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I've quit my job and I'm going to be a monk.
BhanteLucky
Alternative lifestyle person in the South Island of New ZealandNew Zealand Veteran
Yes, I have taken the plunge and done it.
I finish work in two weeks, then off to the monastery to begin training/monastic life/the grand experiment/a big mistake/who knows what!
The first few months I'll be wearing normal clothes. Then I'll apply to be an Anagarika, (pure white clothes!?... lots of bleach in with the laundry) which is basically a year-long try-it-out period before I ask to be ordained as a novice monk and get the pretty saffron robes.
Then... who knows. Most western monks return to lay-life after a few years / a few decades... but... I will take it one day at a time, as someone wisely suggested to me.
It's at Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia, and the famous Ajahn Brahm is the abbot there.
I'm not going there because of him, but rather because it is the biggest Theravadan monastery in Australasia.
There is an excellent community of about 20 monks there, and a good sangha is really important for a newbie to learn from. There are also monks with very different approaches to being monks; some are scholar monks, meditation monks, work monks, teaching monks,etc. There are eccentric men there, and also quite normal level-headed types.
So there is tremendous potential for learning different aspects of the life from different style monks.
It's also quite a progressive monastery, with the consequence that this monastery has been expelled from the Wat Pah Pong association of monasteries, for ordaining women as nuns. The monastery and Ajahn Brahm is still a firm member of the Forest Sangha however. A fair price to pay, I say, for dragging a chauvinistic sect into the 21st century... or for returning the sangha to the way it was a thousand and more years ago – a double sangha of both monks and nuns. Anyway, it's awesome.
I'm not jumping into this blind, by the way, this isn't some sudden idea I've had.
I have stayed as a guest for 6 months at a monastery in New Zealand, have lived at a meditation centre for 6 months or so, and have done a good amount of meditation, so I know roughly what I might expect. I've been working to pay off my debts ( can't ordain if you owe money) for the past year, and now I'm all set.
From now on it's going to be one long psychedelic roller-coaster of wild meditations, mystical adventures, and, um, other cool stuff.
Either that, or a life of getting up appallingly early, wearing ridiculously impractical clothes, having no dinner and no sex, and being bored a lot.
Or something in between.
Much excitement! So if you don't see much of me around here in future, that's why.
I'm not going for another three weeks yet though.
I finish work in two weeks, then off to the monastery to begin training/monastic life/the grand experiment/a big mistake/who knows what!
The first few months I'll be wearing normal clothes. Then I'll apply to be an Anagarika, (pure white clothes!?... lots of bleach in with the laundry) which is basically a year-long try-it-out period before I ask to be ordained as a novice monk and get the pretty saffron robes.
Then... who knows. Most western monks return to lay-life after a few years / a few decades... but... I will take it one day at a time, as someone wisely suggested to me.
It's at Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia, and the famous Ajahn Brahm is the abbot there.
I'm not going there because of him, but rather because it is the biggest Theravadan monastery in Australasia.
There is an excellent community of about 20 monks there, and a good sangha is really important for a newbie to learn from. There are also monks with very different approaches to being monks; some are scholar monks, meditation monks, work monks, teaching monks,etc. There are eccentric men there, and also quite normal level-headed types.
So there is tremendous potential for learning different aspects of the life from different style monks.
It's also quite a progressive monastery, with the consequence that this monastery has been expelled from the Wat Pah Pong association of monasteries, for ordaining women as nuns. The monastery and Ajahn Brahm is still a firm member of the Forest Sangha however. A fair price to pay, I say, for dragging a chauvinistic sect into the 21st century... or for returning the sangha to the way it was a thousand and more years ago – a double sangha of both monks and nuns. Anyway, it's awesome.
I'm not jumping into this blind, by the way, this isn't some sudden idea I've had.
I have stayed as a guest for 6 months at a monastery in New Zealand, have lived at a meditation centre for 6 months or so, and have done a good amount of meditation, so I know roughly what I might expect. I've been working to pay off my debts ( can't ordain if you owe money) for the past year, and now I'm all set.
From now on it's going to be one long psychedelic roller-coaster of wild meditations, mystical adventures, and, um, other cool stuff.
Either that, or a life of getting up appallingly early, wearing ridiculously impractical clothes, having no dinner and no sex, and being bored a lot.
Or something in between.
Much excitement! So if you don't see much of me around here in future, that's why.
I'm not going for another three weeks yet though.
44
Comments
Bravo. Keep in touch if you can. How exciting. Wishing you every success. :clap:
My point is - goodonya, mate!
One more monk.
Sounds like a good trade.
All the best of luck in your adventure.
I only hope there might be a way for you to keep us posted, even every few weeks (if permitted that kind of contact) after your initial settling in period, and let us know how you are doing .... But if not, please know that we all wish you the BEST, James!
Awesome! The only thing stopping me is my little son... Otherwise, if also bow out! The working mans life is pop pop!
We're slaves to money then we, die!!!
I have enjoyed you here.
Love, Light and Metta on your journey.
I hope you will be able to visit us occasionally, and give us an insight into your progress.
All the best James - no matter when, or where.
Gassho Bro, with walking the walk.
H
accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc1/bmc1.intro.html
accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc2/bmc2.intro.html
Let us know when you really take off, eh? A proper send-off!
What happens when you make that step? Give up your home and live at the monastery? How are you supported, like financially? Do you just disappear in to this other world where normal everyday life and stresses vanish?
Once I become an actual novice monk, the monastery covers all normal costs like medical, dental, postage stamps, electricity, food, etc.
And the monastery gets its money from Buddhist lay-people, who visit the monastery and donate food or money or anything. It's a "gift economy".
Hehe! Although it's less stressful than regular life in the city, the same old things happen in a monastery as in a regular family or workplace. Squabbles or disagreements amongst monks, loneliness since I am far from my friends, brothers, and parents. Uncertainty about the future, medical problems... regular everyday stress. But yes, there is much less worry and stress, much more meditation and study. And meditation is an excellent stress-buster.
I've wanted to do this so much and was so close to doing it at one point, but then let myself get tangled up in worldly commitments. Ｔhat is great that you took the karmic opportunity in front of you. I am sooo jealous :clap:
May your good karma and wisdom increase without decline till you reach the enlightened state of buddha in order to benefit us all!
If it is possible, please keep a journal of your experience,
it will be invaluable.
whether you choose to share it with others or not is up to
you.
i think it will be extremely useful to record your experiences as it happens.
anyway, this is just a suggestion.
i am very impressed by your courage n commitment.
i hope someday, i will walk the same path.
may you find peace n happiness in your path.
cheers.
also, can i stay in contact with you via email?
Unfortunatley I won't be emailing or accessing the internet. They do have the net up there, but they discourage people from using it more than absolutely necessary.
Cheers for the good wishes!