A Buddhist preacher of Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand has proposed the holding of classes to teach good manners to gay and transgender monks. This set of guidelines is meant to curb ‘ostentatious behavior’ such as wearing of make-up and tight robes. It has been reported that older monks are concerned with the attitude and behavior of some effeminate beginners.
Rumored scandals among the monks are nothing new in Thailand. In recent years, they have been accused of abusing their position in society with behavior such as driving luxury cars, participation in fraud or forgery, and violation of their vows of celibacy. These controversies have all contributed to the damage in their image.
The first ‘good manners’ course will be taught in the Triam Sammanen school, located in the northern province of Chiang Rai. If the initiative yields results, it will be replicated in other monasteries in the country. Triam Sammanen founder Witthichai Wachiramethee explained that the novices will learn appropriate standards of conduct within the religious order to ‘prevent gay expressions from some of them.’
In Thailand where 90 percent of the population practices Theravada Buddhism, there are over 30,000 temples or monasteries that house some 300,000 monks. Most of these are young religious novices who stay in the monastery for a limited time of several weeks to three or four years. During the period, they study religious books and must follow a strict discipline. However, many break the rules, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and have sex.
Via Telegraph.co.uk
