Thought help: So I’m thinking about becoming a monk. - Help.com

can you tell me about monk-ism? I am curious

that’s intense

Hmmm… that’s a good start. Well, I believe it’s something one wants to become when they want to devote their life to developing a certain relationship or understanding. In my case I want to learn how to be compassionate and view all human beings with their innate nature. I find it very hard to do in the community I am now and I need the support. The right community is a very important aspect. I would like to live truth but I need help.

Yes, a Buddhist monk.

why a monk?

I think it’s the ideal way to learn, and a good atmosphere to be in.

do yo know any other monks?

I’m also looking for discipline. I know of some other monks, the one I’m most familiar with however is in India right now receiving some teachings.

Get in touch with a monastery for advice. Buddhist monasteries allow you to share in their experience of a life’s monk on short periods.

Go for it.

I have been in touch with one in England just outside my home town and will be going to volunteer their to see what it’s like in February. There is one in Scotland however which is in the tradition I have mostly practiced in which I have just contacted 30 minutes ago. I have practiced a little Vipassana meditation.

above was supposed to be anonymous :)

The tradition I’m in is mostly Vajrayana Buddhism (tibetan) of the Kagyu Lineage. It seems to be most enlightening but I haven’t really had a chance to view the other traditions. The one outside my hometown is Theravadan, and the one I’m also thinking about visiting in between the two is Zen Buddhism.

Thanks for your help Soulsearcher.

Any help would be great guys!! I’m just wondering if there is something I’m not considering that I may be leaving behind or not expecting. I’m already pretty much a minimalist as I’m sure most people are after understanding a little of such things. So I’m not going to miss the materialist world so much. I’m a little concerned about how intense it will be, but I’m also anticipating that it will be a fairly decent change. What should I expect?

enlightenment

thanks for the link Soulsearcher

to see the world and people for what they are without illusions.

Illusions that I get caught up in when looking at people, the perceptions I get without even knowing a person. I would love to see people as not separate from myself. Enlightenment, in my view, is a pure view of what is. Nirvana is heaven on earth. But going deeper into the religion one sees no separation of Nirvana from Samsara. Heaven, Hell, and Earth are one.

I would like to start along the path. A step in what I think is the right direction.

I wonder if one has to be a citizen of the US to live in the monastery you mentioned in Virginia.

how do you speak one on one?

thanks again soulsearcher

Well, I think the same pretty often, but usually the idea that stops me is you have to lack all desire and I may be too much of a romantic for that part of it. I could definately do with out possessions I come real close to none anyway.

yeah, i miss romance sometimes as well.