Posted on 04/22/2013 7:48:07 PM PDT by BlackVeil
Israeli tourists visiting a shrine in Bangkok were shocked when a child, dressed in an orange Buddhist monk's robe, approached them and began speaking in perfect Hebrew.
The 12-year-old Israeli boy has been staying in a monastery in northern Thailand, and has no idea until when he will remain there. When asked whether he wanted to be taken back home, he answered: "I told everyone already, it's fine, I'm used to it."
The story was revealed on Tuesday by Israel's Channel 2 TV, which aired the tourists' conversation with the child.
According to an inquiry by the Foreign Ministry, the child is the son of divorced parents who live in a southern Israel community and lead a Buddhist way of life.
The child was diagnosed with blood cancer when he was three and has undergone a series of treatments, the last of which was a bone-marrow transplant more than two years ago.
According to the parents and the social worker who handled the case, the medical treatment failed, and the parents, at the advice of monks, decided to send him to a Buddhist monastery in Thailand. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at ynetnews.com ...
Personally, I'd stick with God.
It’s the parents right to decide.
It’s not as if they haven’t tried modern medicine, he had a bone marrow transplant. Maybe the doctors said there isn’t much more they can do.
It sure sounds like he’s being well treated at the monastery and he sounds ok with it.
I don’t see a good case for overriding the parents wishes.
I cannot agree - I think the boy is in an ideal set up for abuse, and is being neglected by his family. The way he says it is alright is not convincing to me - children find it difficult to complain about their living situation in an open way.
The boy had a bone marrow transplant in Israel, and needs medical follow up.
I should have added that the government should interview the boy alone and investigate the conditions at the monastery.
I know nothing, for sure, about the parents, or this being a child abuse case, et al. I DO know, that this child, this ISRAELI child, is living in peace, with none of the Middle East death around the corner daily life. He is being cared for, among those that do not practice harm to others.
I lived in Thailand for three years. I do know that the Buddhist monks really work out what they believe. I’ve had many a pot of tea, to base my opinion.
The child has a disease that is life-taking. Should the monks teach him the acceptance of our human frailty with longsuffering, and with the quiet victory of each day alive brings, then all the other arguments really don’t mean much.
My ‘friend of green eyes’ is longsuffering with her body racked from Toxic black mold exposure. Her doctor told her she will die, with no recourse, just ‘staying actions’, in 2003. Every day I hear her voice, is one more small victory.
Thai Ping
I think too, and what I think is you opened you mouth before you put your brain in gear. Not being nasty to you, but obviously you have never been in a Buddhist monastery nor know anyhing of Buddhism. His parents tried what you think, it didn't work, and so they are making his perhaps final days as pleasant as possible. People become Monks for many reasons and at many ages and for different periods. He probably a lot safer there than in the Catholic church, from what I read, yet you feel safe to say he is being neglected. I really disagree with your thoughts on this. I thought it was a good solution to a quite bad situation.
>>I cannot agree - I think the boy is in an ideal set up for abuse,
Tell me about your experiences with Thai Wats. You obviously know a lot about them to have such a firm opinion.
>>I should have added that the government should interview the boy alone and investigate the conditions at the monastery.
Right - more government oversight is always the answer. /sarc
A monk is not a priest, which do not exist in Buddhism. There is no indoctrination at the Wats (temples) although there is chanting and memorization of Buddhist scripture.
It's a monastic life - I don't think characterizing it as “trying Buddhism” is accurate. Up a dawn, chant, meditate, do chores, etc. etc. Generally, monks are chatty, friendly, smiling, as are most Thais. This is not a somber, dark atmosphere.
I'm sure if he wanted to privately pray to the G-d of his people, there would be no restriction.
There's no faith healing or restriction of medical care, although the restrictions on what and when to eat might not be the best for this person.
Death is regarded as just another turn of the wheel in Buddhism - not a bad atmosphere to pass in, IMO.
>>The boy had a bone marrow transplant in Israel, and needs medical follow up.
I have no idea if he is going to any of them, but Bangkok has some of the best hospitals on the planet.
Beautiful.
sounds like his mom is some sort of kook
Self righteousness does not require actual knowledge to promote action.
Indeed.
Nice post - beautiful, as someone said.
I missed it the first time looking through the comments.
+1
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