Good Morning and Blessings Everyone.
I have a couple of general questions. If you can direct me to a site that has most of the answers that would be great. Or if you have the time to answer them here. EVEN BETTER
1. I have seen on various sites that Theravada Monks (usually those that are considered temporary monks) are married and have families. What is the teaching of this. I further notice this usually happens with westerner's traveling out of their native country say to Thailand to accomplish this. Can a westerner accomplish this at a Theravada monastery in their own country? US?
2. Where I live (close to Moscow, ID) Are there any centers/Monasteries anyone can point me towards?
Thanks in advance for your help and info. Take care.
Wayne
Couple of Questions
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Re: Couple of Questions
In answer to your first question Wayne, Theravadin Buddhist Monks are never married whilst they are still monks. In fact they are required to be completely celebate. However being a Theravadin monk is not like being a Christian monk, its not for life, So sometimes people come out of the robe and some of them marry. Sometimes they continue to teach Dhamma.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.
Bhikku Bodhi.
Bhikku Bodhi.
- tiltbillings
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Re: Couple of Questions
Actually, you can be married and be a monk in Thailand; however, that does not mean living with your wife and it does not mean doing the ins-and-outs while being a monk. "Rains" monks, those who do receive full ordination and live in a vihara for the rainy season then disrobe, are sometimes married.Sanghamitta wrote:In answer to your first question Wayne, Theravadin Buddhist Monks are never married whilst they are still monks. In fact they are required to be completely celebate. However being a Theravadin monk is not like being a Christian monk, its not for life, So sometimes people come out of the robe and some of them marry. Sometimes they continue to teach Dhamma.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: Couple of Questions
Hello Tilt,
Could you provide a link that supports this? Do you mean they take the 8 or 10 precepts for a short period? I have never ever heard of this happening with married men in Thailand and would be very interested to see some literature on this.
metta
Chris
Could you provide a link that supports this? Do you mean they take the 8 or 10 precepts for a short period? I have never ever heard of this happening with married men in Thailand and would be very interested to see some literature on this.
metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
- retrofuturist
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Re: Couple of Questions
Greetings Wayne,
Have you tried the World Buddhist Directory?
http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Metta,
Retro.
Have you tried the World Buddhist Directory?
http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Metta,
Retro.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Re: Couple of Questions
Hi Chris,
Usually it's a 10-precept thing, but three years ago when we opened our new hall, and had a large influx of monks to do the sima stuff, I understand a number of men (many of them New Zealanders married to Thai women) became 227 precept monks for a week.
I tended to think of this as a little dodgy, but one of my teachers (Thai trained American) actually encouraged me to try it sometime. His rather interesting suggestion was to ordain here, then fly into Thailand in robes and go to a forest place for a few weeks. He assures me that this would be a life-altering experience (I can imagine the challenge and pressure of maintaining equanimity wearing the robes in Thailand: I've been his "bag carrier" on alms round in Bangkok).
Metta
Mike
I assume it happens in Thailand because it certainly happens here at our local Wat. In fact, I recall one rather touching incident when a young Thai man ordained (for a week) then his wife (complete with baby) was the first to make an offering to him.Chris wrote: Could you provide a link that supports this? Do you mean they take the 8 or 10 precepts for a short period? I have never ever heard of this happening with married men in Thailand and would be very interested to see some literature on this.
Usually it's a 10-precept thing, but three years ago when we opened our new hall, and had a large influx of monks to do the sima stuff, I understand a number of men (many of them New Zealanders married to Thai women) became 227 precept monks for a week.
I tended to think of this as a little dodgy, but one of my teachers (Thai trained American) actually encouraged me to try it sometime. His rather interesting suggestion was to ordain here, then fly into Thailand in robes and go to a forest place for a few weeks. He assures me that this would be a life-altering experience (I can imagine the challenge and pressure of maintaining equanimity wearing the robes in Thailand: I've been his "bag carrier" on alms round in Bangkok).
