Dozens of bodies found used for meditation in Thailand

(CLO) Thai police are investigating a Buddhist monastery in Phichit province after discovering 41 bodies believed to be used in meditation activities, according to information released on November 24.

At the Pa Nakhon Chaibovorn monastery, police found the body along with donation certificates and death certificates, according to a senior police officer. However, no formal charges have been filed.

A monk walks on a street in Bangkok on August 27, 2019. Photo: Mladen Antonov

Police are contacting relatives of the deceased to verify whether the donation was voluntary. "We want to ensure that no body was stolen," the officer said.

The discovery comes just days after police found 12 bodies at another monastery in neighbouring Kamphaeng Phet province on Wednesday, raising questions about how widespread the practice is.

The head of the monastery in Phichit, Phra Ajarn Saifon Phandito, told Thai PBS television that using corpses was part of a "meditation technique" he developed.

“Many of the people who come here to study are abbots, and these monks will pass on their knowledge to others,” he explained.

In another interview, he said that practitioners meditate in rooms containing coffins and corpses.

Phichit provincial police are working with authorities in other provinces to investigate whether the practice of using corpses in meditation is common in other monasteries.

The case has attracted great public attention, especially from those concerned with religious practices and morality. Authorities have urged the public to wait for the results of the official investigation before making judgments.

It is unclear whether such use of bodies would violate Thai law, but legal experts stress that any actions involving corpses must be carried out under strict regulations to ensure respect for the deceased and to avoid abuse.

Police are expected to continue checking other monasteries and provide details once their investigation is complete.

Hong Hanh (according to Reuters, CNA)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phat-hien-hang-chuc-thi-the-duoc-dung-de-thien-dinh-o-thai-lan-post322746.html