SRISAKET: Monks could not often lose their tempers however two did go head-to-head in a heated dispute lately over who got to take a seat nearer to the temple abbot during a merit-making ceremony. The unfortunate incident occurred at Wat Jiang Isrimongkolworaraam in Srisaket province, where devotees had gathered for lunch and a merit-making ritual, to be performed by chief provincial monk Phra Rachawannawethi. The event was meant to mark Asalha Bucha Day, which is dedicated to the memory of Buddha’s first public speech. The holy day turned out to be more like Boxing Day than something an enlightened one could possibly approve. It all started when 23-year-old monk Phra Saksri Narintho was asked by his mentor Phra Rachawannawethi to go to the monks’ quarters to fetch some palm fronds for use as a part of the merit-making session that was in progress. This he did, but when he returned, he found that 40-year fellow monk Phra Samarn Phuriwthutho had moved into his position close to the abbott, Srisaket’s high monk. Words were exchanged and tempers began to rise. Phra Samarn accused Phra Saksri (whose title means “pride”) of benefiting from his close ties with the esteemed abbot – and of being too fussy. As the confrontation escalated, the enraged pair ultimately walked exterior the temple grounds to settle their variations. Though one would anticipate 23-year-old Phra Saksri to have a natural benefit over the older Phra Samarn, this did not stop him from picking up a size of metal to make use of in the imminent battle. Undeterred, Phra Samarn charged in and grappled together with his foe, delivering some good punches and kicks. But eventually, Phra Saksri noticed an opening and clobbered Phra Samarn over the head, knocking him to the bottom in a heap, blood gushing from his shaved head. Perhaps sensing that their plan to select up some holy day advantage was going significantly awry, the group of a minimum of a hundred pleaded with them to cease. But Phra Saman, now fully coated in blood, resumed his attack, again charging in like a raging bull. The fighting continued till chief provincial monk Phra Rachawannawethi, trying extra a referee in an Ultimate Fighting Challenge octagon, by some means managed to get between the brawlers and break up the battle, after which he referred to as the police. The police arrived and took the disgraced clerics down to the station, the place they reportedly agreed to stop hostilities. After that, the police returned them to the temple and turned them over to Phra Rachawannawethi for religious self-discipline, in this case banishment from the temple – though not defrocking. Perhaps realizing that his lifetime of free meals and lodging was over, Phra Samarn walked round head-down and seething with rage as he collected his belongings in preparation to go away the temple. But as Steps did so, he came across a size of wood with a nail conveniently sticking out from one finish. Thus armed, he walked instantly into Phra Saksri’s quarters and slammed him throughout the pinnacle, driving the nail in close to his rival’s left ear and inflicting him to collapse to the ground. Phra Sama