PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen met with former monk San Sochea on June 13. During their talk, the PM encouraged him to continue to educate people on the Dharma (the Buddhist universal truth) even though he renounced his monk status last month.

Speaking to a crowd of nearly 20,000 workers in Phnom Penh’s Pou Senchey district on the morning of June 14, the PM said, "Monks who have left the monkhood and know the Dharma should continue to provide social and psychological education on how to use Dharma for peacekeeping, political stability and building good deeds among our people."

San Sochea left the monkhood on May 21, following a tenure of over 30 years. San Sochea said that he had asked his mother’s permission to leave the monkhood three times before she finally agreed in May.

Many Buddhists were sorry to see San Sochea renounce his monk status as he was well-respected and popular among the masses. He always practiced and respected his own Dharma teachings, gaining him wide support.