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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> BangkokPost.com
[mailto:webmaster@bangkokpost.net] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, November 26, 2007
7:00 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Michael Montesano<BR><B>Subject:</B> interesting bit of
demographics<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
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<DIV id=email><FONT color=maroon
size=-1><B>RELIGION</B></FONT><BR><BR><STRONG><FONT class=textheader
color=#990000>Fewer Thai men entering the monkhood</FONT></STRONG>
<P><FONT size=-1><B>ANCHALEE KONGRUT</B></FONT>
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</DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--END AD5 Google-->The number of
Buddhist monks and novices in rural areas has fallen sharply over the past
four decades, a research study has found. Assoc Prof Channarong Boonnoom,
of Silpakorn University's arts faculty, said fewer males entered the
monkhood despite tradition giving high regard to monks. The tradition also
recognises people who have been ordained as learned men _ a passage from
being a boy to a grown-up.
<P>According to Assoc Prof Channarong, the number of monks and novices per
population in rural areas and also Bangkok has decreased by almost half.
In 1963, there were 237,770 monks and novices when the country's total
population was 28.07 million, or one for every 118.06 people. But last
year the number of monks and novices was 313,267 among a population of 62
million, or one per 200. Worse still, many were elderly monks who were no
longer active.
<P>He conducted the research in Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani,
Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, he told a seminar at
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (SAC).
<P>The research has pinpointed extended compulsory education to
Mathayomsuksa 3 as the major cause of the problem. Parents are afraid that
sending their sons to temples may breach the compulsory education
regulation. A decline in faith and the poor conditions at monasteries were
also reasons for the low numbers.
<P>He pointed out that the quality of monks in today's world appears to be
on the decline and said there should be a stricter screening process.
<P>He also suggested that women be allowed to become monks, or
''bhikkuni''.
<P>Unlike Taiwan and Sri Lanka, Buddhist monks in Thailand keep women from
the monkhood. Women can only be nuns _ a position without legal status.
<P>Sod Daengeid, chief of the Department of Religious Affairs, endorsed
the idea, saying a change can boost the number of monks.
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