04/04/2026
Recently, there have been many news reports in Thailand about monks breaking their vows, take drugs and committing crimes, resulting in their arrest by the police. Some disciples asked me if there are fake monks in Thailand, how to distinguish between real and fake monks, and why someone who wants to become a monk would commit a crime etc…
First, we must understand that even monks are human beings. A person's goodness or badness isn't etched on their face for certification. Becoming a monk doesn't guarantee adherence to precepts, nor does it guarantee innocence. However, we must respect every monk because they wear robes. But wearing robes doesn't make one a true monk, as robes are readily available in Thailand. Ordained monks in Thailand receive a Suthi Phra, a crucial document proving their monastic status, much like an identity card. This Suthi Phra is legally recognized in Thailand and serves as proof of the monk's identity and the temple from which they were ordained. Monks must carry their Suthi Phra with them.
Suthi Phra It contains several pieces of information:
-1. Personal Information: Name, Date of Birth, Address, Parents' Names.
-2. Ordination Information: Date of Ordination, Temple, Monk Giving Ordination
-3. Authentication: Signed and stamped by a senior Buddhist monk of the rank of regional abbot or above.
-4. A monk's identification number, Suthi Phra, contains a set of numbers that serve as an identification code, similar to an ID card or passport.
Some newly ordained monks need time to apply for Suthi Phra, so they won't have it for a while. However, some monks don't have Suthi Phra; these are monks who have only been ordained for a short period (3 to 7 days). Because their ordination is short, there's no need for them to apply. But monks who have been ordained for a long period must have Suthi Phra.
Simply put, the Suthi Phra is an identity document. A monk breaks the law and breaks the precepts because of his own greed. The robe is sacred to believers, but it serves as a cover for those with wicked intentions. In fact, this is not unique to Buddhism; every religion has its share of people who use religion to conceal their personal sins.