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Buddhist dress and hair
Hello World,
I would like to know why buddhist's monks all wear simmilar garb (clothes etc) the world over, by this I am talking about the maroon robe and shaved head etc. Is this not to show their rank and authority on the subject? If we acknowledge the oneness with all then why stand apart ? also does this not feed the need to aspire to this level? to get recognition from family and friends to show that they have "made it" to this level?
Could I not argue that to truly liberate oneself from the greed and desire, the attachment to ego, pride and self then one must refuse this dress? and on that, what would happen if you joined a monastery and chose not to wear the correct dress
I would like to know why buddhist's monks all wear simmilar garb (clothes etc) the world over, by this I am talking about the maroon robe and shaved head etc. Is this not to show their rank and authority on the subject? If we acknowledge the oneness with all then why stand apart ? also does this not feed the need to aspire to this level? to get recognition from family and friends to show that they have "made it" to this level?
Could I not argue that to truly liberate oneself from the greed and desire, the attachment to ego, pride and self then one must refuse this dress? and on that, what would happen if you joined a monastery and chose not to wear the correct dress
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Comments
I don't think there is a problem. You're simply asking questions.
if you'd like to know more about monastic dress and so forth you can read about it in the Vinaya Pitaka, the Buddha's very detailed monastic code.
There are various colours for robes depending on what tradition/school the monastic follows. In the Thai Forest Tradition, for example, the monks wear ocher coloured robes. That's a pale brownish yellow colour.
But sometimes, it might help to ask what relevance or importance certain things might have.
I often find myself pondering certain enigmatic things, to then ask myself,
"How does this help my practice?"
If it really adds nothing, then I leave it aside.
There are more pressing things for me to address....like why I think a fly is any less a sentient being than a cat, for example.......:D
No, it's to show that they have left the home life... there are many reasons for this, for instance it allows them to be recognized on alms round, stops women from chasing after them, lets them recognize one another, etc. Given that this is merely a formality, you should not look for any special meaning in the fact that monks wear robes; it has not much to do really with dhamma practice, except that it is clearly a form of contentment and renunciation, both of which are useful in meditation practice.
You may be surprised to learn that not all Buddhists "acknowledge the oneness with all". Particularly the Theravada tradition (the one most stressing the monastic tradition, I think...), which acknowledges the existence of body and mind in every experience, as well as the individuality of mind streams (beings).
These seem like silly questions... one wears robes as a matter of course, just like soldiers or Maytag repairmen.
As has been implied, attachment to this matter might instead do much to prolong the rounds of rebirth.
You don't just "join" a monastery as a monk... you have to be ordained
Yuttadhammo
Article: http://buddhism.about.com/od/thefirstbuddhists/a/robes.htm
Gallery: http://buddhism.about.com/od/thefirstbuddhists/ig/The-Buddha-s-Robe/
Monastic dress, like monastic vows, satirise what the worldly value.
Palzang
These days, though, in my experience monks wear the robes simply because it's required by the particular tradition they ordain into. To do otherwise would make them 'bad' (unskilled) monks. In my experience, most of them are happy about it. Some of them are even proud of it, and that's just the 'fetter' that's on their menu for the time being. It is a considerable relief to not have to ponder or fret about what you're going to wear today. ^^^
Palzang
While the yellow-gold color is referred to as "saffron" or "ochre" can be achieved through dying with expensive saffron or with ochre earth pigments, you can also use cheap, available onion skins to dye cotton that same color ... the poor man's color.
As for shaving the head, I don't know. The concentration camps and boot camps strip individuality by shaving heads. Maybe the tradition it started as a way to eschew individuality?
Palzang
So for lay-buddhists to indulge in worldly things and yet manage to see them for what they are, not depend on them and can understand who they are without them - that's quite a noble achievement.
Didn't the Dalai Lama say we could do all this, just realise it is what it is and not get attached to things.
I will get shot down for this, but the world would be a better place if everyone was lay and worked for the good of everyone. All of these dedicated, amazing good practicing buddhists are going to waste when they could be introducing others to the Path.
Sorry, I hope this doesn't sound derrogatory and rude. I admire people who get up at 4 and spend their life in medidative practice. I'm just a bit of an old commy withan all-hands-on-deck ethic.
Anyways, Back to Topic!
As for those who do, you have to keep in mind that the only way that we can be of ultimate benefit to others is to gain enlightenment ourselves. Otherwise we're just operating within the confines of samsara to bring temporary relief (at best) to those who suffer. The quickest way to achieve enlightenment, as the Buddha himself taught, is to practice as a monk or nun, completely renouncing samsara. In the West such a lifestyle has never been understood or even tolerated because we have such a materialistic, work until you drop ethos, that the only valid way to live is to be a "productive member of society", whatever that means. So it is very, very difficult to live as a monastic in the West. Unfortunately.
And if you believe that enlightenment either doesn't exist or has no value, then you're right.
Palzang
I have to confess that when I typed this I was extremely stressed-out and anxious about other stuff entirely so excuse me for the rant.
I think the way you live your life is admirable.
I do stick by the belief that not enough monastics live as you do and while one must reach enlightenment to teach enlightenment (as much as you can of course) I think it would be more beneficial for all monks (AND all lay people - don't get me wrong here) to do some charity work.
It should be made compulsory - but I guess that would meddle with intention.
Anyways...
The contemplative life has, for the most part, never struck much of a chord with Americans in particular I think. Just goes against our work ethic and deep-rooted materialism which we drink with our mother's milk, so to speak. We can't imagine the usefulness of sitting around doing "nothing". It's a symptom of the time we live in, I guess. I have doubts whether monasticism in any form can long survive in the West. There are many, many obstacles. It would be sad to lose the tradition though. As the Tibetan master who ordained me once said, only when the ordained community comes to a country can it be said that the Dharma has taken root. But the Buddha did also prophesy that in these degenerate times there would come a time when the negativity was so thick that bodhisattvas could no longer be born and the Dharma would fade away. I'd say that's happening already, even though on the surface it would appear that Buddhism is thriving like never before. But the seeds of its own destruction are already there.
Just my opinion.
Palzang
grackle
And I also hope it doesn't happen, Boo. My teacher says we have it in our power to overcome predictions like that, but it will be an uphill struggle to say the least. Overcoming our own poisons is the only way to do it.
Palzang
Palzang
It will remain mysterious as a notion so long as we fail to understand our interconnectedness. It is an old belief that the tiny number of those who devote themselves to work and pray contemplatively help to 'make up for' the vast majority who do so little of each.
It is also worth noting that Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh, a monk in the Vietnamese Zen tradition, is one of the fathers of Engaged Buddhism, active in service to others.