Women dressed as monks seeking alms cause stir in Nakhon Pathom | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

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Female monks cause a stir

Residents of tambon Bang Krathuek in Sam Phran district of Nakhon Pathom province want the National Office of Buddhism to investigate a group of women who don yellow robes and go out seeking alms every morning, just like Buddhist monks.

Buddhist nuns traditionally wear white robes.

Many locals were surprised by the sight but did not suspect anything wrong. Some were even unaware that they were females.

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Your comments

  • Discussion 8 : 26 Jan 2013 at 09.458

    It is the number of rules observed that makes the difference. If a female Nun observe as many rules as monk she likes to be dressed in saffron, but that is not acceptable for many Monks.. Its a fight about hierarchy.

  • Discussion 7 : 24 Jan 2013 at 18.117

    the vendor reported to the police but until now no progress have been made. Hope this time around progress will be made about the matter..

  • Discussion 6 : 24 Jan 2013 at 16.306

    The term is NUN! There is no such thing as a "female monk". In countries were women are allowed to be ordained (Sri Lanka for example) and even reach Bikkuni-hood they are still called Nuns and not monks.

  • Discussion 5 : 24 Jan 2013 at 15.225

    Let's see what the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) will strike again . . .

  • Discussion 4 : 24 Jan 2013 at 13.324

    allow me to shed another light on this matter.
    In E-Saan it is widely known that fake monks are roaming the provinces. (money/food)
    In fact most people we know, including our family members, connect to their/our favorite temple and avoid getting in touch with "roaming" monks.
    IF somebody is asking questions about the status of a/monks in the area it is usually because of the reason i just discribed.perfectly legite i guess.

  • Discussion 3 : 24 Jan 2013 at 13.253

    About time!

  • Discussion 2 : 24 Jan 2013 at 12.242

    I was acquainted with a genuine female monk some years ago. She had been ordained in Sri Lanka. But female monks in Thailand are very rare and it shouldn't be hard to discover if they are real. I'd rather the police looked into the "Chinese monks" who wander down Sukhuwit asking tourists for money. At least these women are only accepting food.

  • Discussion 1 : 24 Jan 2013 at 10.561

    Yet another example of religious intolerance. Many nuns would make better monks than the ones we often see intoxicated. Still, women in Thailand aren't allowed to wear saffron simply because they are women.
    If the people in Bang Krathuek do not believe these nuns are legitimate Buddhists worshipers, no one forces them to give alms or support them in any manner.
    Live and let live...

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