Modern Monks’ (and laypeople) and Supposed Attainments

[RobertK]

@gregk

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

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.”