Is it ok to become a monk?
Upvote:0
Doubt is the greatest hindrance towards doing skillful things, and it's wise not to leave any room for doubt, either inwardly or outwardly.
Nothing helps oneself and others more than to go after the holy life and seek freedom and release from suffering, good householder.
Don't waste your time.
Upvote:0
Actually you can still follow Buddha's path in your layman condition. I suggest you practice a weekend Vipassana or 10 day Vipassana. After that, apply what you learn in that retreat in everyday activities.
Upvote:0
You can become sottapanna in a household life.
The main point here in what this person said to you will refer to what type of family you have. If you have an elderly and unwell parent or have a wife/husband and/or children then becoming an ordained member of the sangha is inappropriate.
Upvote:1
He probably wants you to be absolutely certain that becoming a monk is what you really want, without any room for alternative options.
Otherwise, you would simply end up wasting precious time without achieving neither the goals of the monastic life nor the goals of the householder life.
Those who in youth have not led the holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, languish like old cranes in the pond without fish.
Those who in youth have not lead the holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, lie sighing over the past, like worn out arrows (shot from) a bow.
Dhp 155-156
... so by such a simile do I speak about this person: he has missed out on the enjoyments of a householder, yet he does not fulfil the purpose of recluseship.
Iti 91
I say that person is just like this. Theyβve missed out on the pleasures of the lay life, and havenβt fulfilled the goal of the ascetic life.
SN 22.80
If you haven't read it already, the book "Broken Buddha" by Ven. S. Dhammika would help you to avoid romanticizing life in Theravada monasteries, especially in Asia. However, at the same time, you should not let it discourage you, as there are bound to be a mix of good and bad experiences when it comes to monasteries and life in monasteries.
More post
- π How Atheism and Buddhism are different?
- π What is the reference for taming a ferocious bathhouse Naga into a tiny snake in a bowl?
- π Ambitions - Are they Real or just an Illusion
- π How do I practice ' see things as they are'?
- π Concentration with no object?
- π What increases the Anisanasa of DΔna (the rewards of giving)?
- π Thoughts in Daily Life
- π Why is the first lines of the Dhammapada twin verses sometimes translated using the word 'heart'?
- π How to offer food in Buddhism?
- π What did the Buddha say about music?
- π Is there a commentary for the Dhammapada?
- π Do the Pali suttas teach about "interrelatedness"?
- π Why do ignorance and intention have something to do with rebirth?
- π Did Gautama Buddha really intend to create a new religion?
- π Difference in Buddhist meditation and meditation in other religions
- π Best time, reason to leave according to Dhamma?
- π Solving the oxymoron of nibbΔna?
- π Who can realize the nirvana easier?
- π Once ignorance is removed ,is the cessation of suffering automatic?
- π What is Buddhist law of marriage ? Is there any?
- π Ven. Ajahn Chah's Teachings on Meditation practice as a westerner
- π The meaning of silabbata-paramasa and freedom from this fetter?
- π Why the students shout at the master (after meditation)?
- π If a kind and generous Christian died 20 years ago, might their rebirth have resulted in there being a 19 year old person in the human realm now?
- π How does stream entry occur?
- π Can we use Piti as a meditation subject?
- π Is there any forwarding benefit to ask equal?
- π Sammasam Buddha's Sila, was it the best Sila?
- π To introduce Dharma, what categories of people are there?
- π Is forgiveness a fruit of evil wicked kamma?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π can I become a monk with schizophrenia?
- π How can I become a monk in India?
- π Do you have to become a Monk to attain enlightment?
- π Is it possible to become UNenlightened?
- π What is the life of a monk really like?
- π Homeless but not a monk
- π What do buddhists do in a situation of war where all able-bodied men must become soldiers?
- π How does one become a lay Buddhist?
- π Buddhist monk education level
- π I would like to become Buddhist
- π How should a lay person respond if they see a monk teaching something contrary to Dhamma?
- π What is the purpose of using a wand to hit a monk in Zen meditation?
- π What happens if a monk is called for jury duty?
- π Can a lay person become an Arahant according to the Suttas?
- π Where is the story that Buddha was worried about a monk who meditated with a straight back?
- π How does a monk address parents and relatives?
- π Is it helpful to stay single if I am not going to become a monk?
- π How can I become less affected by politics?
- π How should a monk address subjective questions?
- π Why choose to attain Nirvana when we can become Brahmas (or Bodhisattvas)?
- π A question regarding the level of worldly participation for a buddhist monk
- π Meditation posture and language as a monk in Thailand
- π How does a monk cope with all the bad things happening in the world if the only thing monks do is sitting and meditating?
- π How to become a samma sambuddha (Theravada)
- π How to prevent the development of insight to become ignorance anew?
- π How to ordain and become a monk?
- π How can a person become a real Buddhist?
- π In Mahayana Buddhism, do they expect everyone to become a Buddha? If so how can any Buddha help anyone to attain enlightenment?
- π A concentrated monk discerns things as they actually are?
- π When an experienced monk meditates how much does their mind wander?