"Deviant" Monks?

I recently saw a post in Facebook on a monk "caught" drinking a glass of Guinness stout  at a public dinner. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150529835627049&set=a.10150529835577049.431576.685712048&type=1&theater

It invited a few comments on Monks, their precepts and vinaya, and what they should do and not do.

Some said that monks should never drink since it is one of the Five Precepts.  Others mentioned that such monks caused disgrace to the Buddhist communities.

It is hard to draw a line and a post even mentioned about the Ming Yi incident. 

We must also bear in mind...that Monks are also human, they made a vow, and like most of us, some can keep their promise but some cannot. I saw a post above Ming Yi, and when one break his vow, it is the end of merits and the beginning of Karma catching up... 火烧公德堂.. all his previous good deeds are burned by his own actions.  

Monks are also in the process of practicing the Buddha's teaching and the only difference is that they make a vow to take this practice as a way of life.  Some can keep their vows, some cannot and they should be judged by their own teachers or their own group and tradition and not the society, and definitely not YOU or me.

And People are very unforgiving..  and using their fault finding minds, they will continue to criticise, when everyone else can never meet the standard which they set for others.  

Buddhism is also about being mindful of our own practice. Unless you claim to be a Buddhist Policeman, we should thank these monks for teaching us to be more mindful of our Noble Eightfold Path.

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May you be well, happy, peaceful.


With Gratitude,
ROBIN

My Lectures On End of Life, Palliative care and A Good Death

My Lectures On End of Life, Palliative care and A Good Death

1.       Invited Speaker (2009), 7th International Congress on Traditional Asian Medicine (ICTAM 09) Bhutan, September 7-11, 2009, organised by the IASTAM and the Government of Bhutan, “End of Life Care and Traditional Medicine”

2.       Invited Speaker (2009), NUS-Duke conference on Health Care Challenges for an Ageing Population: Managing Health Care and End of Life Decisions in Singapore, 29 May 2009.  “Ethical Issues in Research involving Terminally Ill and Aging”

3.       Invited Speaker (2009), Dover Park Hospice Volunteer Training Workshop, Singapore. 2 Dec 2009, 7.30 to 9.30 pm. “Ethics and End of Life Care”.

4.       Invited Speaker (2009), Kasih Foundation Hospice Volunteer Training, Malaysia. 26 Sep 2009, 3 to 6 pm. "What do I want in End of life care?"

5.       Invited Speaker (2009), Kasih Foundation Hospice Public Lecture, Malaysia. 26 Sep 2009, 3 to 6 pm. "End of life care and Ethics"

6.       Invited Speaker (2010), College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 23 Jan 2010 2.30 to 5pm. “End of Life Care and Traditional Chinese Medicine”.

7.       Invited Speaker (2010), Dover Park Hospice Volunteer Training Workshop (in Chinese), Singapore, Wednesday 10 March 2010, 7.30 to 9.30 pm. “Ethics and End of Life Care”.

8.       Invited Speaker (2010), College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 19 June 2010 2.30 to 4.30pm. “Good Life, Good Death”.

9.       Invited Speaker (2010), Poh Ern Shih Temple of Thanksgiving, Singapore (3 sessions), 3 Jul 2010 7 Aug 2010, 4 Sep 2010, 11 to 12.30pm “A Buddhist perspective on Good Life, Good Death”

10.    Invited Speaker (2010), Karma Kaygud Buddhist Centre Singapore (3 sessions), 22 Aug 2010, 19 Sep 2010, 17 Oct 2010, 2 to 4pm “A Buddhist perspective on Good Life, Good Death”.

11.    Invited Speaker (2010), Karma Kaygud Buddhist Centre Singapore (3 sessions), 18 July 2010, 2 to 4pm “Good Life, Good Death”.

12.    Invited Speaker (2011), Kasih Foundation Hospice Public Lecture, Malaysia. 19 Jun 2011, 4 to 6 pm. "Living Will and Medical Directives- Can you live forever?"

13.    Invited Speaker (2011), Fo Guang Shan Temple, Singapore. 18 June 2011, 7 to 9.30 pm. "How do we face life and death?"

14.    Invited Speaker (2011), Fo Guang Shan Temple, Malaysia. 21 June 2011, 8 to 9.30 pm. "How do we face life and death?"

15.    Invited Speaker (2011), Ren Ci Community Hospital, Singapore. 15 Oct 2011, 2.30 to 5 pm. "Is there a Good Death?"

16.    Invited Speaker (2011), The Ministry of Consolation, Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Singapore. 12 Nov 2011, 7 to 9.45 pm. "Is there a Good Death?"

17.    Invited Speaker (2011), University of Western Australia, Perth Australia, 3 Nov 2011, 3-5pm “Attitudes and Perceptions of Singaporean people toward Death and Dying and End of Life.”


I am conducting an online research survey on End of Life and a Good Death and need your help. It was my PhD project which I have completed the pilot study and now going into full research. 


Pls Click here to take 5 mins survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/687QMT3

Thank you for your help and pls invite your friends by sharing this msg.