Hustling Monks Scolded For Working Overtime

April 10, 2013

Police arrested 3 monks at a south Pattaya market for alms bowl soliciting before 5 a.m. They were taken to see the Abbot at Chaimongkhol temple. As they waited, one monk escaped by climbing a back fence. The other monks got a warning and were sent back to their home province temples.

PATTAYA – April 10, 2013 [PDN]; At 2:30 a.m., a report of monks collecting for alms bowls before the proper time was received by the radio center of Pattaya police station, which coordinated with Pattaya municipal officers to check the report.

The solicitations were occurring at south Pattaya market, Moo 10 Tambon Nong Preu, Amphur Banglamung, Chonburi province.

Officers arriving at scene found 3 monks standing to alms bowl from the people, who were donating money to the monks. The officers asked to inspect the monks, which made onlookers curious.

From inspecting the monk certificates of the 3 monks, officers discovered one was named monk Wichet Thammakijjo, with his former surname Kaolim, ordained at Choomphol temple, Songkhla province.

The second monk, Boonsong Pasannai, with his former surname Leua-orn, was ordained at Kaewjantharam temple, Lopburi province. The third monk, Jaroon Chotiko with his former surname Kritkamjorn, was ordained at Na Kham temple, Udonthani province.

The officers explained to the 3 monks that they should not behave like this by soliciting at improper hours, which violates the monk discipline code.

The officers brought the 3 monks to see monk Phisarn Jariyaphiwat, the Lord Abbot of Tambon Na Kleu, the Abbot of Chaimongkhol temple, south Pattaya, in order to be evaluated for their behavior.

While they were waiting to see monk Phisarn in front of the Abbot’s parsonage, monk Jaroon Chotiko asked to go to the toilet, and since there was no officer going with him, he climbed the fence of the temple to escape. He left his monk’s robes in the forest behind the temple. The officers mobilized forces to look for him, but after searching more than 1 hour, there was no trace of him.

Monk Phisarn Jariyaphiwat said about the behavior of the 2 remaining monks that it was not suitable for them to engage in alms bowl collecting before the proper time at 5.30 a.m.

Previously the area residents always assumed they were the monks of Chaimongkhol temple, which destroyed the good reputation of the temple. Initially, the Abbot threatened the 2 monks with punishment, but because it was the first time, he only issued a warning.

But if they came back to do such behavior in Pattaya again, the Abbot will get them to leave the monkhood immediately. Then the Abbot and the officers released them to go back to the temples where they were ordained.

As for the escaped monk Jaroon Chotiko, police discovered that he and another monk had been detained by police on February 25 at 9 a.m. at the south Pattaya market. Police were responding to people complaining that the monks were alms-bowl collecting at the market later than the proper time.

The other monk was identified as Buchit Wisutthiseelo or his old surname was Phukabin, ordained at Na Yangklak temple, Chaiyaphum province. The officers had detained the two monks for violating rules and be considered for punishment.

So when monk Jaroon Chotiko was detained again by police, he asked to go to the restroom and climbed the wall to escape. Because if he was arrested this time again, he knew he might be forced to leave the monkhood and be prosecuted according to the law.