Heartland

Here are some replies in the ST Forum on the Fake monks in Singapore:

http://www.straitstimes.com/Talk/Story/STIStory_139141.html

July 15, 2007

How to spot a fake monk

AS THE Ambassador of Thailand to Singapore, I write in response to the articles, ‘Exposed: 50 fake monks & nuns – All holed up in Geylang’ and ‘Cat-and-mouse stake-out’ (The Sunday Times, July 8).

I applaud the efforts by all three journalists who co-authored this exclusive report, and would like to share with your readers that the Thai government and several organisations in Thailand, such as the Office of National Buddhism, the Foreign Ministry, and the Royal Thai Police, have never taken this problem lightly.

As has been rightly pointed out in the report, ‘whoever pulled the strings ran a well-oiled operation’, so it should come as no surprise that these people still manage to continue their misconduct in several countries, including Singapore and some rural parts of Thailand.

Of course, the relevant government bodies must continue to work hard to tackle this issue together but, in the meantime, it would help for the public to be aware of the activities of these criminals.

There are at least two things that the public can do.

Firstly, there are several signs that should enable one to tell whether a monk or a nun is fake or not. For instance, a strict Buddhist monk or nun does not walk around in public places to beg for monetary donations and certainly not to sell amulets.

When asked, he/she should be able to produce his/her identity card and proof of his/her residence.

Also, a strict Buddhist monk or nun does not usually carry around unusually big bags during his/her alms rounds, and he/she never stays overnight anywhere else, except at his/her temple.

I am fully aware that such descriptions are indeed vague, but at least they should come in handy next time one comes across a Buddhist monk or nun.

Secondly, should you have reasons to doubt the conduct of any Buddhist monks and/or nuns, you could lodge a police report.

The Royal Thai Embassy (tel: 6737-2158 and 6737-2644), too, stands ready to work with the Singapore Police Force as well as other government bodies at home in dealing with any complaints you may have should you wish to report any misconduct by a Buddhist monk or nun believed to have come from Thailand.

Readers can rest assured that they will be kept fully informed of any progress in solving this matter.

Chalermpol Thanchitt
Ambassador
Royal Thai Embassy

Bogus act likely to return

Bogus act likely to return

I REFER to your article, ‘Exposed: 50 fake monks & nuns – All holed up in Geylang’ (The Sunday Times, July 8).

For the police to say that they did not note any offence after conducting checks at the Geylang lodging house is tantamount to encouraging the scourge to continue once the heat is off.

Is the lodging house properly licensed to lodge these bogus monks and nuns for $10 a night, not to mention those rooms rented by the hour? Does the ‘moneychanger’ hold a licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore for taking a cut of $1 off every $50 worth in coins?

The bogus monks and nuns will once again be on the prowl for benevolent heartlanders once the heat dies down.

Jenny Sito Soo Yit Chan (Ms)

Give food, not cash, to monks

Give food, not cash, to monks

WE APPLAUD your paper for the brilliant piece of investigative journalism in exposing the fake monks and nuns (‘Exposed: 50 fake monks & nuns – All holed up in Geylang’ and ‘Cat-and-mouse stake-out’; The Sunday Times, July 8).

People pretending to be holy people in order to take advantage of kind and generous hearts have long been a peeve of the Buddhist community.

Time and again, we have been discouraging people from offering cash to monks or nuns in robes. Money should be donated to a temple, Buddhist centre or monastery that in turn supports the monks and nuns.

No monk or nun should need to beg for money, as they are supported by the monastery or temple that they are hosted at. The Buddhist practice is to give food to monks or nuns who beg for alms.

In accordance with the Vinaya Pitaka (Code of Discipline) laid down by Buddha 2,550 years ago, monks and nuns are, in fact, disallowed from handling gold and silver or, in today’s context, money.

Over time, monks and nuns have ‘relaxed’ this rule and started handling money, thereby giving such bogus monks and nuns the opportunity to exploit the generosity of other followers of Buddhism.

In some Buddhist organisations like ours and the Poh Ern Shih Temple, members and visitors are explicitly advised not to give hongbao directly to the monks or nuns.

In the path of renunciation, these monks and nuns should be living a simple life practising contentment, thus having few demands.

Anyone who wants to know more about the 227 rules that a monk lives by may access the Vinaya Pitaka online.

Angie Monksfield (Ms)
President
Buddhist Fellowship