Or-Mi-Tor-Fart GS300

[Spas]

Sighted a temple monk in a Lexus GS300.

 

It was a surreal sight.

 

Seeing the monk walking down the temple steps with a simple paper bag. And then the picture changed when he approached a black Lexus GS300, open its door, started the engine, reversed and drove out of the temple. I wonder...

 

I thought monks were supposed to lead a humble existence so they can reached nirvana or something? Or does reaching nirvana require a 3000cc engine? Or perhaps reaching nirvana will win you a GS300? Where do they get the money for the Lexus anyway? From temple donations? If so, isn't that wrong?

 

Good thing i didn't contribute a single cent to that temple. I'm not buddhist or taoist anyway. But somehow that picture still didn't make me feel good.

 

Issit just me or are pastors, monks and other religious/charity leaders living the high life? I mean, have they spotted a niche that I haven't?

 

Thoughts or experiences?

 

Meanwhile, i'm sifting the recruitment page for a "Monk Wanted" ad.

[Suede88]

hahaha care to share which temple???

[Dh6211]

I don't think they use the donations lah... Maybe some rich guy donate the car to the temple for the monk to drive lor or the monk used to be some highly paid directors who go into monkhood when they are middle age and they buy it using their own money lor...

 

There are even richer monks... I once saw a article on a corrupt Thai monk who collects Mercs and have many girls for sex every night... 100% a jiu rou he shang...

[RadX]

Folks....thread carefully here ok....we do NOT want any sedition cases here...

 

Earlier on, there was a thread on the New CC, and that was removed.

 

If this thread goes that way, it will be removed too

 

Pls take note, THIS IS A CAR FORUM!!!

 

and the GS300 is a car, yeah, and is NOT conti too...thus, should NOT belong here

[Fondue]

Well, if you look at it from a different angle, if TangSanZang can ride a horse in <>, whats with modern monk driving lexus or even ma-c-d ?

 

They are both "MA" and only used by people of higher status.

Edited September 22, 2005 by Fondue

[Cool_jazz]

Actually not all religious leader started their work as a religious leader from day 1. Some had a career that they gave up for what they perceive to be a noble cause. So money from savings or former careers affords them this luxury. Don't paint the world with the same brush

 

I personally have no problems with NKF/temple/church/government paying that kind of salary. However, bonuses and other perks are harder to justify.

Edited September 22, 2005 by Cool_jazz

[Blackyv]

>>>>I don't think they use the donations lah... Maybe some rich guy donate the car to the temple for the monk to drive lor or the monk used to be some highly paid directors who go into monkhood when they are middle age and they buy it using their own money lor...

[Secondhand]

Folks....thread carefully here ok....we do NOT want any sedition cases here...

 

Earlier on, there was a thread on the New CC, and that was removed.

 

If this thread goes that way, it will be removed too

 

Pls take note, THIS IS A CAR FORUM!!!

 

and the GS300 is a car, yeah, and is NOT conti too...thus, should NOT belong here

 

wat new CC? Is it a new higher CC car???

[RadX]

New Creation Church

[Secondhand]

Oh... And I thought there's a new and higher CC car on the road that I don't know abt...

[Ahdi]

he could be a monk. he could also be doin business at the same time, maybe director of a big big company, where someone manages his business, and there he is being a monk. the car could be come from his business but not donations.

 

although we come across cheaters monk where con ppl $$, but not everyone does it.

 

my uncle is a "Dang Ki", those chinese temple where they "tiao tang" to let ppl come to ask the god. he drives a merc too, but his car comes from his business, no where related or come from the temple.

[Spas]

I'm not inciting hate man. So the Sedition Act can't do crap to me.

 

I'm just narrating wat i saw.

 

Anyway, I saw a Merc C-Class and a Lexus IS200 at that temple too.

It's a temple at Bedok. I cant rem the name cos I don't live there

and i can't rem either.

 

The C-Class and IS200 could be the other "lower" ranking monks'. Haha

Though they could very well be people who go to the temple. I didn't

see anyone else there though.

 

Oh well, if the temple-worshippers see that and they don't mind, I doubt

i can say anything. it's their money.

 

Back to a more car-related question.

 

Is the GS300 any good? Any new GS300 drivers here?

[Wh1tehat]

Sadly, I don't agree with you. As a monk, or more objectively put, a member of a non-profit organisation, which is entitled to receive donations without obtaining any business license, and by the nature of a monk's belief and path of devotion and devoit, a monk should not engage in any personal profitable business on the side. There is a SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY a Monk should perform. If a Monk appeals for donation, compared to any guy on the street, most people will be more compelled to do so for the monk wo question. And if he has a business on the side, how do we know it went for the temple and not the business? If one was to believe that this is accomplishable that monk can run a business on the side, then it is near equivalent to Durai did absolutely nothing wrong in NKF.

 

For one, I DO NOT AGREE that ANY MONK should be driving a vehicle that is classified as a LUXURY CAR. GS300 is a LUXURY CAR, no doubts on that. Be it his before-monk life, afterlife, or the life before him, a MONK's life is one of devotion and devoit of personal luxuries and desires. And by virtue of the above, a social role that demands respect. And personally, I don't see how a GS300 contributes to his path of devotion. It is understandable that he drives a reasonable car to get around. If a businessman indeed gave it to him, a TRUE monk should just sell it away and give it to charity or back to the betterment of the temple. Besides, liken to govt officials, one cannot accept personal gifts of an expensive nature, and I am sure most of you will agree that this applies to Monks as well.

 

Even if he has had loads of money, what is he to do with that in the bank? Lemme see, buy a GS300, NOT!

 

There is no SOLID reason that a MONK should ever OWN a GS300, be driven in it by a worshipper, it is fine, but to personally own and drive one is NOT.

 

How many of us can ever afford a GS300? Sad to say, maybe only 10-20%. We are not monks, and are often tempted by ways of luxury appeal, and there u have it, a MONK, supposedly devoit of any temptations, to add salt to wound.

 

I am not attacking Monks in general, only those I have seen driving big luxury cars really irks me.

[Fluffy]

i've actually witness 4 monks coming to the funeral at my block in a Jaguar XJ looks like a longwheelbase one.

 

yes, it surprised me.

 

but, what is wrong if the monk drives this car or that? must a monk or any religious person only drive 1.6litre car or less, or a car that costs $60,000 or less first hand, or less than $50,000 for 2nd hand?

 

who are we to legislate what a religious person can or cannot drive? Shouldn't it be left to the organisation that the religious person belongs to? Yes, it should. and if the people/congregation of the religious group thinks the money could have been used more wisely, they should bring that up.

 

a car that tempts you does not mean it tempts others too. We are tempted by our carnal desires and for each person, it is different. So a luxury car may tempt you, but for another, it doesn't do the same. It also depends if you are personally contented and grateful with what you yourself has. If you are contented, you can't be tempted.

 

so if it irks you that monks drive big cars and such, then be a monk......

[Ed520]

agree with u bro! there is no reason for a monk or pastor(is that equivalent of a monk?) to drive a luxury car, even if its a gift from a worshipper or from own business outside(which shouldn't be happening in the first place)! if i'm not wrong, religious teachings tell u to be frugal and not to indulge in luxuries....

[Seaweed]

money could be better spend...

[Ed520]

i'm not saying it irks me or we are trying to enforce this. but moral-wise, i think the money should be spent on helping the needy. it would be even more compelling for a religious person to do so.

[En0203]

let them drive whatever they want lar, maybe he's a rich man who just joined the monk ler