Japanese monk to explain why he left
The well-known Japanese monk, who gave up his saffron robes last Saturday and returned to Japan, will explain his reasons during meditation classes in September, a nun at the Pah Sunantha Wanaram Temple in Kanchanaburi said.
Phra Ajahn Mitsuo Gavesako had been the temple’s abbot for a long time and had a large number of followers, before he decided to give it all up and return home.
Mae Chi Pinpan Niammunee, who has been with the temple for more than eight years, said yesterday that the former monk called a follower to say he was going to hold meditation classes in Japan in September.
“It is tentatively scheduled for September 21 to 23. Over these three days, he will also answer questions from 11am to 1pm,” she said.
Meanwhile, deputy abbot Phra Ajahn Nuprom Suchato said the choice of Phra Ajahn Mitsuo’s replacement will be left up to the Nong Pa Pong Temple, which the Pah Sunantha Wanaram Temple is a branch of.
The Maya Gotami Foundation, which is run by Phra Ajahn Mitsuo Gavesako’s followers, said it did not know why the monk had decided to give up his monkhood.
