563

Famous Canadian monk Phra Julien Apataro, who had spent almost 20 years living as a monk on a remote hillside in the Sop Moei district of Mae Hong Son province, admitted on a televised news show on Friday to having had sexual relations with women.

Apologising to Thai people over his alleged serious monastic indiscipline, the monk, in his early 40s, whose layman name is Julien Desilets, told Channel 3’s Thiangwan Tan Hetkarn (News Updates at Noon) that he would leave the monkhood in a ceremony presided over by his preceptor monk on Saturday (August 10).

Mae Hong Son’s ecclesiastical provincial governor Phra Sumonsatsanakij pointed out that if Phra Julien had committed the serious monastic indiscipline as reportedly confessed by him, he must be disrobed at the original temple where he had been ordained. He said the monk’s alleged actions tarnish the religion. Apparently Phra Julien had been ordained at a temple in Chiang Mai province's Hot district, hence the ceremony must be held by his preceptor monk there, the senior monk explained. He said he had already assigned the Sop Moei ecclesiastical chief to launch a fact-finding mission into the scandal.

Phra Julien first came to Thailand at age 18 as a Canadian exchange student who specialised in agricultural studies and became interested in practising meditation. He returned to Thailand in 1998 and then practised the Eight Precept principle on his own in Thailand for a year. After being ordained a monk in 2000, he resided in Sop Moei where villagers built a small monastery for him in the Phutha Kareni village in tambon Mae Sam Laeb. He lived modestly, eating fruit and vegetables and would collect alms twice a week because he did not wish to burden the poor villagers who already faced hardship.

His story – of a western monk living in rural Thai area -- was publicised by foreign media as well as Thailand’s popular "Khon Khon Khon" TV programme several years ago.

Social activist and veterinarian Somchai Sirithepsongklod, who exposed the scandal via his recent posts on Facebook along with photographic evidence of a white-clad man resembling Phra Julien standing next to a Swiss woman during their alleged “honeymoon trip” in Chanthaburi province five years ago, insisted that the accused had engaged in sexual relations while he was still a monk. He added that the woman had unsuccessfully complained about the monk’s alleged misconduct to various organisations but none paid heed to her until the story reached Somchai, who posted it on Facebook. This brought criticism from Thai netizens over the monk’s alleged misconduct.


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Laan Yaa Mo
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Laan Yaa Mo » August 12, 2019, 5:00 pm

And, just for interest's sake, what is your take on the story,,Izzix?
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by choi choi » August 12, 2019, 5:39 pm

At least its concerning Thailand! not boring politics!
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by GT93 » August 12, 2019, 5:42 pm

Great post Yartims. Thanks for posting it.

What's your take on the report, just for interest's sake, LYM?
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by AlexO » August 12, 2019, 6:35 pm

For 17 years I have lived for free.
Taking food and money from poor ignorant Country people.
All I have to do is chant a few bits pieces and the masses will think they will win the lottery next week.
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by FrazeeDK » August 12, 2019, 9:13 pm

20 years eh?? I wonder if he had issues on the visa to be a monk and now that he is defrocked will he be deported?
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by pal52 » August 13, 2019, 8:16 am

Apparently he will be returning to his temple after studying Dhamma & seeking forgiveness.

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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Drunk Monkey » August 13, 2019, 9:55 am

Never.quite got my head round these expats - non Thai non buddhist and what factors actually compell them.to join the monk hood ... numbers have and are still growing maybe someone can enlighten me .
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Laan Yaa Mo » August 13, 2019, 10:18 am

You will have to look within yourself for the answer. No-one else can help you: not the Buddha, not Jesus or God, not Confucius, not Vishnu, not Zeus and not the Pope. It is up to you.
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Drunk Monkey » August 13, 2019, 10:40 am

Very helpful thanks .. im delving i to.my inner soul .. after a cuppa tea n cake .

I have lived in thaila d long enough and in enough different locations ie .. rural.village ..tiwn.. city ..a d pattaya freak.city to have experienced the differing levels of seriousness within the monk hood ..
Old gusrd barefoot monks follow the religion to the letter
To
Youngsters elbowed into beinga monk by their paŕents who really arent going to be here fir any lenght of time so really just gonwith the flow .

