Puffing Monks

[Coolhand]

"About a quarter of Thailand's 300,000 Buddhist monks can't kick the habit despite an anti-smoking campaign targeting them, local health authorities say. The campaign was launched in 2003 in response to statistics showing that the leading cause of death among Thai monks is tobacco related disease. Associate Professor Supreda Adulayanon of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, an independent agency set up by the government, says the number of smoking monks has decreased, but not by enough.... Lighting up is now illegal in most public places in Bangkok, including shopping malls, schools, restaurants and religious places, yet monks who are unable to break their habit are still allowed to smoke in their temple quarters..... Monks are expected to shun vice and life's luxuries yet there is no religious edict banning them from smoking, as there is against drugs or alcohol. Temples are supposed to be smoke-free environments and leaving cigarettes as offerings - a long-held tradition among followers - has been labelled a sin by the Supreme Sangha, Thailand's top Buddhist authority."

[butterflyblonde]

Funniest thing I ever saw was on my 2nd trip to los.

A monk in Don muang wearing a CD walkman

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Coolhand

"About a quarter of Thailand's 300,000 Buddhist monks can't kick the habit despite an anti-smoking campaign targeting them, local health authorities say. The campaign was launched in 2003 in response to statistics showing that the leading cause of death among Thai monks is tobacco related disease. Associate Professor Supreda Adulayanon of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, an independent agency set up by the government, says the number of smoking monks has decreased, but not by enough.... Lighting up is now illegal in most public places in Bangkok, including shopping malls, schools, restaurants and religious places, yet monks who are unable to break their habit are still allowed to smoke in their temple quarters..... Monks are expected to shun vice and life's luxuries yet there is no religious edict banning them from smoking, as there is against drugs or alcohol. Temples are supposed to be smoke-free environments and leaving cigarettes as offerings - a long-held tradition among followers - has been labelled a sin by the Supreme Sangha, Thailand's top Buddhist authority."

If you could only eat 2 meals a day, and then only between 6:00 AM and Noon, then you might want something to curb your appetite a little the rest of the time. If they can't have the sex, then at least let then have the smoke afterwards! I say, "Give them a break. Do you think they want to live forever? It should be, "Up to them."