What exactly do Buddhist monk contribute to society

mantra0

They have very little possession and they receive alms.

Fine.

But what is their actual contribution to society?

Some special monks have obvious contribution such as Shaolin monks offers protection of some sort.
Some monks spread dharma.

But I'm not too sure.
What do monks actually do in terms of social contribution?

Some points I can think of:

1. chant sutra
2. educate lay people
3. exorcism (not sure if I'm right)
4. some charity

ThailandTom

This is just my view on it and could be wrong to some extent, but I am pretty sure a lot of monks help with charity work.. they also spread metta and loving kindness to those around them when ever they have a chance to. They offer advice to whoever may ask, some also teach direct teachings of buddhism and they are also peaceful people to have in a society

mantra0

Can we ask free hugs from monks?

I like it when the monk chant some holy words and sprinkle some holy water on me.

Hanzze

Kasi Bharadvaja Sutta: Discourse to Bharadvaja, the Farmer
translated from the Pali by
Piyadassi Thera
© 1999–2010
Alternate translations: Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro
This sutta also appears at SN 7.11.
Thus have I heard:
On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Dakkhinagiri (monastery), in the brahmana village Ekanala, in Magadha. Now at that time, it being the sowing season, five hundred plows of the brahman Kasibharadvaja were put to use. Then in the forenoon the Blessed One having dressed himself, took bowl and (double) robe, and went to the place where brahman Kasibharadvaja's work was going on. It was the time of food distribution by the brahman, and the Blessed One drew near, and stood at one side. Bharadvaja seeing the Blessed One standing there for alms said to him:
"Recluse, I do plow, and do sow, and having plowed and sown I eat. You also, recluse should plow and sow; having plowed and sown you should eat."
"I, too, brahman, plow and sow; having plowed and sown, I eat."
"We do not see the Venerable Gotama's yoke, or plow, or plowshare, or goad or oxen. Nevertheless the Venerable Gotama says: 'I, too, brahman, plow and sow; having plowed and sown, I eat.'"
Thereupon the brahman addressed the Blessed One in a stanza:
1. "You profess to be a plowman, yet your plow we do not see; asked about your plow and the rest, tell us of them that we may know."
[The Buddha:]
2. "Faith is my seed, austerity the rain, wisdom my yoke and plow, modesty is the pole, mind the strap, mindfulness is my plowshare and goad.
3. "Controlled in speech and conduct, guarded in deed and speech, abstemious in food,[1] I make truth my weed cutter; arahantship, my deliverance complete.
4. "Exertion, my team in yoke, draws me to Nibbana's security, and on it goes without stopping, wither gone one does not suffer.
5. "Thuswise is this plowing plowed which bears the fruit of Deathlessness; having plowed this plowing one is freed from every ill."

Then brahman Kasibharadvaja filling a golden bowl with milk-rice offered it to the Blessed One saying: "May the Venerable Gotama partake of this milk rice; a plowman, indeed, is Venerable Gotama who plows a plow for the fruit of Deathlessness (Nibbana)."
[The Buddha:]
6. "What I receive by reciting verses, O brahman, I should not eat. It is not the tradition of those who practice right livelihood. The Buddhas reject what is received by reciting verses. This, brahman, is the conduct (of the Buddhas) as long as Dhamma reigns.
7. "To those wholly consummate, taintless, and well-disciplined great sages, should thou offer other food and drink; sure field is that for merit-seeking men."

"To whom, then Venerable Gotama, shall I give this milk rice?"
"Brahman, in the world of Devas, Maras, and Brahmas or among the generation of recluses, brahmanas, deities, and humans, there is no one by whom this milk rice, if eaten, could be wholly digested except by the Tathagata (the Buddha), or the disciple of a Tathagata. Therefore, brahman, either cast this milk rice where there is no grass, or into water where there are no living creatures."
Thereupon the brahman flung that milk rice into water where there were no living creatures, and the milk rice thrown into the water smoked and steamed making the noise "cicchita, citicita," just like a plowshare heated during the day, when thrown into water, smokes, and steams making the noise "cicchita, citicita."
Then the brahman Kasibharadvaja, alarmed, with hair standing on end, approached, and fell with his head at the Blessed One's feet and said as follows.
"Most excellent, O Gotama, is thy teaching, most excellent. Just as a man would set upright what is overturned, reveal what is concealed, point out the way to one gone astray, bring an oil lamp into the darkness so that those with eyes could see objects, even so the Dhamma (doctrine) has been declared in many a manner by the Venerable Gotama. I take refuge in the Venerable Gotama (the Buddha), in the Dhamma and in the Sangha (the Order). I wish to receive the novice's ordination (pabbajja) and higher ordination (upasampada)."
Brahman Kasibharadvaja duly received both the pabbajja and upasampada from the Blessed One. Not long after his upasampada the Venrable Bharadvaja dwelling alone and aloof, diligent, strenuous, and resolute, ere long, by his own insight, here and now, realized and attained the highest perfection (arahantship), the end of the Noble Life — for the sake of which men of good family go forth from home to live the homeless life. Birth is destroyed, lived is the noble life, done is what has to be done, there is no more of this state. The Venerable Bharadvaja became one of the arahants.

naturelover

Hanzee,

Beautiful.

Mr_Serenity

They're therapists that don't get paid.

milkmoth

Well... they are becoming enlightened so they can eventually help people.

It's like being selfish for a few lifetimes so they can return and be proper teachers.

I monk's duties are primarily to work on their own minds so that they can help liberate human-kind from suffering.

And as 'selfish' as it may seem to be a monk it's the most charitable thing anyone can do.

It's like when there is an accident on a plane. They always tell you to put on your air-mask first before you help put it on the friend next to you.

FoibleFull

I know one Buddhist monk well ... he is supported by a dharma group and is their resident teacher. He also teaches at other dharma groups (linked with the first one) in cities an hour or so away. He more than earns his keep, which is modest but adequate. The effect he has had on the various membership, in terms of happiness and quality of life, in incalculable.

I also went to a public lecture by a Buddhist nun, a Westerner living in India. She was touring to raise money for charitable work in India.

Compassion and wisdom are the two wings to fly to enlightenment ... and they should rule one's actions.