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Why do some Buddhist temples treat the monks bad (as if its the army) They SHOUT and HIT them..
Ive heard this many times, that some temples are very strict to the practising monks..
And im reading a book at the minute called 'Eat.Sleep.Sit'
It is a 1 year diary of a man who left all he had to spend a year at a Buddhist temple in japan.
But what he went through and witnessed are some horrible stuff. One monk wasnt unpacking his suitcase fast enough so the head Monk came up and Slapped him across the face and screamed at him. (gets alot worse)
My question is WHY be like this? Buddha wouldnt have been like this?
Buddhism is all about helping each other learn, and grow. and help each other end our suffering.
I havent got to any part where he explains 'why' they hit the monks and force them to not eat if they do something wrong.
Could anyone enlighten me alittle here please?
((I feel if i read on it could really throw me OFF buddhism))
And im reading a book at the minute called 'Eat.Sleep.Sit'
It is a 1 year diary of a man who left all he had to spend a year at a Buddhist temple in japan.
But what he went through and witnessed are some horrible stuff. One monk wasnt unpacking his suitcase fast enough so the head Monk came up and Slapped him across the face and screamed at him. (gets alot worse)
My question is WHY be like this? Buddha wouldnt have been like this?
Buddhism is all about helping each other learn, and grow. and help each other end our suffering.
I havent got to any part where he explains 'why' they hit the monks and force them to not eat if they do something wrong.
Could anyone enlighten me alittle here please?
((I feel if i read on it could really throw me OFF buddhism))
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Comments
See, some Japanese Zen temples, unlike temples from other cultures, were embraced, funded, and operated by the warrior class. Retired military, disabled military, and even disgraced samurai or just those who came out on the losing end of a battle would end up a monk. For a warrior, it was that or suicide or become a bandit. As you might expect, these military minds brought their discipline and way of teaching to the temple, and that was often extreme, brutal, and accepted no excuses. Japanese Renzai in particular developed a reputation of the boot camp version of a zen meditation hall.
Used correctly by Masters who actually rarely used the stick and then only to shock the student into a different way of thinking at the right time, it was effective and we have many Zen stories that involve at least threats of hitting. But unfortunately, especially moving into the present time, the lineage and teaching seems to have deteriorated in some temples and now we have Masters who simply use physical abuse to enforce discipline or simply out of anger.
but idk if you can paint all buddhist temples like this. it's probably more on an individual level.
This is a cultural style or influence and not part of the Buddha's teaching. In certain countries during a particular period, it is normal for teachers to discipline their students with a ruler in a regular school setting. That probably gets transferred over into certain zen school in that location as well .It is not endorsed by the Buddha:
"…..This is the way that leads to health ( in future life ), that is to say, not to be one who harms beings with his hands or with clods or with sticks or with knives."- Cula-kammavibhanga sutta
" He dwells with his rod laid down, his knife laid down, scrupulous, merciful, compassionate for the welfare of all living beings. "-Culahatthipadopama Sutta
"And how is a bhikkhu possessed of moral discipline? Abandoning the taking of life, he abstains from the taking of life. He dwells with his rod laid down, his knife laid down, scrupulous, merciful, compassionate for the welfare of all living beings. This is part of moral discipline. "- Potthapāda Sutta
With metta,
"Marpa the Translator, who was Milarepa's root teacher, was satisfyingly (to me) irritable and kept yelling "More beer!" at his poor but adoring wife, Dakmema; but I think it was all a ploy to make Milarepa suffer for his sins before he could get enlightened."
It's also true that this sort of behavior is not uncommon in Japanese culture between a Teacher and student (master & student, employer & employee, parents & children, etc.). It's often the case that reprimands can be harsh in these relationships and even physical. Students in school often had to endure harsh physical punishments when out of line. Maybe not so much anymore. This is a severe case, but I saw a teacher flip out on a student in weekend Japanese school (in the U.S.) who was spitting spit balls at him when he turned around. I was in on it also, but he happened to see my friend doing it when he turned around. They got into a brawl and the teacher ended up breaking a broom stick over the kids back, and then stormed out the room slamming the door and also breaking the glass window on the door. A common punishment for students back in the days in Japan was one where you had to kneel on your knees with two thin wooden sticks under your knees. There is also the one where you hold two buckets of water with arms extended to the sides.
Theravada temples are strict in other ways such as adherence to vows, and certain behaviors. Breaking them can get you disrobed.