How to spot a fake monk

Appearance

Thai monks shave their eyebrows. Nuns do not put on any headwear.

No sale

Monks and nuns will not sell items such as Buddha images, prayer beads or relics.

No money

They will never beg for money in public.

Time limit

Alms bowls are only for collecting food and medicine, and monks can do these only till 11am.

Local

All monks based in Singapore do not go around with alms bowls asking for food and medicine.

Foreign

Monks visiting Singapore from countries such as Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka do sometimes go around asking for food and medicine.

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