[Tlc] (no subject)

[Michael Montesano]

________________________________

From: BangkokPost.com [mailto:webmaster at bangkokpost.net] 
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 7:00 PM
To: Michael Montesano
Subject: interesting bit of demographics


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RELIGION

Fewer Thai men entering the monkhood 

ANCHALEE KONGRUT 

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. 

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were no longer active. 

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). 

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. 

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. 

He also suggested that women be allowed to become monks, or
''bhikkuni''. 

Unlike Taiwan and Sri Lanka, Buddhist monks in Thailand keep women from
the monkhood. Women can only be nuns _ a position without legal status. 

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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