To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

[sekha silapada]

Out of curiosity, I have some questions that I hope you may take the time to answer

To those who hope to or are planning to ordain:
What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?
Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
When do you hope to ordain?

To those who are already ordained:
How old were you when you ordained?
Did anything besides escaping Samsara motivate you to become a bhikkhu(ni)?
How long have you been ordained/how many rains how you done?
In what ways do you feel your practice has benefited as a monastic compared to when you were a layperson?
Conversely, are there aspects about monasticism that you find detrimental to your practice?

With Metta,
Sekha

*note: changed "beyond" to "besides". Thanavuddho made a good point, that the ultimate aim is release from Samsara, so there's nothing beyond that. "Besides" makes more sense.

[Thanavuddho]

To those who are already ordained:
How old were you when you ordained?

23 the first upasampada and 26 the second upasampada.

Did anything beyond escaping Samsara motivate you to become a bhikkhu(ni)?

Well, final release is the aim.

How long have you been ordained/how many rains how you done?

Three rains.

In what ways do you feel your practice has benefited as a monastic compared to when you were a layperson?

Maybe it's easier maintain discipline.

Conversely, are there aspects about monasticism that you find detrimental to your practice?

Good question. I think, in my case, it's been beneficial.

[daverupa]

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Student loan debt; a gastrointestinal situation that makes alms-living problematic, at best.

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

Roughly 17 years, but much of the early years were spent hopping around various traditions, so the practice was spotty.

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?

32

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?/When do you hope to ordain?

I'm probably unable to ordain; may the future contain a suitable opportunity.

[James the Giant]

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Debt. I owe $9000, which should be paid off mid 2013. Unless anyone would like to help me pay it off faster?

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

As a "Buddhist" about four years. As a meditator, about 10 years.

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?

35

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?

In one of the very good Australian Ajahn Chah monasteries... either the one near Perth (Bodhinyana) or the one near Melbourne (Bodhivana). They both have good reputations as training monasteries. A couple of monks suggested I ordain in the west because of my skepticism... they said once I had five rains under my belt then I should go to live in Thailand, and by then I would be more ready to accept the superstitions of Thai Buddhism.

When do you hope to ordain?

Next year, maybe around December 2013.

[equilibrium]

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Does one need to be ordained to escape samsara?

[James the Giant]

Does one need to be ordained to escape samsara?

Oh let's not start the whole Lay-life vs Ordained-life debate again.

[appicchato]

...ready to accept the superstitions of Thai Buddhism.

Accept?...please...if it's not one's 'thing', why even give it/them a second thought?...

If I had to guess I would say that it was Caucasians who came up with this...

If I were asked: stick to the Suttas...

[James the Giant]

...ready to accept the superstitions of Thai Buddhism.

[i]
Accept?...please...if it's not one's 'thing', why even give it/them a second thought?...

Maybe "accept" is the wrong word... maybe I should have said "tolerate" or "respect" instead.
The bhikkhus were just concerned I could be discouraged by the superstitions, if I did not first have a good foundation in the ordained life.

If I had to guess I would say that it was Caucasians who came up with this...

Aha! No, but I can see why Caucasian would be a good guess. They were a Thai Ajahn of 15 (or was it 17?) rains, and a Malaysian Venerable of 8 rains, both of whom know me well.

[appicchato]

Aha! No...

Got me...all the best in your endeavors...

[DAWN]

Out of curiosity, I have some questions that I hope you may take the time to answer

To those who hope to or are planning to ordain:
What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

The promis to my mother that i will ordain after obtaing a french nationality.

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

2 years, but actualy i realise that i have practicing before meeting Buddhism. When i read my first Dhamma book - i cryed, and i kwen that it the aim of my life.

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?

22

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?

Ajhan Chaa lineage
or
Thich Nhat Than lineage.

When do you hope to ordain?

I hope next year, 2013. It depend on my promis.

[John1122]

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Student loan debt

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

3 years

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?

