When two monks moved from Laos to a Buddhist temple in rural Hampshire, the men assumed they could stay indefinitely.
According to Buddhist tradition, temples that invite monks must shelter them forever, unless the holy men are summoned someplace else.
But a Kane County judge on Monday sided with the temple board that sought to evict the monks, who were accused of ignoring their spiritual duties at the 20-acre temple.
At a half-day trial, temple leaders said the monks were asked to leave after repeated absences - one even took a trip to New York - and their services no longer were needed.
"Nobody can promise anybody to stay forever, for the rest of your life," said Patrick Wu, president of Wat Lao Buddharam of Northern Illinois, the temple on Burlington Road near Hampshire. "They came from the old country; they have old ideas."
The monks, Khen Kataviravong and Phenethong Keoviseth, now have 30 days to move out and must repay the legal fees needed to oust them from the temple.
Kane County Judge Wiley Edmondson said the temple board has the authority to evict the monks in the landlord-tenant dispute but acknowledged there was a vague agreement on how long they could stay.
Howard Miller, an attorney for the monks, argued the men never denied spiritual guidance to the temple's suburban flock.
The temple board also violated Buddhist doctrine, which is akin to a legal contract, he said.
"It was their understanding that this would be for life," Miller said. "Because, in the Buddhist religion, when you come there, you stay. That's the way it is."
The monks were asked to join the temple for about one year to bolster its spiritual ranks, but, Wu said, they soon began to overstay their welcome.
According to Wu, they left early in the morning, returned at all hours and committed other indiscretions, like keeping refrigerators in their rooms - a violation of a monk's vow to live in poverty.
"They did not show any respect to the headmaster of the temple," Wu testified. "They come and go as they please."
Both monks, who were confused by the verdict, testified they have remained at the temple because they were never told to stop their spiritual activities.
Miller said the monks will not appeal the case and likely will relocate to a temple in Elgin.
Their eviction angered several Buddhists who protested outside the county's old courthouse in Geneva.
Many said they felt the decision should have been made by senior Buddhist religious leaders instead of a judge or the temple board.
"It is an outrage," said Kataviravong's son, Boulnleuang. "But I don't think the judge understands the religion."