Being a monk for six months

music

Is such a thing possible? For instance, you stay in a monastery for six months, live like a monk, find out what it's like, how hard it is, and then finally after six months you'll know in your heart whether you have it in you. Is that possible in an Indian monastery - testing ourselves for six months to see if we really can become monks?

vinlyn

It's the way most men do it in Thailand...in fact, for far less than 6 months.

Dakini

There's a monastery in Australia that requires a month or two trial period of aspiring monks, to see if they're really cut out for the discipline of monastic life.

Jason

Yes. As @vinlyn has already mentioned, the tradition in Thailand is for men to ordain at some point in their lives, often after finishing school, before getting married, or when a close relative passes away. They usually do this during the rains retreat, and spend about 3 months in robes before going back to their regular lives. Many Thai temples, even those outside of Thailand, allow people to temporarily ordain. In addition, many will also let lay followers stay for an extended period simply observing the 8 precepts, and this allows them to participate in everything the monks do. I've done the latter a number of times myself, the longest period being about a month.

RebeccaS

Maybe it depends on the monestary? You'd probably be best off visiting a few and seeing what they recommend and/or require.

how

Many Zen buddhist monasterys require that you try out as a postulant before ordaining. This gives you a close approximation of monkhood without becoming a monk.

footiam

You can be one for just one week too! Over here, there are programmes for lay man to have a taste of the life of a monk. Expect hard labour!

Patr

@footiam,

Theres a retreat near where you stay, run by a Theravada monk, you know it?

footiam

Patr said:

@footiam,

Theres a retreat near where you stay, run by a Theravada monk, you know it?

SBS orSasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary.

Patr

SBS... any good?

BhanteLucky

@Patr , A very good friend of mine was a monk there for 3 years, he said it was very good. But eventually he left for another monastery in Thailand which was more strict.