BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) – Authorities in Thailand have launched an investigation following the discovery of over 40 bodies at a Buddhist monastery in Phichit province, which were allegedly used as part of a controversial meditation practice.
On Saturday, police discovered 41 cadavers at the Pa Nakhon Chaibovorn monastery, a site known for attracting monks and spiritual practitioners. The bodies, which were accompanied by death and body donation certificates, have raised questions about the ethical and legal aspects of their use in meditation, according to a senior police official.
“We are contacting the families of the deceased to verify that the bodies were donated willingly and legally,” the officer told AFP, requesting anonymity. Authorities are working to ensure that none of the remains were unlawfully obtained or stolen.
The discovery follows a similar case in neighboring Kamphaeng Phet province, where 12 bodies were uncovered earlier in the week. Police are now collaborating with local authorities across multiple provinces to investigate the potential scope of this practice.
Phra Ajarn Saifon Phandito, the head monk of the Phichit monastery, has defended the use of corpses, claiming they are central to a meditation technique he developed. “The purpose of this technique is to help people reach enlightenment. Many monks and abbots have come to learn from me and pass on the knowledge,” he said in a televised interview.
He further explained that practitioners meditate in special pavilions that house coffins containing human remains, a practice he believes leads to spiritual growth.
Despite the monk’s defense, local authorities are determined to probe the legality of the practice and determine if it has been carried out in other monasteries across the region. The investigation is ongoing.
