Friday, August 10, 2012

S KOREAN BUDDHIST MONKS FINED FOR GAMBLING

BUDDHIST MONKS FINED FOR ILLEGAL
POKER GAMBLING IN SOUTH KOREA
http://tribune.com.pk - A South Korean court said Friday it has fined two Buddhist monks for illegal gambling, after video footage of their high-stakes poker game sparked a scandal in religious circles. The Seoul Central District Court Thursday fined the monks from the Jogye Order, the country’s largest Buddhist order, two million won ($1,775) each. “The court only ordered fines because they showed remorse for what they had done,” a court spokeswoman told AFP. 
Another monk who filmed the hotel room where the gambling session was held and an engineer who set up the camera were given suspended prison sentences for breaking into the room and damaging it while trying to install the camera. Prosecutors launched a probe after footage came to light of eight monks gambling at the hotel in southern Jangseong county in April. Gambling is illegal for South Koreans except for a restricted number of venues, and is also a breach of the Buddhist order’s code of discipline. The eight monks were also allegedly drinking alcohol and smoking in breach of Buddhist rules.

Senior leaders of the Jogye order resigned over the scandal. The order, which claims 10 million followers among South Korea’s 50 million people, has been plagued by factional feuds. Dozens of monks were injured when rival factions clashed in 1999. Gambling is illegal for South Koreans outside of tourist casinos and adding to the public outcry was the fact that the incident took place around the holiest day of the religion’s calendar celebrating the birthday of Buddha, and suspicion the money actually came from public charitable donations to the temple. 
At the time the scandal broke, head monk of the Jogye, South Korea’s largest Buddhist order representing around 20% of the country’s population, vowed to administer suitable punishment, with Ven. Jaseung stating: “We deeply apologize for the behavior of several monks in our order. The monks who have caused public concern are currently being investigated and will be punished according to Buddhist regulations as soon as the truth is verified by the prosecution.”

A South Korean court has fined 2 Buddhist monks for illegal gambling, after video footage of their high-stakes poker game sparked a scandal in religious circles. South Korean tabloids reported that the Buddhist monks were secretly recorded drinking, smoking cigarettes and throwing around 1 billion won ($875,300) of cash while playing a 13 hour game of high-stakes poker. There is suspicion the money actually came from public charitable donations to the monks temple because the incident took place around the holiest day which marks the birthday of Buddha. Our humble advice to these monks is: Stop the bad habit of gambling and look for superior joy.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 
Gambling opens the door to all types of deceit.  Whoever doesn't dedicate his life to gambling understands that all work and each responsibility has its own fruit. To gamble means not to know why one is living. The risk of wasting our human life is too great. The only game of authorized chance is the game of self realization. Responsibility and honesty get lost simultaneously when playing with money. The illusion of betting is that one can win something good, effortlessly. The idea of good luck contradicts the law of karma. Time that is lost in gambling should be devoted to improving family relationships, because the family is our best treasure. One has no right to put others in anxiety, the well-being of one's beloved family is at risk. No one will find blessedness in games of chance, nor in material gain. The principle of not gambling is fundamental to being able to live a spiritual life in serenity.



Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

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