Tensions had been excessive at a funeral in Surin province in northeast Thailand on Friday when a brawl broke out between two saffron-robed Buddhist monks, allegedly over a plastic chair.
Yesterday, the performing abbot of Wat Pho Sri Sawang Arom, Phra Toi Kan, told reporters what occurred at the temple on Friday.
In Thailand, Buddhist funeral rites include a particular ritual called bangsookool (paṃsukūla in Pali) in which relations current robes to Buddhist monks to generate merit on behalf of the deceased. New robes are placed on a coffin and obtained by monks who chant and pour water to symbolise the transfer of advantage.
Shortly after the bangsookool ceremony on Friday, the peaceable funeral rites had been disturbed by two hot-headed clergymen. Phra Toi Kan said…
“I was sitting within the front row. I don’t know the foundation reason for the issue seen in the footage. Relatives needed to step in and cease the chaos. After the incident, the monk who began the struggle requested to go away the monkhood at a temple within the metropolis.”
Phra Ongart mentioned that his relations invited him to carry out a bangsookool ceremony at a funeral. Chairs had been set out in two rows for the monks when they arrived, mentioned Phra Ongart.
A monk instructed Phra Ongart to sit down in a chair within the front row because the three seats in the again row were taken. Upon sitting down, In less than asked Phra Ongart, “How a few years have you ever been ordained?” before bodily attacking him in front of all of the funeral guests. The monk grew violent when he didn’t get a entrance row seat.
Phra Ongart mentioned he was no match for the other monk’s strength and ended up on the floor. He said he was repeatedly punched by the mad monk earlier than funeral attendees put a cease to the fight.
The boiling Buddhist picked up a chair and tried to whack Phra Ongart with it but funeral attendees snatched the chair from him earlier than he could do any more harm.
Physical violence is forbidden for Buddhist monks and the perpetrator has already been punished by exiting the monkhood and returning to society on the request of the abbot..