Questions tagged [monasticism]
Buddhist Monasticism is one of the earliest surviving forms of organized monasticism in the history of religion. It is also one of the most fundamental institutions of Buddhism. Monks and nuns are considered to be responsible for the preservation and dissemination of the Buddha's teaching and the guidance of Buddhist lay people.
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Strong desire to serve/ordain
every meditator at a point in his her life goes through a dilemma of whether to ordain or to live a lay life. Although it's a wholesome disposition, I wonder if its a lack of strength to face problems ...
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What is the meaning behind different robe colors?
I have seen the same monk in two different color robes and am wondering why. They were dark red and of course orange. Ihave also seen brown, but that was zen, and if any other colors have relevance i ...
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What is the purpose of not eating after noon?
We all know this precept taken by the monks, but I would like to understand the reasons behind it. Currently the specialists claim that we should eat small portions every 3 hours or so, eating once a ...
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Is there any significance to shaving the head?
I have noticed when I look at Buddhists, or Buddhist monks, that they have shaved heads. Is there any significance to that? If so, then is it an obligation for Buddhists, or at least Buddhist monks ...
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Is the age of monastic life over? Is it societal conditioning or keeping up with the times?
I hear a lot of "spiritually awakened" people, on shows like batgap.com and on forums like dharmaoverground.org claim that the age of the monastic life is over, and in the present day one must learn ...
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Punishments for breaking vinaya rules
Are there any punishments if a monk breaks vinaya rule on purpose..? ,if there is punishment ,then who would administer that punishment..?.How does buddhism deal with vinaya rule breakers..?
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What if there was no one to offer food to monastics?
This is a questions that often comes up when I visit study groups, particularly when the subject of everyone practicing like a monk/nun comes up. Wouldn't monastics be allowed to farm-just enough for ...
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If a Buddhist believes lay life is not ideal for the practice, why does he or she continue?
Usually in the evening, when I am about to retire, I commit myself to finding and entering into a residential Sangha permanently.
When morning rolls in, I fall back into my usual patterns like work, ...
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What is the reason why Buddhist monks don't work to support themselves? Do the monastic rules prohibit them from working?
It may be hard to find a comparative monastic tradition in the west although there are some monastic in Christianity currently most are really assimilated and intertwine with the Church which bears ...
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A question regarding the level of worldly participation for a buddhist monk
I noticed some buddhist monks spend a lot of their time teaching and giving dhamma talks, while other monks spend minimal time on these things.
I was wondering if there are any rules in the monastic ...
user2424
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How should a monk address subjective questions?
Suppose a monk is invited to a house for food and the lay person asks how the food is? How does a monk reply to such a question. I am sure a monk in his lifetime comes across many such subjective ...
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What is the monastic policy on family visitations?
If one was to ordain, would they ever be able to see their friends and family again? If so, how often? Thank you
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Why monks have to take alms for their food?
Why did Buddha take to alms for his food? Is there any reason for it? As fruits and vegetables grow in forest, couldn't he sustained himself with what is available in forest?
Are there any rules for ...
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Can a monk choose to eat only an animal or plant that had died naturally?
If someone hires a person to kill another and the plot is discovered, both the hired killer and the one who hired him will be arrested and imprisoned.
Yet, somehow, if a monk eats food given by others,...
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Why do Bhikkhunis have so many extra Vinaya rules?
The Vinaya contains 227 rules for male monks and 311 rules for female monks. Is it known why so many additional rules were put in place for Bhikkhunis?
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What is the origin and purpose of the alms bowl used by monastics?
How did this practice originate and what is the meaning/purpose for it's use?
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How is a Theravada Buddhist monastery established?
There is no Theravada monastery in the country I live in. I just read a short brief about lay people going together and forming a forest monastery in Norway, and was wondering about how a monastery is ...
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How do monastic rules differ in each tradition?
Theravada monks have to follow the 227 Patimokkha rules and the Vinaya Pitaka from the Pali Canon.
But how is it for monks from the other traditions like East Asian Mahayana, Zen and Vajrayana ...
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Should any monastic be considered a noble one?
Should every monastic unconditionally be considered a noble one, and treated as such, to abstain from bad kamma at the very least? or are lay people, and other monastics, free to use personal ...
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Can one with eczema become a monk?
According to this site, one of the questions asked at ordination is "do you have eczema?" to which the reply must be "No, Venerable" in order to ordain. Is this accurate? Is it the case the one with ...
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What does a monk think on a day to day basis?
I go through my daily chores and it has become habituated to the extent that i do not need to concentrate on the action and my mind has some time to do thinking or just wander.
Now monks life is also ...
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Are all non-monastic ways of life wrong livelihood?
Leading on from this answer - is it true that ultimately most or even all non-monastic lifestyles are wrong livelihood. Not being a monk I find this point of view quite challenging but just because I ...
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When Zen monks are completing a task, why are they doing it very quickly?
Recently, I watched a documentary about zen philosophy and what it is like to be zen monk on a daily basis and I noticed that in the documentary the zen monks always looked like they were in a hurry. ...
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Did the Buddha form a monastery?
According to Wikipedia's Buddhist monasticism article, the Buddha formed the first monastery. There is no source, 'though. To quote:
Buddhist Monasticism is one of the earliest surviving forms of ...
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Ordination and support from parents
If one intends to ordain, say in Thailand, and one lives in India - would it be right/moral to ask support from one's parents (since one is not yet ready/able to support oneself)?
