Buddhism Thailand

Thousands of abject followers packed the streets to bid farewell Friday to one of Thailand's most popular religious figures, who was forced to surrender his monk's robe in a sex scandal. Yantra Ammarobhikkhu was accused of breaking his vow of chastity by having sex with prostitutes. He denies ever going to a "temptation place," but he agreed to leave the monkhood to stop the brawling within his church over his extraordinary case. "I don't want to take off my robe," he said. Then he did.

Thousands of abject followers packed the streets to bid farewell Friday to one of Thailand's most popular religious figures, who was forced to surrender his monk's robe in a sex scandal. Yantra Ammarobhikkhu was accused of breaking his vow of chastity by having sex with prostitutes. He denies ever going to a "temptation place," but he agreed to leave the monkhood to stop the brawling within his church over his extraordinary case. "I don't want to take off my robe," he said. Then he did.

The people who live at Duoc Su Temple look like ordinary Buddhist monks, with their shaved heads and their simple, loose gray garb and saffron-colored robes. But look closer at the master chanting with the worshipers who are sitting on the floor of the rug-lined praying room. The master is a woman. So are the rest of the temple keepers.

You won't find it on maps or road signs, but on full moon nights, with a thousand lanterns flickering, Buddhist monks praying and sarong-clad women bearing offerings, one can almost believe that Monland lives in more than dreams. The Bor Kamot-Kaban festival is one of many celebrated by 6,000 Mon people whose hillside home has proved a haven from the harsh military regime in nearby Myanmar and the not always welcoming Thais around them.

The people who live at Duoc Su Temple look like ordinary Buddhist monks, with their shaved heads and their simple, loose gray garb and saffron-colored robes. But look closer at the master chanting with the worshipers who are sitting on the floor of the cool, rug-lined interior of the praying room. The master is a woman. So are the rest of the temple keepers.