Metta
Mike
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Re: Couple of Questions
i'll probably be one of those temporary married monks, it brings merit to the family to have a son do this, and there are no sons in my wifes family. its perfectly normal (in thai culture) to ordain for a short time for reasons such as this. i'm just gonna look at it as a really long meditation retreat!
สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ
the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat
the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat
- tiltbillings
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Re: Couple of Questions
It is what I saw when I was there, and I am talking about full ordinatiuon, which some men will do as a way of making merit for whatever reason, often having not a thing to do with actual Dhamma practice. There was a high ranking police officer that had ordained at Wat Bawon, and had just left before I arrived there and he was the object of much discussion. He did this to get merit for his mother who was gravely ill. While he was there he also had a collection of Swedish porn because it was important that he have an erection every day in order to not loose the ability of getting a stiff stiffy. This long before Viagra.Chris wrote:Hello Tilt,
Could you provide a link that supports this? Do you mean they take the 8 or 10 precepts for a short period? I have never ever heard of this happening with married men in Thailand and would be very interested to see some literature on this.
metta
Chris
On the other hand there are those who do "rains" ordinations because they truly want to practice the Dhamma as well as they can. I met one who was, indeed, a married man. Very devout and knowledgable. After the rainy season he disrobed and returned home.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: Couple of Questions
Hi Tilt,
Thank you for the reminiscences.
Actually, the young Thai man I mentioned above told me that he learned a huge amount in just one week, and was sorry he was not able to spend more time at it (since he had to go back to work to support his family...).
Mike
Thank you for the reminiscences.
Yes, that's the reason I'd consider it: If I was convinced I would learn things that I wouldn't learn by taking 8 precepts and wearing white.tiltbillings wrote: On the other hand there are those who do "rains" ordinations because they truly want to practice the Dhamma as well as they can. I met one who was, indeed, a married man. Very devout and knowledgable. After the rainy season he disrobed and returned home.
Actually, the young Thai man I mentioned above told me that he learned a huge amount in just one week, and was sorry he was not able to spend more time at it (since he had to go back to work to support his family...).
Mike
- tiltbillings
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Re: Couple of Questions
One of the interesting things to learn as a monk or novice in a Buddhist country is going among the houses for food. It is utterly facsinating and humbling and fills one with gratitude for those lay people who so warmly give the monastics life every morning.mikenz66 wrote:Hi Tilt,
Thank you for the reminiscences.Yes, that's the reason I'd consider it: If I was convinced I would learn things that I wouldn't learn by taking 8 precepts and wearing white.tiltbillings wrote: On the other hand there are those who do "rains" ordinations because they truly want to practice the Dhamma as well as they can. I met one who was, indeed, a married man. Very devout and knowledgable. After the rainy season he disrobed and returned home.
Actually, the young Thai man I mentioned above told me that he learned a huge amount in just one week, and was sorry he was not able to spend more time at it (since he had to go back to work to support his family...).
Mike
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: Couple of Questions
Its also something that I was planning on doing at some stage. Perhaps when the kids are a lot older and with the assent of my wife.
metta
Ben
metta
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
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Re: Couple of Questions
We live and learn, thanks all for correcting my obviously incomplete view.
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.
Bhikku Bodhi.
Bhikku Bodhi.
Re: Couple of Questions
Thanks again Tilt.
So I have a vague idea of how it would feel, but of course the actual experience would probably be different from that...
Mike
Yes, that's the sort of thing I was thinking about. As I've said, I've been on alms round in Bangkok with my teacher to carry the offerings back to the Wat. And I've stopped in the middle of nowhere to make offerings to a couple of monks who obviously had walked a long way... And I've felt some of that humbling gratitude when lay people bring food to me in my kuti when on retreats.tiltbillings wrote:\
One of the interesting things to learn as a monk or novice in a Buddhist country is going among the houses for food. It is utterly facsinating and humbling and fills one with gratitude for those lay people who so warmly give the monastics life every morning.
So I have a vague idea of how it would feel, but of course the actual experience would probably be different from that...
Mike