29

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?


Thai Forest Tradition

When do you hope to ordain?

When debts are paid.

[Kaktus]

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Familiy, especially 3 underage children

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

14 years, first tibetan for now about 2 years Theravada

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?

42 (wouldn´t it be easy if this would be the answer to all questions? )

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?

Ajahn Cha lineage - probably Chithurst Buddhist Monastery. A western monastary if somehow possible,

When do you hope to ordain?

In about 7 years, when my youngest daugther becomes 18.

[LG2V]

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Student loan debt

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

Four months

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?

22

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?

Thai Forest Tradition

When do you hope to ordain?

As soon as my debts are paid/forgiven

[The Sum of Awe]

Out of curiosity, I have some questions that I hope you may take the time to answer

To those who hope to or are planning to ordain:
What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?
Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
When do you hope to ordain?

1. There's no Buddhists organizations around my area to ordain me.
2. About 2 years
3. 16
4. Nope.
5. Any time of my life.

[Dhondup]

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Lack of experience, and I would like to maintain 2 years celibacy before ordaining. In addition, if I were to ordain in another country my foreign language skills are not yet where I would like them to be.

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

One year, but the impact has been quite profound.

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)

22

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?

Ideally I would like to ordain in the west, at the monastery I currently attend teachings at because my guru is there. If that option is unavailable, I would prefer to ordain somewhere in either India or Nepal because I feel there are many well established monasteries in those areas (I practice Vajrayana).

When do you hope to ordain?

2-3 years. And thanks for asking!

[fearandloving]

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?
Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
When do you hope to ordain?

1. - Debt, family, pets, and a lack of complete conviction.
2. - Four years
3. - 25
4. - Wat Metta would be first inclination, however, with a new monastery being built in Virginia in the Thai Forest Tradition, that would probably be higher up on my list, because the climate/mountains I feel would serve me better than the desert.
5. - Lately I've felt "ASAP!", but I suppose there is still a part of me that is not 100% settled in with the Forest Tradition, or maybe it's something else? Within five years though is my idea.

[wouter_doorn]

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
- Parents, girlfriend, the idea that the "resistance" I would have to face in order to ordain might make live more difficult while I can achieve good results as a lay practitioner without such resistance (just more slowly... maybe good for my khanti-parami...)

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
- 7 years of true dedicated meditation practice and retreats

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?
- 29

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
- Wat Chong Kham, Thailand, my meditation teacher is abbot there

When do you hope to ordain?
- I ordain every meditation retreat, for 4-8 weeks... Maybe sometime in the future I will have the possibility ordain for the full rains retreat every year ... Or if my situation changes drastically I will become monk for this life-time
- by the way, the thing that (in my opinion) you can do when ordained that you can't do if lay is getting sila-parami and as may teacher says "many stop desire" . This definately aides my concentration meditation!

[Unrul3r]

To those who hope to or are planning to ordain:
1. What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
2. How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
3. How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?
4. Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
5. When do you hope to ordain?

1. Nothing, I'm waiting and preparing to ordain.
2. Over 3 years.
3. 26
4. & 5.
Where & When? If everything goes according to planned, I'm will be going to Amaravati Monastery for one month in April. From then onwards, we will see how it goes.
Why? Closest to me and it's better prepared for ordination of new monks in comparison with the newly founded monastery here in Portugal.

With metta!

[befriend]

To those who hope to or are planning to ordain:
What is currently holding you back from ordaining? i want to incline my mind more towards renunciation of pleasures
How long have you been practicing Buddhism? 6 years
How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)? 27
Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there? bhavana society or abhayagiri because they are in the states
When do you hope to ordain? hopefully next year january first im going to practice the 8 precepts for one year to see how i handle somewhat of a
monastic lifestyle

[appicchato]

...I feel would serve me better than the desert.

While California does have deserts (Death Valley for one), Wat Metta is located in an avocado orchard in semi-rural Southern Cal...