Allegations of ethical misconduct by members of the monastic order, may be proven or unproven.
In any case, orthodox Buddhists, on hearing such allegations, would be reminded of the Buddha's warning on the five future dangers.
Monks, these five future dangers, unarisen at present, will arise in
the future. Be alert to them and, being alert, work to get rid of
them. Which five?
“There will be, in the course of the future, monks desirous of fine
robes. They, desirous of fine robes, will neglect the practice of
wearing cast-off cloth; will neglect isolated forest and wilderness
dwellings; will move to towns, cities, and royal capitals, taking up
residence there. For the sake of a robe they will do many kinds of
unseemly, inappropriate things.
“This, monks, is the first future danger, unarisen at present, that
will arise in the future. Be alert to it and, being alert, work to get
rid of it.
“Furthermore, in the course of the future there will be monks desirous
of fine food. They, desirous of fine food, will neglect the practice
of going for alms; will neglect isolated forest and wilderness
dwellings; will move to towns, cities, and royal capitals, taking up
residence there and searching out the tip-top tastes with the tip of
the tongue. For the sake of food they will do many kinds of unseemly,
inappropriate things.
“This, monks, is the second future danger, unarisen at present, that
will arise in the future. Be alert to it and, being alert, work to get
rid of it.
“Furthermore, in the course of the future there will be monks desirous
of fine lodgings. They, desirous of fine lodgings, will neglect the
practice of living in the wilds; will neglect isolated forest and
wilderness dwellings; will move to towns, cities, and royal capitals,
taking up residence there. For the sake of lodgings they will do many
kinds of unseemly, inappropriate things.
“This, monks, is the third future danger, unarisen at present, that
will arise in the future. Be alert to it and, being alert, work to get
rid of it.
“Furthermore, in the course of the future there will be monks who will
live in close association with nuns, female probationers, and female
novices. As they interact with nuns, female probationers, and female
novices, they can be expected either to lead the holy life
dissatisfied or to fall into one of the grosser offenses, leaving the
training, returning to a lower way of life.
“This, monks, is the fourth future danger, unarisen at present, that
will arise in the future. Be alert to it and, being alert, work to get
rid of it.
“Furthermore, in the course of the future there will be monks who will
live in close association with monastery attendants and novices. As
they interact with monastery attendants and novices, they can be
expected to live intent on storing up all kinds of possessions and to
stake out crops and fields.
“This, monks, is the fifth future danger, unarisen at present, that
will arise in the future. Be alert to it and, being alert, work to get
rid of it.
“These, monks, are the five future dangers, unarisen at present, that
will arise in the future. Be alert to them and, being alert, work to
get rid of them.”
AN 5.80