Western Tibetan solo monk quits, disrobes

Sera Monastery, Lhasa, Tibet, China 西藏 拉萨 色拉寺

(The Theory of Samsara) CANADA - I'm done. I can't do this anymore! Why I'm giving up my Western Vajrayana Buddhist monastic robes as a lama.

The Bhavacakra is a Tibetan Buddhist depiction of Saṃsāra, the "Wheel of Life and Death" (the "continued wandering on," cycling through endless rebirths in search of unattainable satisfaction and fulfillment through pleasure).

All things are hurtling towards destruction. If they just ended, that might be all right. Sadly, they will renew, and the suffering (dukkha, "disappointment") will continue. Beings in their becoming (bhava) will continue to wandering, not having made an end of suffering in this life, never having glimpsed nirvana (won the stream).

The same applies to Buddhist monastics (monks and nuns) who fail, fall short of the goal, or quit. Westerners will one day learn the wisdom of the East.

Sangha means "spiritual community"

Take care of one another, monks.

One key is that the monastic experience is a collective one, not a solo endeavor. It would be nice to move into a cave and just meditate. But that is not how the Buddha set up this path-of-practice towards enlightenment (bodhi) and liberation (nirvana) in this very life.

So, sadly, another one bites the dust. This fine Western monk realized too late that going it alone was no way to go. Support is crucial. How crucial is it? One day, the Buddha's attendant, the much-beloved Ven. Ananda realized something, and he went to the Buddha to confirm it.

Venerable sir, it seems to me that half the high life [the life of well-conducted monastic in the Buddha's Dharma] is noble friendship, good companions on this path.

"Do not say so, Ananda, do not say so!" the Buddha scolded Ananda.

Ananda was startled. Surely noble friends (kalyana-mitta) are wonderful companions, helpers, inspirers, guides, supporters, and encouragers along this sometimes-arduous path to awakening.

The Buddha continued, "they are not half the path; they are the whole path!" If only someone had told this fine gentleman before he set off alone on so noble a task as carrying on the tradition.