Ex-abbot Mitsuo appears with wife, quelling break-up rumours

Ex-abbot Mitsuo appears with wife, quelling break-up rumours

The former Phra Ajarn Mitsuo Gavesako, once abbot of Sunandavanaram forest monastery in Kanchanaburi’s Sai Yok district, has a gold leaf placed on his forehead by the abbot of Wat Pom Raman temple in Ayutthaya on Wednesday. Mr Mitsuo, now 66, visited the temple with his 56-year-old Thai wife Sutthirat Muttamara, far right, dispelling rumours of a break-up. (Photo taken from Thawatchai Ariyaketmongkhol Facebook page)
The former Phra Ajarn Mitsuo Gavesako, once abbot of Sunandavanaram forest monastery in Kanchanaburi’s Sai Yok district, has a gold leaf placed on his forehead by the abbot of Wat Pom Raman temple in Ayutthaya on Wednesday. Mr Mitsuo, now 66, visited the temple with his 56-year-old Thai wife Sutthirat Muttamara, far right, dispelling rumours of a break-up. (Photo taken from Thawatchai Ariyaketmongkhol Facebook page)

AYUTTHAYA - The former abbot of a renowned forest monastery who shocked his disciples by leaving the monkhood to wed a Thai businesswoman four years ago has showed up with his wife at a temple here, dispelling rumours of a marriage break-up.

Three photos of Mitsuo Shibahashi, 66, formerly known as Phra Ajarn Mitsuo Gavesako and abbot of Sunandavanaram forest monastery in Kanchanaburi’s Sai Yok district, with his wife Sutthirat Muttamara, 56, at Wat Pom Raman in tambon Suan Prik in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district were posted on Facebook on Thursday.

They showed the abbot of the temple, Phra Khru Kasemchanthavimol, better known as "Ajarn Daeng,’’ performing rites over them on Wednesday to boost their prestige and charm, placing a gold leaf on each of their foreheads.

Facebook user Thawatchai Ariyaketmonkhol posted the pictures. He is said to be a close disciple of the abbot. Thawatchai also posted a message, “Mitsuo and Suthirat 'Nong Ann'’ quietly flew from Japan to have Ajarn Daeng perform a long-na nah thong rite and seek his blessing.''

Earlier, rumours had it that the former Phra Ajarn Mitsuo had broken up with his wife. They married in 2013.

He denied the rumours, insisting his romance was still sweet, and last December the couple posted photos online of themselves together. Now a new set of  pictures of them together has appeared on Facebook.

The former abbot of Sunandavanaram monastery had grabbed headlines when he married Ms Sutthirat, who owns a beauty clinic.

The news caught most of his followers off guard as they did not expect the Japanese monk would leave the monkhood to marry after serving Buddhism for 38 years. The pair left Thailand to live in Japan.

Mitsuo Shibahashi, 66,formerly known as Phra Ajarn Mitsuo Gavesako, right, and his wife Sutthirat, 56, pose for a photograph with Phra Khru Kasemchanthavimol, abbot of Wat Pom Raman in Ayutthaya. (Photo taken from Thawatchai Ariyaketmongkhol Facebook page)

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