A Thai Buddhist monastery is under investigation after 41 bodies were discovered at the site, believed to have been used for meditation practices, police said on Sunday (Nov 24). The bodies were discovered on Saturday at the Pa Nakhon Chaibovorn monastery, in the central province of Phichit, a police official told AFP.
“The bodies were accompanied by death and donation certificates,” he added, specifying that so far no charges have been filed.
The police must verify with the families of the deceased that they donated their bodies voluntarily. “We’re trying to make sure none of the bodies were stolen,” said the officer, who requested anonymity.
Another 12 bodies discovered on Wednesday
The search began days after police discovered 12 bodies at another monastery in neighboring Kamphaeng Phet province on Wednesday, according to local media. The head of the monastery in Phichit province, Phra Ajarn Saifon Phandito, told PBS television that the use of corpses was part of a “meditation technique” he had developed.
“Many of those who come to learn are religious and all these monks pass on this knowledge,” he says, “I don’t know how many of them have adopted my technique.”
Phra Ajarn Saifon Phandito also said that “practitioners meditate in pavilions containing coffins with human remains.” Phichit police said they were working with authorities in other provinces to determine whether the practice was widespread.
This method of contemplative meditation on corpses in different states of decomposition appeared in Thailand in the 18th century and was widespread until the 20th century before losing strength.
Source: BFM TV
