Thai police uncover 73 bodies at 2 monasteries tied to controversial abbot, he says they were for meditation

Thai police discover 73 bodies at 2 monasteries, abbot says they were for meditation

Earlier this week, police in Thailand began an investigation after 73 bodies were discovered at two Buddhist monasteries. When questioned by authorities, the head of the monasteries said the bodies were willingly donated and were used to assist with meditation.

According to the Bangkok Post, authorities initially discovered 41 bodies at Pa Nakhon Chaibovorn monastery last week.

Then on Monday, they discovered 32 more bodies located at Wat Pa Sivilai. Both monasteries are located in Phichit province, around 330km north of Bangkok.

Unusual meditation practiced at monasteries connected to controversial abbot

Authorities were initially investigating the monasteries after it was reported that monks were teaching students how to be clairvoyant.

According to Channel 8 News, students would meditate and guess numbers written on pieces of paper while they are blindfolded.

Once authorities were on location, they discovered the bodies as well as an enclosure that housed 600 crocodiles.

The abbot, Phra Ajarn Saifon Pannathito, told investigators that he used these unusual methods to make sure his students were fully focused on meditation. To accomplish this, he would ask them to meditate while next to the cadavers.

The students would test their courage and stillness of mind while meditating for 1-2 hours next to the bodies, the abbot told reporters.

When asked about clairvoyance, the abbot said he had developed that as a method to get children interested in meditation. He added that it was a way to pry them away from their game addiction or from doing drugs.

Abbot claims the bodies were willingly donated

Authorities are currently investigating whether the bodies were given to the monasteries with consent. Additionally, they are also determining if housing the bodies at these locations violated a law or not.

Since their discovery, possible relatives have been contacted to confirm the identity of the bodies. They are also being questioned over if they had consented to the bodies being used this way.

According to the Bangkok Post, the abbot claims that most of the bodies were of his followers and their relatives who had passed away.

Both monasteries have been temporarily closed while the investigation is ongoing.

Also read: Buddhist statue survives fire that ravaged Thailand home, amazes locals

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Featured image adapted from Thai PBS on YouTube.