Who are forest monks?

Who are forest monks?

Mettanando Bhikkhu (Thai Buddhist Monk) gives expert video advice on: How can meditation help with stress?; Can meditation help to relieve pain?; Do you need a mantra to meditate? and more...

The forest monks were a special group of people. They were monks. And they lived a very nomadic life. Moving from one place to another without any permanent resident. They were quite independent. But people revere them, enormously. And believe in their power, and see them as a holy sage. Forest monks were highly welcomed religious peoples, but they hardly came in touch with normal people. Kings in the past did not like forest monks. Governors didn't like them. Government didn't like them because they travel without any paper. But the tradition of forest monks went down hundreds of years - that we know. We know that the king of Thailand in the sixteenth century didn't like them at all. And wanted to reform this order. But they have one particular temple in Utah, which became headquarter of forest monks. And then at the time of King Rama the first, he appointed Wenasuki as the head of forest monks. And they became very active, and revered as meditation masters. Even now the forest traditions is almost gone. In Thailand we have names of forest monk traditions. But the way that the monks passed on their teachings, has been reformed. And they, some of them came and established forest monastery in England. So that is quite good.