Is Birth Control Evil In Buddhist Bangkok? (2.31)

This week we talk with Bangkok-based Buddhist monk Phra
Pandit about abortions, birth control, and how Buddhism defines
evil. And you'll likely think Evo an idiot for his dangerous
flirtation with Thailand's terrible traffic fatalities statistics,
but what's a farang to do? All of that and more on this episode of
the Bangkok Podcast.

Evo's decided to rent a motorbike for the next month. Let's
hope he doesn't get killed as he foregoes safety for convenience.
Favorite quote: It's like having a cheat code to
Bangkok's traffic. But that's not what we're talking
about today. Instead, we're chatting with one of our favorite
repeat guests, Phra Pandit. The topic? Abortions, birth control,
and how Thai Buddhism defines evil. All of this
started when we learned that Planned Parenthood has
moved its Asia-Pacific headquarters to Bangkok.
Which, given what we know about Buddhism and things like birth
control or abortion, there's a conflict. Or maybe we
don't really know what we
think we know. To find out, we
brought back one of our favorite  guests, Phra
Pandit, to give us the official Buddhist party line
on the topic of abortion and birth control. What he has to say
will likely surprise you, especially if you're not all that
informed of the differences between Buddhism and other
religions. Listen to this episode to become a little
more enlightened on the concepts of evil, irredeemable sin, hell,
and random soul-searing insults anti-abortion protesters like to
shout about when they protest Planned Parenthood clinics in the
West.
Love Loathe or Leave

Many of our fellow Bangkokians aren't big on queueing. Nor
are a lot of other Asian tourists who show up in the City of
Angels. Just how tolerant are the two of us Westerners who have a
pretty healthy respect for the "social contract" of just waiting
your turn in line? Not very, as you could probably guess. What
you probably won't guess was Greg's reaction when it happened to
him (again) the night we recorded this episode.
Want more?

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you next time on The Bangkok Podcast!




(Direct download .mp3)