Fake monks ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Fake monks

Replies: 20 - Last Post: 08-Aug-2008 20:08 Last Post By: naranjita

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Posted
04-Aug-2008 22:38
by: archstanton

Posts: 440
Registered: 10/05/04

Fake monks

What is the solution to the fake monk problem?

Should they be ignored?

Or should they be shamed in public and thrashed by a farang?

Personally, most monks are scam artists so I'm not bothered. Although I'd be happy to see a local thrashing them. Not too sure a farang should.

"From the eternal sea he rises
Creating armies on either shore
Turning man against his brother
Til man exists no more"

Posted
05-Aug-2008 04:20
by: losing_touch

Posts: 7,833
Registered: 13/01/05

1

Apparently someone read the stickman column this week.

most monks are scam artists

I think you should just stop talking now.

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Posted
05-Aug-2008 04:33
by: billp

Posts: 3,187
Registered: 25/03/02

2

I didn't believe this existed, but I saw it for myself on Sukhumvit a few weeks ago: men dressed up as monks, aggressively cadging cash from farang passersby. The Thai friend I was walking with was appalled. Monks do not go out on the street actively begging for money in the evening; they go around at dawn passively soliciting donations of food. Monks do NOT ask strangers for money (except maybe at organized temple fairs where people gain merit by paying for, say, a new roof tile).

Posted
05-Aug-2008 05:49
by: kevin17

Posts: 463
Registered: 14/06/08

3

I saw them on Sukhumvit back in April, my Thai girlfriend thought they were Chinese. A proper Thai monk cannot handle money so I thought it odd at the time.

Posted
05-Aug-2008 09:42
by: Stupid_American

Posts: 1,540
Registered: 05/05/00

4

Any foreigner "thrashing" any monk will surely meet up with a marked response from any Thais witnessing it.

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Posted
05-Aug-2008 10:23
by: scorpio_guy33

Posts: 1,604
Registered: 02/03/05

5

I've also seen fake monks in Thailand and Cambodia. I imagine most experienced SE Asia travelers can spot them a mile away, but first time tourists probably cannot. I just say 'no' to them and shake my head with disgust.

We have in fact, two kinds of morality, side by side: one which we preach, but do not practice, and another which we practice, but seldom preach. --Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

Posted
05-Aug-2008 11:20
by: BeerLao

Posts: 1,848
Registered: 09/12/01

6

Arch - this is a catch and release site. no live bait, no barbed hooks. Fish & Wildlife will be checking your permits soon, count on it. shamefull, regardless of your limit catch.

pull my finger

Posted
05-Aug-2008 12:16
by: baanthai1

Posts: 1,024
Registered: 09/05/08

7

fake religion, fake monks

if people want to give money to beggars whether they dress up as monks or not who cares

if it's not monks it will be tuk tuk drivers or limo drivers or salesmen

plenty of gullible targets in thailand

Posted
05-Aug-2008 12:18
by: Khunwilko

Posts: 3,321
Registered: 07/08/06

8

It is so easy to become a "genuine " monk the concept of "fake" is almost irrelevant.

G'day!

Posted
05-Aug-2008 13:34
by: Stickman

Posts: 279
Registered: 12/04/00

9

I've been writing about this issue of the fake monks in recent weeks in my column which culminated in a report, with photos, of a fellow I know disrobing a monk by force on Sukhumvit Road on Friday night. Report and pictures can be found here:

http://www.stickmanweekly.com/StickMarkII/ThailandRulesRegulationsLaws.htm

The problem is that not one person I have talked to can tell me exactly what the story is with these "fake monks". Most people seem to believe they are Chinese nationals posing as monks and playing on tourists. They beg at night in touristed areas, something that Thai monks are expressly forbidden from doing. One Thai told me that they beg in the tourist areas and then strip off the robes and spend the money on whiskey.

What should be noted is that when the monk was disrobed all of the Thais in the immediate area cheered. It's all very nasty business.

Of course these fakes should not be confused with real Thai monks!

Stickman

Stickmanbangkok.com

Posted
05-Aug-2008 14:36
by: wanderingstraycat

Posts: 1,408
Registered: 09/05/07

10

#10: in your photos, those robes are that of Chinese Mahayana monks, long sleeves, collar, side slits in outer robe, pants & all. totally different from what Theravada monks (majority in Thailand) wear - just rectangular sheets folded + rolled up. there are real Mahayana monks in Thailand, & at least in Udon Thani they go on alms round only at dawn like their Theravada counterparts. never stayed in a neighbourhood of any of the Mahayana temples in BKK before, so don't know about those in BKK. just hope that such nonsense doesn't lead to discrimination against them.

& yes there are such scammers who buy a set of robes from the market, shave their heads & beg from both locals & tourists. some jokers chose to dress up as Thai Theravada monks but forget to shave their eyebrows :P Thai monks carry monk ID cards, dunno if Khao San Rd does fake monk ID cards for the fake monks?

ironic thing is, there are Thais who bus over to Singapore & dress up not just as fake Theravada monks, but mae chiis as well, & wander around begging for cash. they work as a syndicate, reporters have trailed them & blown their cover, police have stepped in & deported them, & Thai embassy has written to the media to clarify, but after everything dies down they're back again.

maybe if everyone put nothing but cooked rice into those alms bowls, they'd stop?

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Posted
05-Aug-2008 18:39
by: archstanton

Posts: 440
Registered: 10/05/04

11

I would love to see a tourist disrobe a real monk and take a kicking. That would be hilarious to watch.

"From the eternal sea he rises
Creating armies on either shore
Turning man against his brother
Til man exists no more"

Posted
05-Aug-2008 21:09
by: goo_stewart

Posts: 961
Registered: 31/03/04

12

I find it strange that the police have not done anything about this, maybe they are cut in on it, although I find that hard to believe. I think someone should grab one of these fakes and drag him to the police station.

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Posted
05-Aug-2008 21:15
by: billp

Posts: 3,187
Registered: 25/03/02

13

Is impersonating a monk actually a crime in Thailand?

Posted
05-Aug-2008 23:22
by: Chanchao

Posts: 6,533
Registered: 03/11/00

14

Yes it is. Though possibly that could only apply to Thai (Theravada) monks, and not to Chinese monks?

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