Disabled person ordaining

[robbie77]

Dear Dhamma friends

I have a question. I myself am 32 years old and likely to spend a large part of my life in a wheelchair. I am interested to know if it would be possible for a person in a wheelchair to ordain? And whether or not some traditions may be more able to accommodate a disabled monk than others.

Metta

Robert

[DC2R]

Since all monasteries differ in terms of their facilitates, it would be best to contact the monastery you wish to ordain at and inquire about their accommodations. For example, some forest monasteries might be inaccessible (or at least not practical) for people in wheelchairs.

Other than that, you should be able to receive full ordination.

[cooran]

This previous thread also discusses this topic:

Handicapped monks or nuns
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... 7&p=302462" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With metta,

Chris

[SearchingPeace]

I met in person a monk who is in a similar situation
He is part of the Thai Forest lineage

[ricosadao]

Dear Dhamma friends

I have a question. I myself am 32 years old and likely to spend a large part of my life in a wheelchair. I am interested to know if it would be possible for a person in a wheelchair to ordain? And whether or not some traditions may be more able to accommodate a disabled monk than others.

Metta

Robert

Monasteries in the West might be more flexible on disability issues
In the East ,I think it's highly unlikely to happen.

[mikenz66]

In general terms, it all depends. Good support systems is the key issue in cases like this.

One of my teachers was an American who had had a brain tumour, and ordaining in the US would have been out of the question, due to the need for ongoing medical care (though he was very mobile he still needed some attention). His (Thai monastic) teacher said if he wanted to ordain he'd have to come to Thailand, since as a monk in Thailand there was free health care and ample lay support.

Of course, that would not work in all cases, but did in the case of a well-connected Bangkok Wat.

[Unfortunately he died a few years ago, but that was caused by injuries sustained in a car crash, not the brain issues.]



Mike

[robbie77]

I met in person a monk who is in a similar situation
He is part of the Thai Forest lineage

Do you perhaps know where he stays?

[Cittasanto]

you may wish to speak to a Bhikkhu about the vinaya issues of you ordaining. And some information starting at the bottom of page 192 and continues relevantly on page 196 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... o/bmc2.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kind Regards
Cittasanto

[SearchingPeace]

I met in person a monk who is in a similar situation
He is part of the Thai Forest lineage

Do you perhaps know where he stays?

Robbie, I sent you a private message on this. Anyway, my opinion is that the best thing would be to make your question directly to the abbot of a theravada monastery. I am not 100% sure but it is very likely that most of the monasteries in the Theravada tradition would accept a disabled person as a monk.
With Metta

[nickc]

I am paraplegic and use a wheelchair, I'm also independent given accessible environment and need no care support, I became disabled when I was 16 have worked since leaving university, amongst other things I have traveled on my own across South America and Afghanistan. I asked if it would be possible to ordain in the Thai Forest Tradition but was told that it was not.

[bhante dhamma]

it depends on the upajjhaya' when I lived in thailnd there was a onk candidate who had aids, caused a big stir, anothrr monk I know had only 9 fingrs, etc, also there is a story of a dwarf with abhinya powers in the canon, it depends on a few things..