And all that fall inbetween the above two

Stories of temples involved in naughty things ..monks on private jets n fancy cars .. mobile phones ..kfc deliveries and the odd spliff ..

Hence me being slightly confused by it all with regard to.why expats feel.the urge to.go into the monk hood .

Each tomtheir own Dm.just curious .
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Laan Yaa Mo » August 13, 2019, 11:05 am

Not all the older monks are on the up and up. It is difficult to know exactly what motivates the foreigner to follow the path of the Buddha. Perhaps some like the Buddha's message, some might do it out of curiousity, some as an escape, a few surely like the idea of meditating as it is popular in the West now, and so on. Each individual has their own reason. Put the cake and tea down for a second or more and ask yourself, why would I become a monk. There's your answer.
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Drunk Monkey » August 13, 2019, 11:13 am

Yorkshire tea n a moist slab of fruit cake ..consumed GLORIOUS .. indeed worth preaching about ..

After a few seconds of soul.searching n deep.thought ..cant think of a genuine reason why i should ..so I WOULDNT
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Laan Yaa Mo » August 13, 2019, 4:39 pm

There you go, it's not worth thinking about.

I didn't know Yorkshire had their own tea brands. Is it made from leaves from India, Sri Lanka or China? I know they make a great pudding, and the fans of the football squad bellow out vulgar lyrics during matches. I also became aware that Yorkshire has its own special day on 1 August.
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Drunk Monkey » August 13, 2019, 5:06 pm

Laan Yaa Mo wrote:
August 13, 2019, 4:39 pm
There you go, it's not worth thinking about.

I didn't know Yorkshire had their own tea brands. Is it made from leaves from India, Sri Lanka or China? I know they make a great pudding, and the fans of the football squad bellow out vulgar lyrics during matches. I also became aware that Yorkshire has its own special day on 1 August.
Back.on topic n by total.coincidence theres a party today in the village .. young lad going into the monk hood ..or ss i was told DOING MONK... religious stuff this morning n a concert this evening then tomorrow hes in temple ..head shaved seems all.having a great time ...i get the feeling his parents n grand parents have more or less forced him.to.do.this under the guise of making merit n good luck. Im.told hes going in for 1 month ..nit surecif this is typical.or not.

Btw LYM .. yorkshire tea is probably the best tea in the world ..hand picked l(weather permitting ).eaves from.the yorkshire Ikley moors .. the superb fruitcake was made by kevins daughter at the Gallery in Udon ..they also sell.Yorkshire tea

Dm. .
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Laan Yaa Mo » August 13, 2019, 7:56 pm

Thanks for the information. I would like to try some Yorkshire tea one day.
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by yartims » August 14, 2019, 7:17 pm

books on Buddhism are great for sleep inducement
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by Old Grumpy » August 15, 2019, 6:32 am

Drunk Monkey wrote:
August 13, 2019, 9:55 am
Never.quite got my head round these expats - non Thai non buddhist and what factors actually compell them.to join the monk hood ... numbers have and are still growing maybe someone can enlighten me .
The original 5 Precepts or Pancha Sila contain many elements that would be attractive to someone experiencing trauma in their life or simply can't find their way, especially in todays very materialistic society, unfortunately since I did a 6 month period as a monk or Adjun (teacher) over 30 years ago that materialism has perepetrated through the entire society here in Thailand, and I guess the whole world, including the monkhood, a prime example locally is the construction of a large temple said to be costing over a billion baht whilst local schools cope with leaking classroom roofs and a shortage of books .My service was at a small village Wat that served not only as a place of worship but as per the original concept, a place of learning, my teaching was conducted in the middle of the playing field, no classrooms or desks just old mats on the ground .I not only taught but learnt a lot , mainly about myself during this period .however I must admit I couldn't have gone abstaining from sexual contact for a longer period I,m sure, so I do feel sorry for this young man but after all it appears to be just with one woman , his regular girl friend and in the
C of E, vicars are allowed to have a wife , so not so much a major lapse was it?
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Re: canadian monk defrocked over sexual antics

Post by GT93 » August 15, 2019, 8:07 am

I think it was a major lapse and expulsion from the Sangha essential. That's the rule. He wasn't up to being a monk. It doesn't mean he's a terrible person but he had to go.
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