6 Senior Buddhist Monks caught drinking, smoking and gambling

This story just out - when I read it I had this really funny image of the six monks sitting around in a smokey room, all with cigars in their mouths and a bottle of JD on the table with shot glasses, while in full regalia. LMAO. You don't normally hear about Buddhist Monks breaking bad.


> SIX senior Buddhist monks offered to resign this week after they were captured on secret video footage drinking, playing poker and smoking at a luxury hotel in South Korea.

The leader of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism made a public apology today and said an internal investigation into the footage was launched last week, The Korea Herald reported.

The video - recorded by a hidden surveillance camera in a hotel room in Jangseong - shows the men gambling and carousing before a memorial service for a dead Zen Master at Baekyang Temple on April 23.

A former member of the Jogye Order's head office lodged a complaint and accused eight monks of being involved in 13 hours of gambling. The total sum won during the poker game was one billion won ($875,000).

Among the group were two spiritual leaders, high-ranking monks and abbots from branch temples.
Ven. Jaseung, who leads the Jogye, ordered severe disciplinary actions against those involved.

He also announced an investigation into the installation of the camera, which he said violated the law.
Critics claim the camera was put there by opponents to try and bring down the monks.

Around 12 million Koreans are Buddhists, according to government data.
There are 25 Buddhist orders in South Korea, with the Jogye the largest. <

Peace Out
.

god forbid they have a good time once in their life

reminds me of the movie The hang over II and the drunken monk they bailed outta jail

2nd line

Wonder what would happened if their women around?

Oh, you can't help but laugh at this.

About time they have some fun too. I mean man there life has got to be boring..................Kudos to them...

Originally posted by Manhater
Wonder what would happened if their women around?

Oh, you can't help but laugh at this.

About time they have some fun too. I mean man there life has got to be boring..................Kudos to them...

Did you mean 'there' or 'their' ?

If you meant 'their', then that creates another whole other chapter to this juicy story. Hehe

Peace Out

If they had to resort to drinking, smoking and gambling, then they are not monks anymore, nor do have a strong mind..


My bet is these guys are not the 100% live-in-temple monks, probably rich men who are monks and live in house and whatnot.

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche was an alcoholic and a womanizer. But he did great things.
Founding Shambhala International being one of many. To do that whilst being a drunk is
pretty impressive. Drunks are hard to be around (if your sober) and I know I turn into a
complete idiot if I drink to much. Nobody's perfect and at least they weren't diddling
little boys.

From Wikipedia:

He is reported to have remained in a state of samādhi for five days after his death,
his body not immediately decaying and his heart remaining warm.

Maybe the alcohol acted as a preservative.

Not defending these monks, just saying.....

Perhaps it was simply a learning experience so they could go back and tell all the students what evil there is.. Of course they don't lie so they may have to admit they had a hoot. Let them be!

P

What's wrong with these guys at least their not pedophiles like the Catholic Priest I mean what their doing is legal

Are these things not allowed in Buddhism?

I know its a life philosophy - - but is there some hard rule that disallows: drinking - gambling - smoking?

Heres the video of the monks. Seems like they were having a good time in their private room. Whats the big deal?

Being human is a b!tch, isn't it? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

ETA: Were they being filmed in their private room without their consent? Sure looks that way.

reply to post by itsallmaya


You know, the more I take time to reflect on this, I do feel let down and bothered by it.

Isn't the whole philosophy behind being a spiritual leader someone of a higher caliber of moral character who guides the rest of us by steering us to higher values by doing the right thing?

With that in mind, isn't one of the fundamental beliefs in being a Buddhist monk disengaging in physical pleasures such as vices like smoking, drinking, and don't forget - it is illegal to gamble out of state sponsered casinos where they live, so they committed a crime of not only moral but a legal one. Where did they get all this money as well? That's a whole lot of "earthly" possessions for such a group, no?

Maybe its me, but its depressing to see people you would like to think is "above" it all to get caught living different from what they preach. Sign of the times I guess! Sigh..........

Originally posted by itsallmaya
reply to post by itsallmaya

 

You know, the more I take time to reflect on this, I do feel let down and bothered by it.

Isn't the whole philosophy behind being a spiritual leader someone of a higher caliber of moral character who guides the rest of us by steering us to higher values by doing the right thing?

With that in mind, isn't one of the fundamental beliefs in being a Buddhist monk disengaging in physical pleasures such as vices like smoking, drinking, and don't forget - it is illegal to gamble out of state sponsered casinos where they live, so they committed a crime of not only moral but a legal one. Where did they get all this money as well? That's a whole lot of "earthly" possessions for such a group, no?

Maybe its me, but its depressing to see people you would like to think is "above" it all to get caught living different from what they preach. Sign of the times I guess! Sigh..........

Thanks for posting the vid - I didn't know it was in the public domain.

Spiritual mentorship can be really tricky. I've really only had one mentor in my life and I had to move on from him after about 5 years because I felt like he couldn't teach me anything more than what I already knew. I have travelled this path and learnt mostly from intuition and altered states of conscioiusness (my supreme self and disincarnate beings you might say).

I am of the opinion that most (self appointed) masters and spiritual teaches are either fakes or highly delusional. It is especially bad in the 'new age' movement.

Peace Out

reply to post by nimbinned

Spiritual mentorship can be really tricky. I've really only had one mentor in my life and I had to move on from him after about 5 years because I felt like he couldn't teach me anything more than what I already knew. I have travelled this path and learnt mostly from intuition and altered states of conscioiusness (my supreme self and disincarnate beings you might say).

Isn't that how its supposed to be with a spiritual teacher? Once you learn everything you feel you need to know it is time for you to move on? I agree with you from my own experience that I gain most knowledge from personal insight and intuition. Lots of times I won't even being thinking of one thing in particular and suddenly I will have this instantaneous realization of something I had been struggling to understand I'll be blown away about how the answer seems to come to me from out of the blue. I get that a lot when I first wake up in the morning.

I am of the opinion that most (self appointed) masters and spiritual teaches are either fakes or highly delusional. It is especially bad in the 'new age' movement.

Unfortunately I have been disappointed with spiritual leaders being egotistical and inflexible in their views. One of my problems seems to be putting them on pedestals instead of realizing they are like us with issues and that nobody is perfect or infallible. So yeah, it is best to find our way alone for some of us.

Thanks, good stuff!