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Monastics & Hygiene
I had questions on monastic hygiene in Theravada:
Do monks/nuns brush their teeth and put on deodorant etc.?
If monks/nuns are only allowed to bathe every 2 weeks, how do they deal with the health ...
user16793
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Do Buddhist monks live an ascetic life style?
Please note that my understanding of Buddhist principles may be very much influenced by popular depictions.
I have read that the eight-fold path teaches that you should strike a balance between ...
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Role of food as an allowed monastic luxury
Whenever the Buddha and his retinue were invited to the palace of a great King or a big merchant, the suttas don't forget to mention the feast was delicious and rich.
Then King Prasenajit, for the ...
- 7,433
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What are the prescription regarding a bhikkhu or a monastery having a lay-attendant?
I am curious about vinaya regulations & accounts otherwise relevant to a householder's attending to the bhikkhusangha.
Of interest are lay attendants in particular, how far one can go in being ...
user8527
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Permission to ordain from absent father
I want to become a monk in the Theravada tradition and have already obtained permission from my mother. My father does not live with us and never has, so according to the following passage from the ...
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Is there an established monastic order, with the beleifs and practices same as the Goenka school of meditation?
Let me clarify,what I want to know is
(a) 'An established monastic order' - This the Goenka school is not.
(b) With principles and beleifs and aims as close to the Goenka school as possible?
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Monks, their hospitalization and their medical treatment
I have questions regarding hospitalization and its morals
Are monks/nuns allowed to be hospitalized and can they go to a hospital or doctor if sick? (because aren't they not allowed to request ...
user16793
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Relying on the Laity, monastics
I had questions regarding the laity, monastic relationship.
1) How exactly (the step by step or explained) does the process work
in which the monastics rely solely on the laity?
2) How do ...
user16793
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Need help with ordination questions
I'm a westerner, non-thai speaker, age 37. I want to ordain in Asia (not in the West) and then stay there for 5 years with a preceptor and then either continue to stay there or move back to Europe and ...
user24100
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The fear of committing to a monastic lifestyle
I have a persistent fear of going without food that prevents me from giving monasticism a full shot.
Some background: I suffered for approximately 4 years with something called cyclic vomiting ...
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How does one decide whether one lives a lay married life or a celibate life?
A bit of background. In my mid-20s, I spent a lot of time (cumulative 1 year) in different monasteries in Thailand, Myanmar and Nepal. I understand experientially the importance of consistent and ...
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What are the consequences of a monk eating meat?
This is not a question about being a vegetarian. My question is since the Buddha didn't prohibit monks from eating meat, and since monks are supposed to be easy to maintain and take what is offered, ...
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Significance of Bhikkhus uncovering their right shoulder
Often in the suttas one finds Bhikkhus who approach the Buddha reverentially uncover their right shoulder as a mark of respect. What is the significance of this practice? Is it cultural or is there a ...
- 7,433
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What are the benefits of solitary practice?
I have heard about buddhist monks who undertake strictly solitary practice for 6 months where they practice entirely by themselves. They have no human contact and some of the other monks will come and ...
user2424
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Patimokkha Rule On Bathing
I recall having read somewhere that monks are allowed to bathe only once every 15 days. What is the actual Patimokkha rule behind this ? Also, what is the reason behind this rule and what are its ...
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Were/are Zen monastery time schedules liberal with regard to meal and dharma talk timing?
When reading Zen Master Dogen's Shobogenzo it attracted my attention that one of the fascicle postscripts said "Presented to the assembly at the hour of the Rat (midnight)". Given that this ...
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Are there Buddhist traditions without monks?
Are there any traditions without an associated monastic community or even where the monastic element is significantly minimised. I practice with the Triratna Buddhist community and the blurring of the ...
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Can a Bhikkhu yell at or beat a lay person under the vinaya?
In the vinaya of the Theravāda, it is an offense for a monk to insult or be abusive to another monk (pacittiya 2). But I don’t see any reference to a prohibition from yelling at a lay person (and I ...
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How careful must monks be about their use of water?
According to this list of the Patimokkha Rules,
Using water, or getting others to use it, knowing that it contains
living beings that will die from that use, is a pācittiya offense. (Pc
62)
So, does ...
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Health Questions Regarding the Ordained
Below, I have questions regarding Buddhist monasticism. They are centered around topics of health.
May a monastic regulate their alms diet in order to focus on healthy foods and avoid unhealthy ones?
...
user20570
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Can homosexual monks or nuns ordain, if not WHY?
Namo Buddhaya!
(I am a Theravada Buddhist)
The Vinaya says monks & nuns cannot be together in private (it would be an offense).
But what if someone is a homosexual, how would they go about
...
user16793
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Can one be a part-time monk?
Can one be ordained as a monk and yet take up an office job part time and be a monk part time?
In other words can one be beyond a lay practitioner yet not lead a full monastic life?
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Are monks expected to accept life lessons from (time spent with) the laity?
In general, the monks are expected to preach the Dhamma and the laity should listen. But "behind the scenes", so to say, should monks really be learning from at least some situations they run into ...
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How difficult is it to be a foreign monk in Asia?
I wonder about the practicalities of being a foreign monk in Asia, especially Theravada-majority countries.
In particular;
About the Visa arrangements, can this at all be handled without much stress ...
user8527
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Can someone be a monastic in their own home?
If someone has the necessary financial resources and is fully dedicated to the Dhamma, would it be possible for them to be ordained as a monk yet live outside of a temple, in a place of their choosing?...
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