Monks censured over scam ceremonies Vietnam

Vietnamese authorities have ordered monks at a popular Buddhist pagoda to stop ‘‘soul summoning’’ and ‘‘bad karma eviction’’ ceremonies, after an investigation found that the rituals were a scam.

Tens of thousands of worshippers have been paying the 18th-century Ba Vang pagoda in northern Quang Ninh province between one million (NZ$63) and several hundred million dong to have their bad karma vanquished, according to the state-run Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper.

Monks at the pagoda teach that all illnesses and misfortune result from bad deeds in previous lives. Three times a month, they hold a two-day ceremony to ‘‘summon wandering souls’’ and ‘‘remove bad karma’’. They demand donations, supposedly representing good deeds, to help cure bad karma and make up for supposed bad deeds in previous lives.

The practice drew unfavourable attention after the amounts demanded by the monks soared to the point where they began taking payments by bank transfers and in instalments.

Public outrage flared when an inspirational speaker associated with the pagoda blamed a victim for being gangraped, saying she had committed evil acts in a past life.

The monks also teach that homosexuality comes from bad karma and should be ‘‘cured’’ by having people of the opposite sex spend time together.