Oh, wearisome condition of humanity,
Born under one law, to another bound;
Vainly begot, and yet forbidden vanity,
Created sick, commanded to be sound.
—Fulke Greville, Mustapha
The late Christopher Hitchens once referred to religious leaders as “a clutch of hysterical, sinister virgins.” How does that situation come to be? When religions arrange and command impossible mandates — behaviors which conflict with our very natures.
A Canadian monk beloved among locals in the Mae Hong Son area of northern Thailand for helping the needy has resigned from the monkhood following accusations of having sexual relations with at least one woman.
Phra Julien, 42, posted a Facebook message on Sunday saying he had decided to leave the monkhood to seek forgiveness after violating the Dhamma principles by having sexual relations with women.
Literal Layman
The former monk gave no details on the case. He posted a picture of himself wearing a white shirt after returning to layman’s status as Julien Desilets alongside a monk believed to be Phra Khru Sujitpanyarat, who disrobed him. Other reports said he left the monkhood in a ceremony at Wat Ban Pae in Chomthong district in Chiang Mai province on Saturday.
His decision came one day after he posted photos showing the donation of fruit trees to villagers, probably in Sop Moei district of Mae Hong Son. Mr Desilets lived at Hua Putha Monastery in Sop Moei when he was a monk.
The sexual allegations that were raised recently came as a shock for his disciples.
Disrobed
Veterinarian Somchai Sirithepsongklod on Friday claimed on his Facebook page that Phra Julien had behaved improperly by having sex with a female foreigner in Chanthaburi province and another woman on a separate occasion.
Mr Somchai said he had known Phra Julien since volunteering with him to build houses for the poor in the northern region about three or four years ago.
“I am willing to atone for my wrongdoing and please forgive me,” wrote the former monk, who promised to wear white and continue his Dhamma practice after leaving the monkhood.
