I've been Anagarika now for about four months, with four months left to go till ordination most likely. I figured I'd check in and also share an interesting first I had today
. One of many things that will take some getting use to.
jayantha.tumblr.com/post/122127269148/a ... irst-today
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An interesting "first" today
I had an interesting “first” today. I spent the day in Washington DC with one of the monastics visiting the local temple and some families. The last family of the day after doing their prostrations in front of the monk, then preceded, mother, father and children, to do the same to me.
This is something I knew I would have to deal with as a monk, did not expect it so soon, not being a monastic yet. My sister,freaked out a bit when our father’s doctor slightly bowed to me while shaking my hand a few weeks back. I heard her say under her breath “ he’s still my brother”, and could only giggle. I can only imagine her reaction when she sees this haha.
We westerners have real hang ups when it comes to bowing and prostrating, we view it as a sort of degrading and groveling kind of thing, where in Asia its a matter of paying respects. I’ve gone from someone who never did it to now someone who does it a dozen times a day or more as the monks do. We also do it to pay respects to the monks as we meet them, and the monks do the same to monks who are senior to them. In short “everybody’s doing it!”
Bhante G explained it’s purpose to me as a practice of developing humility, a humble mind, and showing respects to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, as our guides and refuge in the practice. For me this extends to Bhante G, whom I gladly pay respects to when he leaves to go away for a time, and then when he returns as a “welcome back”. I saw one of my favorite monks today and it brings a gladness to my heart and a smile on my face to show my respects to him.
When we bow to the monks we are not bowing to the individual person, it’s not a practice in inflating someone’s head that they are important, but it’s a matter of respecting the ideals of the monkhood and the virtuous life that they hopefully lead. In fact when you bow to the monks they say “ sukhi hotu” (may you be happy), and so when the family bowed to me, after quickly regaining my composure this is what I did, wishing them may they be happy, and thanking them for their hospitality.
This event brought up to me the fact that as it’s said in the old discourses, monks are “debters”, ie we live totally Dependant on others for food, shelter, clothing, and medicine. How we pay off that debt is by meditating and learning so that we can then help others, teach them dhamma, meditation etc.
Sometimes as I get closer to my ordination I feel like I’m not even worthy to be a monk, then I feel that I can really give it a good go and work my best to be a good example for others. When I do become one I must take my “debt” seriously and make sure I am doing my best to repay the generosity given to me by living a virtuous life, practicing diligently and learning studiously. The last thing I want to do is squander this amazing generosity, and the respect given to me, I don’t think I could live with myself or even call myself a monk then.
), to cleanse itself of all the impurities and distractions in the mind.
would be a rechargeable LED flashlight. I've been looking around on the Internet for about an hour at different models and found one of really good quality, at a decent price. 