How to Become a Buddhist Monk Buddhism, a religion over 2,000 years old, focuses on the here and now. Buddhists live in the present, dont worship a creator god and teach basic tenants that are straightforward and practical. If you want to become a monk, you must meditate, learn the teachings of the Buddha and practice the Buddhist religion. StepsTips and WarningsVideo 1 Research the Buddhist lifestyle before making a commitment to become a monk. You should understand basic Buddhist tenants, including rebirth, karma, the Eightfold Path, the 5 Precepts, the Pure Land, Amida Buddha and the Nembutsu. Search for articles about the Buddhist way of life online. Call on a local library and check out books on the Buddhist religion. Visit a local bookstore and ask the clerk for information about becoming a Buddhist monk. Talk with people who practice Buddhism. The Buddha doesnt force anyone to believe but asks disciples to prove the tenants true based on their own investigation of the religion and its way of life. 2 Save enough money to support yourself for 2 to 3 years. Becoming a Buddhist monk requires you to follow the Vinaya, a code of conduct. Buddhist monks and nuns do not work a normal everyday job to support themselves. 3 Join a temple, or sangha, that practices Buddhism. Check your phone book or look online for a Buddhist center near you. The Buddhist religion is worldwide and temples exist in almost every country. Be an active participant of the temple. Some sanghas offer introductory courses where you can learn more about Buddhism. Others schedule retreats to help you grow in your faith. Attend services and listen to the teachings on the Buddhist way of life. Become part of the community within the temple. Study the Eightfold Path, which is the way to the end of all suffering. The path consists of the right understanding, right speech, right intention, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration, right action and right livelihood. Learn the 4 noble truths, which contain the essence of Buddhism. A simple version of the 4 noble truths is that suffering exists, it arises from attachment to wants, the condition stops when the attachment to desire stops and freedom from suffering is possible through the Eightfold Path. Gain knowledge of the stages of the path to enlightenment, or Lamrim. The teaching of the 4 stages is central to the Buddhist religion. 4 Spend time meditating. Becoming a Buddhist monk requires daily meditation and a conscious effort to change how the mind works. This takes practice. Buddhism incorporates different kinds of meditation, including meditation that focuses on breathing, meditation that focuses on transformation and meditation on the Lamrim. Mediation can also include certain postures. Start with 5 minutes of meditation 2 times a day. When you become comfortable with 5 minutes, increase your meditation time by a few minutes every day until you can meditate for 15 minutes 2 times a day. Some monks meditate for hours at a time. 5 Participate in an affirmation or ordination ceremony. The type of ceremony you choose may depend on whether you are following Shin Buddhism, which utilizes the affirmation ceremony. Both ceremonies mark your decision to become a Buddhist. An affirmation ceremony inducts individuals into Shin Buddhism, a sect of Buddhism where each individual is a teacher. Only an ordained monk can perform an ordination ceremony. During this ceremony, the monk will transmit to you the 3 Jewels and the 5 Precepts. During the ceremony, you will receive your Buddhist name. 6 Follow the instructions of your teacher. If you partook in an ordination ceremony, your teacher will usually be the ordained monk who led the ceremony. 7 Take the Bodhisattva Vows. A Bodhisattva is a person who devotes his or her life to the Buddhist way. The vows focus on doing compassionate deeds, striving to benefit every human being and seeking enlightenment. The vows serve as a way for you to embody your highest aspirations. They commit you to a life of selfless service, and you will recite them on a regular basis. ~My beautiful dream
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 08:14:17 +0000
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