[Buddha-l] Yogi with a cell phone

[Chris Stanford, Ph.D.]

Monks in Thailand can have multiple (sometimes as many as four) mobiles 
(what they call cell' phones in Thailand) in use at any one time. This is in 
addition to the lap top computer with full internet connection ensconced 
within their 'Kuti'. It all depends on their benifactors and the mood (and 
wealth) of their Abbot.

Be aware that 'Monks in Thailand' is not a single concept. There exists a 
wide range of practices and behaviors among institutionalized beggars in 
that part of the world.

There are few technological wonders at the international Wat Pa Na Na Chat, 
favoured by westerers, in Ubon, for example, while Wat Dhammakai, in Pratum 
Thani has its own satelite TV station to broadcast its message..
-Chris
Monks are no more and no less than a cross section of (male) humanity.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "curt" <curt at cola.iges.org>
To: "Buddhist discussion forum" <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 4:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Yogi with a cell phone


> 10 years ago I stayed in a monastery in Korea - the Abbot had a cell 
> phone. And there was a pay phone right outside the main "office" of the 
> monastery.
> - Curt
>
> jkirk wrote:
>> Amused by this account, I wondered if Buddhist monks in Thailand are 
>> allowed to have cell phones. Anybody know? I feel pretty sure they are 
>> allowed them in China, land of hi-tech and rage for gadgetry.
>> Joanna
>> ============================================
>>
>> The mobile yogi
>>
>> Sometimes one has to reach the peripheries, move out of the cities to 
>> comprehend "change" as we speak of it in India. On one hand are the 
>> people, unaffected by the economic boom, carrying on their daily toil, 
>> pretty much in similar fashion from their granddad's time, and on the 
>> other, everything has changed.
>> On our drive from Bangalore to Pondicherry we passed by a very old temple 
>> town of Tiruvannamalai. It is a pilgrim town in Tamil Nadu and home to 
>> the famous Arunachaleswara Temple. It has long been associated with many 
>> yogis and siddhars (saints). Siddhars profess and practiced an unorthodox 
>> type of Sadhana, or spiritual practice, to attain liberation.
>> As we drove past this town, my interest in matters spiritual being scant 
>> at best, I saw a group of yogis sitting outside a small temple. One of 
>> them suddenly reached into his bag and pulled out a mobile phone. I 
>> slammed the brakes in my car and watched him as he had a leisurely chat 
>> on his gadget.
>> So this is the extent of our mobile revolution where a yogi who has 
>> renounced the world can be sucked right back into it, if the attractions 
>> are big enough.
>>
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>>
>>
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