Showing 1 - 10 of 25
Love, lust and lost funds
News, Karnjana Karnjanatawe, Published on 18/07/2025
» A growing scandal involving senior Buddhist monks and a woman dubbed "Sika Golf" has gripped Thailand in recent weeks. The case centres on Wilawan Emsawat, a 35-year-old woman accused of forging intimate relationships with high-ranking monks and allegedly using them for financial gain, sparking a wide-ranging police investigation and multiple arrests.
Ubolratana Dam discharging water
Chakrapan Natanri, Published on 22/08/2022
» KHON KAEN: More water is being discharged from Ubolratana Dam as runoff from continuous heavy rain continues to flow into the already half-full reservoir.
Ex-monk accused of illicit land purchase
News, Post Reporters, Published on 08/02/2022
» Activist and serial petitioner Srisuwan Janya said he will ask the Royal Forest Department to look into an allegation that ex-monk Sompong Nakhonthaisong spent 10 million baht buying 300 rai of Sor Por Kor land (agricultural land reform land) in violation of the law.
Famous monk to swap robe for politics
News, Aekarach Sattaburuth, Published on 18/12/2021
» Phra Maha Sompong Talaputto, a well-known monk preacher, says he will leave the monkhood on Dec 29 while declaring he has an interest in becoming a spokesman for a political party.
Talk-show monk leaves monkhood
Online Reporters, Published on 03/12/2021
» Phra Maha Paivan Worawano, one of two celebrity monks in hot water over a live-streamed talk show laced with political messages and giggling in September, left the monkhood on Friday.
More meditating, less talking please
Life, Patcharawalai Sanyanusin, Published on 18/10/2021
» Whenever there are reports of Buddhist monks misbehaving or violating the monastic code of conduct, we often hear comments like "They are causing a decay to the religion" and "They should be kicked out of the monastery right away".
Don't limit monks
Oped, Editorial, Published on 16/10/2021
» A recent order by the Supreme Sangha Council prohibiting Buddhist monks and novices from studying non-dhamma subjects is a step backwards in the development of clerical society.
'Giggling monk' told not to be discouraged, keep teaching
Online Reporters, Published on 11/10/2021
» Former activist monk Buddha Isara on Monday offered advice for Phra Maha Sompong Talaputto, after the giggling monk told followers of his live Facebook show he was under pressure to leave the monkhood because of his unconventional teaching of dhamma.
Less comedy, more dhamma
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 20/09/2021
» A couple of weeks ago, two well-known monks -- Phra Maha Sompong Talaputto and Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano -- held a livestream talk show on social media that attracted 200,000 viewers. The chat led to several debates between their supporters and opponents since it was different from typical dhamma talks or dhamma preaching. The two monks used several teenage slang expressions and joked with their viewers who commented via the live chat. While Phra Maha Sompong focused on delivering his own jokes like a standup comedian, Phra Maha Praiwan, who knew many teenage expressions, giggled uncontrollably throughout the show. He was criticised for not being not calm or having self-control as a monk should.
Autocracy, not giggling, is the problem
Oped, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 15/09/2021
» When two influencer monks -- Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano and Phra Maha Sompong Talaputto -- were summoned to Government House last week for giggling too much in their dhamma talk shows, I expected intellectual duels between the conservatives and the liberals on the monastic codes of conduct and the clergy's need to catch up with times.