How would someone go about becoming a monk?

Willyp

Hello

I am relatively new to Buddhism and since discovering it, I have often wondered how one would go about becoming a monk. Would a particular level of knowledge and experience be required? Can anyone become a monk? What is the process one would have to go through to go about this? Any wisdom that could be shared would be much appreciated.

With warmth

GuyC

Hi Willyp,

You might want to read this: http://www.bhavanasociety.org/main/page/the_experience_of_ordination/

And this: http://www.bhavanasociety.org/page/the_ordination_process/

Every monastery's ordination procedure will differ, but hopefully this will give you a rough idea of what is involved.

Kind regards,

Guy

wisebuddy

hi friend,
to become a monk is not a things that you would do in an overnight.For a destined one it should come with a sign or strange thought or behaviour.To become a monk you have to prepare to deattach all worldly things including your body.Can you do it?Ask this question to yourself whether you prepare for it or not.And definitely there is some condition to follow before you can be a monk.Those like owing money or killing people and etc are not qualified and also depend on the monk that ordain you.For a start i recommend you to become a samanera first then only you be real monk.That is to say become a temporary ordain monk and practice their daily lives as a monk.So from here you will know whether you are able to become a monk.Hope this help

IronRabbit

Firstly, set aside a minimum of seven years of your life. That's for starters.

Secondly, set aside all notions of escapism or romanticized isolation.
(No matter how bad you might think your life is - you carry it with you and robes can't assuage it. Sorry for presuming one's life could be bad to consider monasticism - I'm stuck here in samsara with everyone else - and completely fallible.)

Thirdly, set aside any concept of guaranteed enlightenment.
(Monks with decades of practice have been known to claim - "Haven't got it yet...")

If Zen is your preference - imagine being hit by a stick in answer to your question.
(Most Westerners come to Buddhism through an intellectual tangent with some sort of core in Judeo/Christian spirituality. Monks and lay Buddhists in mostly Asian countries are born in to Buddhist tradition and eschew the so-called "new agey" approach that Westerners are presumed to have. Another "minor" hurdle to surmount.)

No matter what tradition you choose - and there are plenty - there are bound to be issues with being accepted at any particular temple - learning other languages - and adapting to the complete dissolution of the familiar "home life" mind - and the adoption of the very demanding "hive mind" - not to mention "no mind".

Admittedly, as a lifelong householder, parent and taxpayer - my opinions are slightly prejudiced. As mentioned before - I am entirely fallible - in fact having explored Buddhist chaplaincy and monasticism - I was roundly dissuaded. No matter.

I have a lama friend who left the monk's path after thirty years and became a householder to care for his aging parents and to have a family of his own. (He actually has two families owing to one divorce.) Sometimes he admits having remained a monk might have been simpler. No matter.

compassionate_warrior

Good advice here. We've had many threads on this topic, but this one has generated the most thorough and thoughtful responses. I'd only add that there are monasteries in Europe and North America, where you wouldn't have to learn a new language. But it's been commented here before that they have long waiting lists.