If only I could get away with that! As I have mentioned, I'll be here in Canada, only 4 hours away from home, and I will be pretty much expected to visit them several times a year, or any consent they gave me goes down the drain...Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:The standards at the monastery where you ordain should be followed. After ordination you will receive instructions about the proper conduct around relatives. I recommend putting some distance between yourself and family after ordination. Write about twice a year to let them know that you're alive and well, and if you're not you can ask them for medicine. That's enough, unless they ask about the Dhamma, then you can write more often, and in more detail.
Of course. I was just curious how someone who is ordained actually goes about this, it being my main aspiration.Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:My personal attitudes are irrelevant to this issue,
I see, clearly a different dynamic and age as well. I'm still only 19, so of course it's going to be different... Thank you for sharing Bhante.Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:but we never did do hugs in my family — at least not since my young childhood. My father is dead, and my mother is in a care home with dementia. I am not sure if she even recognised me at my father's funeral. My sister writes occasionally, my brother sometimes sends an email, or I occasionally call to manage some business. None of my family are Buddhists, or interested in Buddhism. My brother is an active Christian, but other family members have no interest in religion AFAIK. It's not something they ever talk about.
It's worth noting that fondling the children of supporters is one of the actions included in "Corrupting families."
21 Kinds of Wrong Livelihood
Metta, Josh.