Funeral Ceremony Drama Erupts at Temple! Abbot Bans Monks from Other Temples from Sitting on Pulpit, Citing Temple Rules
A temple abbot in Chumphon barred monks from a sister temple from sitting on the ceremonial pulpit during a funeral, citing temple rules and shocking hundreds of mourners who questioned the unity of the monastic community.
Heavy criticism erupted online following an unexpected incident during a funeral ceremony at Tham Pru Takia Temple in Tha Sae District, Chumphon Province. The abbot refused to allow monks from Khao Chedi Temple to sit on the ceremonial pulpit, citing temple rules—despite both monasteries being branches of the late Luang Pu Proong Chotigo's lineage. The incident shocked hundreds of mourners and villagers, turning what should have been a solemn occasion filled with merit-making into a tense atmosphere, with many questioning the appropriateness and unity of the provincial monastic community.
The incident occurred at 2:30 PM on May 12, 2026, at Tham Pru Takia Temple's cremation hall during the funeral rites for 70-year-old Mr. Serm. The family had invited monks from both temples—15 from Tham Pru Takia and 10 from Khao Chedi—totaling 25 monks to chant prayers for the deceased.
However, when the ceremony began, Phra Khru Pinit Sak Chantago, the abbot of Tham Pru Takia Temple, unexpectedly prohibited the Khao Chedi monks from occupying seats on the monastic pulpit, stating it was a "temple agreement and rule." This left the deceased's relatives and villagers stunned, as they had never witnessed such an occurrence.
Virojn, the deceased's brother, expressed his sorrow, explaining that the family had maintained ties with the temple since Luang Pu Proong's lifetime and intentionally invited monks from both temples because they shared the same lineage. He simply wanted his brother to receive merit from all 25 monks equally, but instead encountered this conflict during the funeral.
Mo To, renowned local ceremonial master Thirachai Nual Prom and a long-time confidant of the temple since Luang Pu Proong's era, admitted shock at the incident. He noted that according to tradition, inviting monks from other temples to participate in chanting is standard practice and has never caused problems before. He appealed to society to judge whether such conduct was appropriate for a merit-making or funeral ceremony.
Ultimately, to prevent ceremony delays and maintain auspicious timing, the host reluctantly seated the 10 monks from Khao Chedi Temple at the guest reception area below instead of the main pulpit, while only Tham Pru Takia monks conducted the ritual on the pulpit, amid critical stares and comments from the attending crowd.
Tham Pru Takia Temple was home to the renowned late Luang Pu Proong Chotigo, a respected abbot known for his vipassana meditation teachings and temple development who passed away in 2019. Khao Chedi Temple was another monastery that Luang Pu Proong helped build and restore, entrusting it to close disciples.
The incident has become a hot topic in Chumphon's monastic circles, with many viewing it as potentially reflecting some division within Luang Pu Proong's lineage and possibly affecting local devotion if not promptly clarified to the public.
