12 Bodies and Skeletons Unearthed at Clairvoyance Training Monastery in Kamphaeng Phet.

Kamphaeng Phet: Authorities have uncovered a chilling discovery at a monastery in the Khanu Woralaksaburi District, where 12 bodies were found stored in sheds belonging to a cult that purportedly taught clairvoyance and Vipassana meditation. The head of the monastery, Phra Pramot, and several monks have been detained for DNA testing as investigations continue into the macabre findings. According to Thai News Agency, earlier reports revealed unsettling practices at the monastery, including children being blindfolded and asked to guess numbers and colors, as well as riding bicycles blindfolded. These activities were claimed to be part of training exercises aimed at developing 'divine ears and divine eyes.' In a shocking revelation, it was also reported that meditators were made to sit on corpses to enhance their mental faculties. Upon the release of a video clip highlighting these activities, authorities from the administration, public health, and Buddhist Office swiftly inspected the site. They discovered th e monastery sprawled over 92 rai of unregistered land, housing four monks, four nuns, and three individuals practicing Dhamma. Phra Pramot, the monastery's head, has since claimed that the controversial footage was merely a meditation practice conducted five months ago, which is no longer in practice. The discovery of 12 corpses, surpassing the initial report of seven skeletons, prompted another extensive search. Forensic officers discovered the bodies in 17 sheds, with many of them sprinkled with salt to mitigate odors. This unsettling find led officials to search surrounding graves, though no additional remains were uncovered, leading to speculations of prior exhumations. Phra Pramot maintained that the bodies were cremated and presented documents to support claims that the bodies had been donated for meditation purposes. An examination of the documents revealed that 10 of the bodies had death certificates provided by relatives, while two lacked such documentation but had body donation papers. The bodies originated from various provinces across Thailand, including Phichit, Lampang, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, and Bangkok, among others. The conditions of the bodies varied, with some preserved in glass coffins and others covered in turmeric. To verify if the bodies and skeletons correspond with the provided documents, forensic experts have collected DNA samples to compare with those of relatives. All remains have been seized and will be stored at Wat Khuhasawan pending DNA results. Legal actions against the monastery and Phra Pramot are underway, with charges filed under the 1985 Cemetery and Crematorium Act for improperly handling corpses outside designated areas. The charge carries a maximum fine of 3,000 baht, while further investigations continue to determine additional charges.