WHACK! went the monk with his magic reeds, and CRACK! went the heads of his devotees.
An abbot filmed aggressively smacking temple-goers’ heads with his holy stick defended his violent blessing method after the video drew criticisms online.
Phra Jirapan Analyo, the 53-year-old abbot of Pha Sadej monastery in Saraburi province, admitted that although his smacks may look violent in the video, they don’t hurt one bit.
“The knocking of heads is a way to cure diseases and illness for the faithful,” Phra Jirapan said in a Khaosod English report. “And the knocking may look violent, but it didn’t hurt anyone.”
Beside, he said his holy stick is only made of dried grass, the kind traditionally used to gently send water through the air.
That doesn’t really explain his why he just looks so angry doing it.
But the smiles from some of his followers suggest no real damage was done.
The video was recently taken in Songkhla province where he was leading a ceremony to dedicate a new chapel. When the video was posted to YouTube on Saturday, many users agreed his behavior went against basic monk etiquette and the expectations they will remain calm and tranquil.
The video drew over 143,000 views.
“The images on the social media may look violent, but in fact it’s not violent at all,” said Preecha Sathitruesak, a Songkhla local who attended the ceremony.
Phra Benja Papassaro, a monk who oversees temples in Saraburi province, told Khaosod he and other senior monks are reviewing the matter
“His action does not violate the holy doctrines, though it does look excessive,” he said.
