QUESTIONS
- Why does a monk wear robes?
A monastic owns nothing. All worldly possessions have been given away. One is only allowed four requisites: food, shelter, clothing, and medicine. Traditionally, the material for robes was taken from the shroud cloths of the dead and then cleaned and dyed with the juice of jack fruit. It was then left in a cave to season until it turned bright orange. It was then retrieved and worn until it fell apart.
- Why does a monastic not usually shake hands?
Every person has his or her own energy. When monastics practice meditation, they get very sensitive. They do not want to pick up others' energy. Usually they will not shake hands at all. Sometimes a monk may shake hands with a man. But shaking hands with a woman is not permitted. This is because they live forsaking all sensual pleasures. To touch female energy could lead to desire. So they do not shake hands with women. And nun do not shake hands with men.
- Why don't monastics say thank you?
Generosity (dana) is a prerequisite to the successful practice of meditation. Pure generosity expects nothing in return for the deed. Giving is a very high form of merit for one who gives with a completely open heart. If I give you something and you give me back something, I have received something in return. This would make your deed contain less merit. This is why a monastic will not say thank you. It would be giving you something in return. One might bless the food you give, or give a blessing of some kind for an special family event, but many times there will be no spoken thank you so that you can receive the full merit of your deed.
- Why do monastics only eat once a day?
Monastics (like the nuns pictured here) live by a code of 252 or more rules of conduct (Vinaya). One of the rules is that monastics cannot eat solid food after 12:00 noon....When residing in a country that does not practice or understand the custom of alms giving, lay people take turns preparing meals for monastics at a center and serving dana. It was to make monastics healthy, energetic, and easy to support that the Buddha made rules concerning food.
- What is the job of a monastic?
A monastic has one job: keep alive the Teachings of the Buddha, training others to understand and succeed on the Noble Eightfold Path. A monastic is concerned about the welfare of all people and is responsible to help them in any way to attain merit during their life by giving them proper instruction.
- Where do monastics live?
Shelter is provided to a monastic at a monastery, nunnery, retreat center, or a solitary hut (kuti) on a piece of secluded land. If one is with other people in a house, a private or secluded area away from people is provided. Monastics live in a very solitary way. They meet with lay people and students only to give blessings and instructions. They do not socialize as other people do. They do supportive things to help people do charitable works, and instruct people to better deal with any kind of suffering in their lives, and teach meditation so people can see for themselves HOW suffering actually occurs.
- What does a steward (monastic assistant) do?
In order to live in the world today, there are things that have to be done that were not allowed within the monastic rules or Vinaya. Things like handling money, planning events and classes, buying clothing, communicating with lay people to get things done...all of these have to be done by someone for a monastic. Usually, a steward (kappiya), as the assistant is called, performs these tasks for a monastic. In a highly populated area, a monastic might have several stewards to get things done.
- What is a steward (kappiya)?
If asked to be a steward for a monastic, this is a very noble and good thing to do! There are so many things that monastics can't do for themselves, like preparing their own food and so on. So there is a need for assistance. Being a steward means offering any necessary requisites -- food, robes, lodging, medicine -- whether you procure them yourself or arrange with others to help. In this way a monastic doesn't have to handle money. A monk may ask a steward directly for a requisite when need arises, whereas it is not permissible to ask others. The steward is the only person one may ask for things directly. Just because the monastic asks doesn't mean one must personally provide it. Oftentimes others want to practice generosity but don't know what to give. The steward may suggest things to them.
Being a steward can be as big or small a responsibility as one wants to undertake. Before I became a monk, I was a steward for Sayadaw U Silananda for two years. I lived in the monastery and prepared food and offered it to the Sayadaw. Because I was living at the monastery, I made sure I went out and bought food every day and offered it. Being his steward meant I knew what Sayadaw's favorite things to eat were. More>>
- Questions? Just ask:
Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center and Anathapindika's Park Complex
8218 County Road 204, Annapolis, MO 63620 (573) 546-1214
Email: sisterkhema@dhammasukha.org
