Let it be known: thirst traps are not the Buddhist path.
A Buddhist monk (or, at the very least, someone pretending to be a Buddhist monk) is learning this lesson the hard way, after some shirtless photos drew criticism from the highest echelons of Buddhist authorities.
The photos appeared on social media, cropped into Grindr-style headshots.
“Against monastic discipline, this man wore clothes similar to monk clothes and took photos of himself with fit muscles,” said Narong Songarom, deputy director of the National Buddhist Office.
“Although it is not a serious error in the path of the monk, it is an earthly sin that invites criticism from society and harms Buddhism.”
“Building muscles and putting photos on social media like this is a monk forgetting his monk vows,” added Phra Payom Kalyano, abbot of Wat Suan Kaew in Nonthaburi.
“It is inappropriate because it invites criticism and tarnishes our religion. If you want to exercise and have a muscular body, just stay at home instead of being ordered to. ”
Buddhist monks view exercise as vanity, which is likely because monks in Thailand face a growing obesity problem, leading the government to release a Monk Health Charter in 2017 to advise monks on a healthier diet.
This Buddhist hunk has some thinking to do.
