http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/354405/phra-mitsuo-gavesako-leaves-monkhoodJapanese monk Phra Mitsuo Gavesako, the abbot of Sunandavanaram forest monastery in Kanchanaburi, has quietly left the monkhood after 38 years.
The news has shocked many of his followers, most of whom did not expect the venerable 61-year-old monk to leave the monkhood after serving Buddhism for almost four decades. An official at Maya Gotami...
An official at Maya Gotami Foundation, a charity organisation founded by the former monk, confirmed Phra Mitsuo left the monkhood at Wat Chanasongkram on Saturday, shortly after he gave his last sermon...
The former monk, whose real name is Mitsuo Shibahashi, has also left Thailand, according to the official, who declined to be named. His destination was unclear while the reason behind his decision to...
His destination was unclear while the reason behind his decision to leave the monkhood was also not known.
Mr Mitsuo came from Iwate prefecture in Japan. He practised dhamma in India for two years before moving to Thailand in 1975. After serving as a novice at Wat Benchamabophit temple for three months, he...
In 1990, Luang Por Cha assigned Phra Mitsuo to set up a forestry monastery on 500 rai of land donated by one of his fellows. The monastery was later upgraded to Sunandavanaram temple and the Japanese monk...