Respected for his spiritual practice, Japanese monk Phra Mitsuo Gavesako, former abbot of a forest monastery in the western province of Kanchanaburi, has quietly dumped monkhood after 38 years, reports Xinhua.
The news shocked many of his followers, most of whom did not expect the venerable 61-year-old to leave give up monkhood after serving Buddhism for almost four decades, reports Xinhua.
It turned out that he fell in love with a Thai woman and decided to spend life with her.
Mitsuo was still strongly criticised even though he has properly quit the monkhood before living with the woman.
More shock was in store for Thais, who are mostly Buddhists, after video clips showing three monks riding in a private jet, wearing stylish aviator sunglasses and carrying a brand name travel bag spread on the Internet.
It was later revealed that one of the monks was Phra Wirapol Sukphol, better known by the Thais as Luang Pu Nen Kham Chattiko.
Later, a photo of the 34-year-old high-profile monk sleeping with a person who looked like a female was circulated on the Thai net sphere.
Local media Manager online reported that the monk has eight wives and two children already and this was another marriage.