A Phetchabun monk who publicly admitted to having sex with a male disciple is under investigation, but authorities are not yet convinced the case is serious enough for him to be defrocked.
National Buddhism Office spokesman Somchai Surachatree said the Phetchabun provincial Buddhism office has been instructed to coordinate with the provincial monastic agency to investigate Phra Kasem Ajinasilo, head of Sam Yaek monastery in Nam Nao district.
He said that an inquiry by disciples would not be enough to bring punishment against the monk. But if a monastic committee finds him guilty, he must be defrocked since having sexual intercourse is among four offences for which a monk may be defrocked, Mr Somchai said. The other three are stealing, killing a human and pretending to have supernatural powers.
Phetchabun provincial Buddhism office director Thanyathep Muenyuth said he reported the incident to Phra Ratchapariyatbundit, chief of the provincial monastic committee, to initiate a probe.
The move comes after the controversial monk on Friday told a group of his lay disciples and monks during an "internal inquiry" that he had sex with a 34-year-old follower in the monastery’s compound.
About 60 lay people, including the male disciple who he had sex with, and monks at the monastery took part in the inquiry that was also broadcast on the monastery’s website. Phra Kasem told his disciples that he did not have self-awareness during the sexual activity, so he did not have to leave the monkhood. He also suggested his disciples set up a monastic court to try him.
Mr Thanyathep said the office was informed by monastic authorities that Phra Kasem should no longer be considered a monk and his claim about a lack of self-awareness was absurd. "Phra Kasem has publicly admitted he committed the offence, so he should reconsider himself. Otherwise the monastic authorities will have to step in," he said.
Mr Thanyathep said the new dispute will give authorities "a hard time" because Phra Kasem is known to be stubborn. No criminal charge can be filed against the monk because the sexual relationship between him and his disciple was mutual.
He said the monastic committee is expected to launch the probe and make a ruling to clear any doubt or argument that may arise. "I’d like to ask the disciples not to blindly follow. What they should follow are Buddhist teachings, not individuals," he said.
It was reported that the monk yesterday carried out his routines as usual. However, there seemed to be fewer lay people at the monastery.
Phra Kasem came under heavy criticism years ago following his appearance in a YouTube clip and a TV news report featuring "rude and inappropriate behaviour". He stepped on the base of a Buddha statue, slapped the statue’s face and put a sign on the brass statue urging people not to worship it because it wasn’t Lord Buddha.