Bhikkhu Bodhi (BAUS, Bodhi Monastery), Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly
Buddhist wat or temple, Benjamabopit, Bangkok, Thailand (Krunja Photography/flickr.com) |
Lay vs monastic practice under the bodhi tree (Tapas Ghosh/tapasphotography/flickr.com) |
Burmese "novice monk" or samanera, training for ordination at age 20 (Silvia Pasqual) |
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Thai novices (Valerio Allasla) |
There is a long and esteemed monastic tradition in popular, Hindu-influenced Mahayana Buddhism. But it is even stronger in the ancient Theravada tradition prevalent in Southeast Asian. The question is, Why would anyone want to become a fully ordained monk, nun, temporarily ordained novice, or anagarika (aspirant who has left home)?
The Buddha gave the best explanation in answer to just such a question. In a discourse entitled "The Fruits of Recluseship" (Samana-phala Sutra), the Enlightened One lists some of the benefits that worldly people can hardly comprehend or imagine.
An anagarika, April 2016 |
The American scholar-monk Bhikkhu Bodhi delivers a great expose on the Monastic Community or Sangha, one of the three precious jewels in Buddhism alongside the Buddha and the Dharma. As Wisdom Quarterly is fond of saying, these Three Jewels translate as:
- the Teacher,
- the Teaching, and
- the Taught.
It might be clearer to say:
- the Enlightened One,
- the Path to Enlightenment, and
- the Enlightened.
Kung fu monks, Shaolin temple, China* - *PHOTO: Shaolin monastery, Hunan Province, China (Ana Paola Pineda/flickr.com).
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