i would lik to know

so_what SG

is it possible to be a monk/nun and "huan su" after a few yrs? Do u need to hav a great knowledge abt buddhism?

I hav heard tat it's common for teen guys to be a monk for abt 2 yrs b4 they enter their adulthood ( jus lik sg guys must serve army when 18 )

sinweiy SG

it's possible for an ordian to become lay again. not that it's not possible.

some knowledge abt buddhism will be good.

i think it's common in Thailand.

/\

An Eternal Now SG

Yes, that is possible. Although my master discourages such 'short term monkhood'... his view is that anyone who wants to enter monkhood should stay committed to it an entire life, not enter and then leave the sangha. So there are differing views.

And Sinweiy is right, in fact most people in Thailand enter monkhood when they enter adulthood. There are some people in Singapore also go to Thailand to serve short term monkhood... one of my relatives has done that.

I do not think a monk necessarily needs to have great knowledge about Buddhism.. about what is required to be ordained you can ask a shi fu about that.

bohiruci SG

actually the short term monkhood "duan qi chu jia " is a convenient practice
nowadays pks often have this , i see there is good and bad
first
the short-term asceticism is offered to monks not nuns

i guess an eternal now can help me find the sources of that in Buddha's time
Buddha have laid down guys can return to secular life for 7 times ,woman only once ,one of the reason is that in Indian society , nun were not common , to avoid clashing with the tradition of the Indian society conservatives
Buddha laid it down .

it is part of the 8 reverent dharma of a bhikkhuni to the male-dominated sangha

well there is a problem here ,many have neglected the real meaning of short-term asceticism , think it is just to "relax " there.

in thailand , young man have to serve their NS by enter monkhood
and any thai girl will marry guys who have enter short-term monkhood to recognise the maturity of the man in the thai Buddhist traditionalist society .

anyway dun reallie have to go to asceticism , i went to dharma drum in taiwan in 2003 to
lodge for practice , that will serve as a good way to experience monastic life liao

An Eternal Now SG

Firstly monkhood is not to be mistaken as ascetism, ascetism is rejected by Buddha as not able to bring Enlightenment... on his spiritual search prior to his enlightenment. Instead he taught the Middle Way.

Anyway, of course, a person may wish to leave the Sangha if he really wishes so. However before entering monkhood one should consider it to be a life-time commitment... rather than something you can leave and enter. Buddha was compassionate to allow people to return to the Sangha, but such rules are not to be taken for granted... or entering monkhood with thoughts of leaving after some time. So.. commitment is quite important.

Glad you have went to lodge in Ven. Sheng Yen's monastery Smile So how was it like there? What do you all practise everyday?

bohiruci SG

merriam webster dicitionary entry

One entry found for ascetic.

Main Entry: as·cet·ic
Pronunciation: &-'se-tik, a-
Variant(s): also as·cet·i·cal /-ti-k&l/
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek askEtikos, literally, laborious, from askEtEs one that exercises, hermit, from askein to work, exercise
1 : practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline
2 : austere in appearance, manner, or attitude
synonym see SEVERE

Main Entry: mo·nas·tic
Pronunciation: m&-'nas-tik
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to monasteries or to monks or nuns
2 : resembling (as in seclusion or ascetic simplicity) life in a monastery

okie , the word should be monasticism ,will tell u more tonite abt the practice in dharma drum

An Eternal Now SG

Very good.. do share with us Smile

My Master used to hold such retreats too when he was in Taiwan and America... now I don't know about it. Hopefully one day I can attend one.

bohiruci SG

okie ,abt the lodging at taiwan , morning 4:30am i wake up ,becos qi ba(striking the wooden fish )

so i wake up lor , becos i wanted to experience monastic life
some simple exercise and at 5:15am is morning chanting

taiwan that time is still end of winter ,havent spring in march in taipei
nong chan monastery

of course quite alot of mosquitoes and very damp air

but i was quite relazed after the morning chanting,as we have to wear the
haiqin

okie wats in the content of morning chanting
leng yan mantra and 10 mantra

then 10 vows of samantabhadra

morning breakfast sit at the dinner table
no chatting
waiting for morning offering to finish and and all the monks and nuns comes in

i look at everyone very mindful at their own rice and food ,
so i dare not peek around

well ,that time was reallie kind of practising , i feel so serene and calm

daytime i spent my time in the room reading sutra and listening to sutra

evening fall was the time for evening chanting
which have amitabha sutra and transference of merits

then at 10:30 was an ban (in chinese means resting of the wood clock )

i went there for 2 days ,was so relieved i get 2 day of real practice Smile

so_what SG

So where can experience monastic life? at least got a view b4 considering full commitment?

An Eternal Now SG

Just wondering: are you following a particular Buddhist tradition?

An Eternal Now SG

What a wonderful experience Smile

bohiruci SG

nong chan monastery is under the chan lineage of the master of ven sheng yen , dong chu lao ren on chan lineage

didnt have more time to stay there ,my cousin calling me back to taipei

i promise him to come back after 2 days of monastery life Smile

An Eternal Now SG

Yup I know it is the Ch'an (zen) tradition.. I was asking so_what Smile

so_what SG

I oni started to have great interest in buddism recently, i'm not so sure but prefer Mahayana. i know tat Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery is popular in sg. Could i know abt the details by visiting them? Who r the best person to ask?

An Eternal Now SG

I think it is important that you find the right Master first... and then take refuge in the Three Treasures (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). As for KMSPKS, I do not frequent there, so I am not sure myself. Perhaps some others can give more advise.

BTW: do you seriously plan to renounce?

An Eternal Now SG

BTW, if you truly wish to renounce, you should not make a public statement. That will only cause you obstructions. Keep it to yourself for the time being.

An Eternal Now SG

That is very good... personally I feel that I would like to attend such 'retreats' or 'monastery living'. I feel that it wld be a more condusive place for practise... and also a time to keep peace of mind.

bohiruci SG

I seconded that ! !!got a buddhist friend who keep on saying want to renounce
end up have a aussie gf comes back build his career liao

wat a obstacles Smile

bohiruci SG

go to awareness place to check with them or go directly to pks

their is in school holiday one