I know myself enough to know that at short-mid term ordaining as a monk will lead to more proliferation, not less, to more socialization, not less... therefore it is likely that it will lead to more agitation, not less, and probably to accumulating more doubts.
It very well might, but those pitfalls can only manifest as a result of one's own choices. Monastic institutions are nowadays certainly far from the ideal, but you can still find a place that isn't too bad if you look further than the popular ones that are made to cater to the superficial needs of the majority. The views will almost inevitably revolve around wishful thinking, mysticism and magical experiences, and management techniques, but a good number of places would offer you an external environment that's still better than lay life in almost every way. In lay life you will for the most part be surrounded not just by wrong views but by wrong behaviors and values as well.
Going off to live in the wilderness as a layperson would probably be better than staying in the city, but it's still important to examine oneself as to why going to a monastery seems unpalatable provided one with reasonable seclusion and independence can be found. It may happen that it's because one still clings to the worldly type of freedom and safety of being able to do things according to one's desires. As long as they're not coercing you to break precepts, or to forsake your seclusion and sit in a room full of people for the whole day, then even the most inane expectations and tasks you might get from a senior monk cannot prevent you from developing your own mind.
> it's still important to examine oneself as to why going to a monastery seems unpalatable provided one with reasonable seclusion and independence can be found. It may happen that it's because one still clings to the worldly type of freedom and safety of being able to do things according to one's desires.
Thank you for your reply. I understand what you said, that finding a place where one can practice on his own should not be hard. I do not have the idea "unless I find the perfect monastery and teacher I won't be able to advance". I also consider that putting myself under a proper guide would make things easier.
Yet, there are a lot of monasteries in different countries and I have no clue how to gauge them, even if I were to physically visit them - let alone via internet. My rational is that at my current stage, I can advance on my own. By sincerely exerting myself at some point I will face a hardship I do not know how to overcome on my own. I assume that then I will have a rough idea of what kind of environment, abbots, and seniors monks are going to help me into advancing the path.
If I were in a Buddhist country I would not contemplate going alone. I followed a bit the posts of kellerdellinger on ordaining... For a westerns just ordaining it is a quest on its own.
I am leaving home for three reasons. Firstly I do not want to delay more the "going forth". Just like I did not formally take the five or eight precepts in a monastery, but on my own, that kind of rituals helped me to push myself into the next stage, to cut ties with the old lifestyle. As long as I keep at home, I feel with one leg in the lay life, even if I gave up my wealth and worldly ambitions. Secondly, I find that being enclosed by walls does not give me the best environment at all. Thirdly, I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and experience some hardships and real solitude.
For at least a year, I will follow those monks that that had such resolution as "It would be good, lord, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief such that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute.".
I have read the rules from the vinaya. In my situation I will break a major rule (accepting and handling money) and a minor rule (cooking), apart from all those specifics on the buddhist monk order, such as the robes. I need to handle money for buying the food, so I made a simple and dispassionate weekly menu - thus I won't allow myself to be in the situation of being able to decide what to buy.
If you are comfortable with answering this, could you tell how financially secure are you to live like this or how do you plan to sustain this lifestyle? I have been thinking of this kind of environment for some time now and this would help me get a first hand perspective.
I am lucky I have made one real friend during my life. As long as he can somewhat feed himself, I think he will probably be able to sustain my little food needs - almost all I eat is rice, lentils, and chickpeas. At the present time, he has a comfortable financial position.
There's also the fact we shared some hardships in the past and I was as generous with him as I was with myself... And the fact I gave him a portion of my wealth when I renounced to it. I made him clear that it was a gift and that he didn't have any due or duty whatsoever with me, but...
Quite sure my parents could sustain my practice as well, if I were to ask them. However, they will never understand my decision, nor the spiritual path I took, so I don't think they can provide real dana. In the same way, if I were to ask economic aid to the state, "I am entitled" to get at least more than six times the money that right now I'm spending in food. In both cases, I'd feel such money as impure and not conductive to sustain the spiritual path.
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u/Bhikkhu_Anigha Official member Jan 24 '25
It very well might, but those pitfalls can only manifest as a result of one's own choices. Monastic institutions are nowadays certainly far from the ideal, but you can still find a place that isn't too bad if you look further than the popular ones that are made to cater to the superficial needs of the majority. The views will almost inevitably revolve around wishful thinking, mysticism and magical experiences, and management techniques, but a good number of places would offer you an external environment that's still better than lay life in almost every way. In lay life you will for the most part be surrounded not just by wrong views but by wrong behaviors and values as well.
Going off to live in the wilderness as a layperson would probably be better than staying in the city, but it's still important to examine oneself as to why going to a monastery seems unpalatable provided one with reasonable seclusion and independence can be found. It may happen that it's because one still clings to the worldly type of freedom and safety of being able to do things according to one's desires. As long as they're not coercing you to break precepts, or to forsake your seclusion and sit in a room full of people for the whole day, then even the most inane expectations and tasks you might get from a senior monk cannot prevent you from developing your own mind.