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Dhamma Dhatu
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When I think of Western ordination, I only think of the Ajahn Chah tradition because it is highly disciplined.

If you are European, it may be convenient to be a novice & take ordination in Europe, so you can undertake the transition in a familiar language & possibly a less challenging environment.

However, once you settle into the life of a bhikkhu (say after two or three years), I think living the Holy Life in Asia is more advantageous because you will live in what is historically a Buddhist society & culture; which is based in the relationship between monks & laypeople and the cultural norms of both benefaction & social morality.

The strongest impressions I had when I lived in Thailand was the traditional culture.

To the contrary, what has become "Western Buddhism" (an amoral psychotherapeutic tradition), particularly in the USA, has little relationship to real Buddhism.

Dhamma Dhatu
  • 43.8k
  • 2
  • 33
  • 82