# Modern Monks’ (and laypeople) and Supposed Attainments **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [September 29, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/modern-monks-and-laypeople-and-supposed-attainments/2656 "2026-09-29T01:50:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/robertk/32/1498_2.png) [@RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/modern-monks-and-laypeople-and-supposed-attainments/2656/1 "2026-09-29T01:50:53Z")
I start this topic as we have very experienced members - especially Greg - who have direct knowledge of some famous monks. It is somewhat related to this topic: [the student attained but his teacher was still putthujana](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/gamantapabbharavasi-mahasivatthera-the-worldling-whose-students-were-enlightened/716) I will begin: In 1990-1991 I met a very famous Thai Bhikkhu, Yantra Amaro (1951 - 2025) a few times. He wasn’t controversial in what he taught but his entourage took the chance to indicate to me he was already an arahat. He was likable and approachable, and spoke excellent English, but I didn’t have any thought that he had any special attainments. Once he invited me to join a van on a trip and I had the chance to talk for several hours. He told me about his life, after he graduated university, as an ascetic and then becoming a bhikkhu. The next year when I returned to Thailand it seemed like every second taxi had his photo on the dashboard. It was interesting how quickly his fame grew. One long weekend holiday huge traffic jams occured near Kanchanburi as tens of thousands of devotees from Bangkok tried to visit a temple he was staying at. Not long after some sex scandals came to light. The people who had worshiped him were disturbed but really it was their own attachment causing their problem. It was front page news for months until finally the evidence became clear and he was disrobed. If he hadn’t got involved with women he would still be revered as an arahat I am sure. Once I was practising my Thai language at a lunch with teachers from a nearby school and the principle asked he who I preferred listening to : Venerable Yantra or Sujin Boriharwanaket . This is before the scandal. I said as diplomatically as possible that I found Sujin more helpful as she invited questions on Abhidhamma whereas when I talked with Pra Yantra it was more limited. He looked almost shocked and never had lunch with me again but after the scandal I was told he started to get very interested in Abhidhamma. ---
**Author:** ![bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/bksubhuti/32/19_2.png) [@bksubhuti](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/bksubhuti)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 5:42am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/modern-monks-and-laypeople-and-supposed-attainments/2656/2 "2026-09-29T05:42:18Z")
The Italian monk, abbot of Bodhinyana, was also revered as an Arahant, while people who knew him personally knew it was not correct. He was quite open about it. Yet, the Thai television programs would have pictures of Ajahn Mun and Ajahn Chah, and then the Italian monk would come next and be interviewed. The reason they thought he was an Arahant was because he could do the intonations very well. He ended up having a wealthy lady propose marriage: “I’m rich, you do not need to work, and you can have both worlds” (something like that). He struggled for two years with this, went to Pa-Auk, and was unsuccessful. Ajahn Brahm was rising up at that stage, and shortly after, he disrobed. The marriage did not last long, but since he gave up his “career” for her proposal, he got a good settlement. Most monks who disrobe for a woman do not end up married or in a relationship for very long. The main thing is that women fall in love with a challenge and with innocence. However, the monk who disrobes is often not looking to be innocent anymore. Often it is not until the monk disrobes that it is more well known. While it is possible to have relationships as a sotāpanna, it is debatable if a sakadāgāmī can do that, let alone higher. Daniel Ingram says an arahant can have sex. The main thing is that the texts point in the direction that any ariya will not disrobe who is already a monastic. ---
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/robertk/32/1498_2.png) [@RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 6:44am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/modern-monks-and-laypeople-and-supposed-attainments/2656/3 "2026-09-29T06:44:58Z")
> [@bksubhuti](#): > > The main thing is that the texts point in the direction that any ariya will not disrobe who is already a monasti 🙏 Right. ---
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/robertk/32/1498_2.png) [@RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 8:41am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/modern-monks-and-laypeople-and-supposed-attainments/2656/4 "2026-09-30T08:41:57Z")
> [@Is The Pa-Auk Teaching of Past Lives Real?](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/is-the-pa-auk-teaching-of-past-lives-real/822/48): > > Taungpulu sayadaw was my preceptor. I knew him very well. As a young monk at the time we were all hopeful he has an Arahanta. He was very impressive but there was a time when some other monk tape recorded him telling them my close monk friends about his aspiration to be reborn as a monk for the rest of the sasana. Again and Again. It is a great story. The story began because an American monk disciple believed he as an Arahanta and another Burmese monk knew he was not. They got into a bit of a debate and the Burmese monk said ok we can settle this by just going to ask him. They went with a tape recorder sat down and the American was too scared to ask and the Burmese monk kept telling him come get on with it ask the question. Then during this period of unease and indecision Taungpulu sayadaw asked the american monk how long is left in the sasana. So Taungpulu sayadaw cant even speak english not a word of it. But this led to breaking the ice and him talking about his aspiration to become a monk again and again in this sasana. So the truth is that. He was a great monk and this story illustrates a lot about him that he seemed to be able to read peoples minds. I had other instances like this myself before I could really understand a lot of burmese. So such is life. I heard the tape. We destroyed it later because we thought what the heck. People just want to believe stuff no use keeping it. So there for you is the inside scoop about Taungpulu sayadaw. He was a great monk, saintly but aspired to be reborn again and again and develop his parami I add this as a great example by @gregk of how a bhikkhu may be exemplary and not making any claims. But that he may still be acclaimed by the public - who through a mix of, I think, wishful thinking and an over-abundance of respect decided such a monk must be of this level. Even in the Buddha’s time this happened: > [laymen referring to monks as arahats](https://suttacentral.net/pli-tv-bu-vb-pj4/en/brahmali?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin) > > At one time a brahmin invited the monks, saying, “Perfected sirs, please come.” > > They became anxious, thinking, “We’re not perfected ones, and yet this brahmin speaks to us as if we are. What should we do?” They told the Buddha. > > “There’s no offense when something is spoken in faith.” > > At one time a brahmin invited the monks, saying, “Perfected sirs, please be seated.” … “Perfected sirs, please eat.” … “Perfected sirs, please be satisfied.” … “Perfected sirs, please go.” > > They became anxious, thinking, “We’re not perfected ones, and yet this brahmin speaks to us as if we are. What should we do?” They told the Buddha. > > “There’s no offense when something is spoken in faith.” ---
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/user_avatar/classicaltheravada.org/robertk/32/1498_2.png) [@RobertK](https://classicaltheravada.org/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 8:44am UTC](https://classicaltheravada.org/t/modern-monks-and-laypeople-and-supposed-attainments/2656/5 "2026-09-30T08:44:23Z")
> [@bksubhuti](#): > > The Italian monk, abbot of Bodhinyana, Yes Ajarn Jagaro. I remember it caused quite a stir and disappointment among his many followers.