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Being a monk for six months

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in Buddhism Basics
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?

Comments

  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    It's the way most men do it in Thailand...in fact, for far less than 6 months.
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    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.
  • RebeccaSRebeccaS Veteran
    Maybe it depends on the monestary? You'd probably be best off visiting a few and seeing what they recommend and/or require.
  • howhow Veteran Veteran
    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.
  • footiamfootiam Veteran
    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!
  • PatrPatr Veteran
    @footiam,

    Theres a retreat near where you stay, run by a Theravada monk, you know it?
  • footiamfootiam Veteran
    Patr said:

    @footiam,

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

    SBS orSasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary.
  • PatrPatr Veteran
    SBS... any good?
  • BhanteLuckyBhanteLucky Alternative lifestyle person in the South Island of New Zealand New Zealand Veteran
    @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.
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