0

My understanding is that, in order to hear the correct dhamma, one must hear it from somebody who displays the outward marks of humility, generosity and selflessness. Otherwise, one cannot be sure one is hearing the correct dhamma.

Are there any Buddhist organizations or monastic orders that teach dhamma to lay believers, and do humanitarian work, either in poor countries, or for the general public where they are based? I'm thinking things like refugee resettlement, addiction treatment and recovery, fundraising for medical research or vaccination drives, tutoring special needs children, etc. Can you recommend/provide links for your "favorite" organization?

And secondly, is there a "better" or different karma for donating to Buddhist humanitarian work conducted by celibate monks, vs donating to Buddhist humanitarian work conducted by lay followers? Is there a better or different karma for hearing the dhamma taught by celibate monks, vs hearing the dhamma taught by experienced and intelligent lay followers?

(Having been raised an evangelical Protestant, I was taught to believe in the "priesthood of believers" and that, for example, bread for communion can be consecrated by any Christian, not by priests only.)

2
  • There is only one and that is called the Savaka Sangha, the good following community of monks. The rest are traders, fakes and thieves. As for the ideal community the Ariya Sangha, householder could by following the first, become also part of it. See at Into the Stream on how to become part of the Noble ones. Not easy for modern woman, of cause. Man like a like.
    – user11235
    Dec 30, 2019 at 10:25
  • Very useful for understanding: Serving Dishes and may householder take care since modern woman are easy lend toward very bad conducts risking a lot.
    – user11235
    Dec 30, 2019 at 10:30

1 Answer 1

3

My understanding is that, in order to hear the correct dhamma, one must hear it from somebody who displays the outward marks of humility, generosity and selflessness. Otherwise, one cannot be sure one is hearing the correct dhamma.

The correct dhamma is related to the teaching rather than to the quality of the speaker. For example, Christianity often preaches about humility, generosity and selflessness but obviously has a different dharma (teaching) than Buddhism.

Are there any Buddhist organizations or monastic orders that teach dhamma to lay believers

Yes. Buddhism Stack Exchange and Dhammadhatu is most beneficial.

and do humanitarian work, either in poor countries

My impression of Buddhist countries (such as Thailand & Burma) is, prior to Western contact, there was relatively little need for 'humanitarian work' because, despite inequities, most people had sufficient requisites of life. For example, Thailand is not a country historically known for poverty and it is well-documented Burma was a country of great domestic abundance before the British raped & pillaged it economy & politically.

I think an examination of history might find 'Christian humanitarian charity' goes hand in hand with Western (Christian) colonialism & exploitation. For example, while I know little about if British colonialism contributed to poverty in India, I do know the British created a man-made famine in Bengal during WW2, which killed around 2 million Indians. Even my own father immigrated to Australia because of the poverty Britain created in his country of birth.

I'm thinking things like refugee resettlement

Despite your obvious good intentions, refugee resettlement is generally the addressing of a symptom rather than the addressing of a cause. For example, in my lifetime, there have been Vietnamese, Lebanese, Palestinian, Iraqi & Syrian refugees in my country of birth, each caused by American wars (directly or indirectly) towards those peoples.

It is well-known in Western history Christian missionaries quickly followed Western conquerors, which includes in the recent Iraq War.

Despite your obvious good intentions, you appear to be imputing a Christian Western Semitic paradigm onto Buddhism.

Unlike Judaism, Christianity & Islam, Buddhism has no doctrine of imperialism, conversion, world salvation & world conquest.

addiction treatment and recovery

In Thailand, there are lots of traditional addiction treatment and recovery using traditional herbal medicine, where monks are involved (even though Vinaya appears to forbid this), such as Wat Thramkrabok

fundraising for medical research or vaccination drives, tutoring special needs children, etc. Can you recommend/provide links for your "favorite" organization?

Again, despite your obvious good intentions, you appear to be imputing a Christian Western Semitic paradigm onto Buddhism.

Each nation has evolved, slower or quicker, technologically in its history and each nation obviously does its best to advance what Buddhism calls the "four requisites" of food, clothing, shelter & medicine. This said, while Buddhism clearly teaches medicine is a human life requisite, it is not the role of Buddhist monks to develop medicine and medical technology.

4
  • Why did buddha forbid addiction treatment?(I am assuming they are not making money out of it) Dec 28, 2019 at 7:14
  • The monks Vinaya forbids monks acting as doctors, that is all. Dec 28, 2019 at 8:35
  • I think an examination of history might find 'Christian humanitarian charity' goes hand in hand with Western (Christian) colonialism & exploitation. I think that charity started while Christians were still being persecuted by the Romans. Even after Christianity became a State religion I gather that Christian charity versus cruel economic exploitation might have been virtues or vices of different people or different times -- see e.g. Bartolomé de las Casas here and/or here.
    – ChrisW
    Dec 28, 2019 at 10:28
  • I'm not sure that the Thai monks do act as doctors -- perhaps all they prescribe to addicts is seclusion and withdrawal -- and kindness, morality, a bit of tough love possibly -- I haven't been there. :-)
    – ChrisW
    Dec 28, 2019 at 10:32

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .