To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
sekha silapada
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2012 12:28 am

To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by sekha silapada »

Out of curiosity, I have some questions that I hope you may take the time to answer :namaste:

To those who hope to or are planning to ordain:
What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?
Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
When do you hope to ordain?

To those who are already ordained:
How old were you when you ordained?
Did anything besides escaping Samsara motivate you to become a bhikkhu(ni)?
How long have you been ordained/how many rains how you done?
In what ways do you feel your practice has benefited as a monastic compared to when you were a layperson?
Conversely, are there aspects about monasticism that you find detrimental to your practice?

With Metta,
Sekha

*note: changed "beyond" to "besides". Thanavuddho made a good point, that the ultimate aim is release from Samsara, so there's nothing beyond that. "Besides" makes more sense.
Last edited by sekha silapada on Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:22 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Thanavuddho
Posts: 135
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Finland

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by Thanavuddho »

sekha silapada wrote: To those who are already ordained:
How old were you when you ordained?
23 the first upasampada and 26 the second upasampada.
Did anything beyond escaping Samsara motivate you to become a bhikkhu(ni)?
Well, final release is the aim.
How long have you been ordained/how many rains how you done?
Three rains.
In what ways do you feel your practice has benefited as a monastic compared to when you were a layperson?
Maybe it's easier maintain discipline.
Conversely, are there aspects about monasticism that you find detrimental to your practice?
Good question. I think, in my case, it's been beneficial.
“Tasmātihānanda, attadīpā viharatha attasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā, dhammadīpā dhammasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā.”(DN16)
Forum: http://www.avoinsangha.fi
daverupa
Posts: 5980
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:58 pm

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by daverupa »

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Student loan debt; a gastrointestinal situation that makes alms-living problematic, at best.

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

Roughly 17 years, but much of the early years were spent hopping around various traditions, so the practice was spotty.

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?

32

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?/When do you hope to ordain?

I'm probably unable to ordain; may the future contain a suitable opportunity.
  • "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

    "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
User avatar
James the Giant
Posts: 791
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:41 am

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by James the Giant »

sekha silapada wrote:What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
Debt. I owe $9000, which should be paid off mid 2013. Unless anyone would like to help me pay it off faster? :smile:
sekha silapada wrote:How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
As a "Buddhist" about four years. As a meditator, about 10 years.
sekha silapada wrote:How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?
35
sekha silapada wrote:Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
In one of the very good Australian Ajahn Chah monasteries... either the one near Perth (Bodhinyana) or the one near Melbourne (Bodhivana). They both have good reputations as training monasteries. A couple of monks suggested I ordain in the west because of my skepticism... they said once I had five rains under my belt then I should go to live in Thailand, and by then I would be more ready to accept the superstitions of Thai Buddhism.
sekha silapada wrote:When do you hope to ordain?
Next year, maybe around December 2013.
Then,
saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering and stress.
SN 9.11
User avatar
equilibrium
Posts: 522
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:07 am

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by equilibrium »

sekha silapada wrote:What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
Does one need to be ordained to escape samsara?
User avatar
James the Giant
Posts: 791
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:41 am

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by James the Giant »

equilibrium wrote: Does one need to be ordained to escape samsara?
Oh let's not start the whole Lay-life vs Ordained-life debate again.
Then,
saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering and stress.
SN 9.11
User avatar
appicchato
Posts: 1602
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:47 am
Location: Bridge on the River Kwae

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by appicchato »

...ready to accept the superstitions of Thai Buddhism.

Accept?...please...if it's not one's 'thing', why even give it/them a second thought?...

If I had to guess I would say that it was Caucasians who came up with this...

If I were asked: stick to the Suttas...
User avatar
James the Giant
Posts: 791
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:41 am

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by James the Giant »

appicchato wrote:
...ready to accept the superstitions of Thai Buddhism.

Accept?...please...if it's not one's 'thing', why even give it/them a second thought?...

Maybe "accept" is the wrong word... maybe I should have said "tolerate" or "respect" instead.
The bhikkhus were just concerned I could be discouraged by the superstitions, if I did not first have a good foundation in the ordained life.

appicchato wrote:If I had to guess I would say that it was Caucasians who came up with this...

Aha! No, but I can see why Caucasian would be a good guess. They were a Thai Ajahn of 15 (or was it 17?) rains, and a Malaysian Venerable of 8 rains, both of whom know me well.
Then,
saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering and stress.
SN 9.11
User avatar
appicchato
Posts: 1602
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:47 am
Location: Bridge on the River Kwae

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by appicchato »

Aha! No...
Got me...all the best in your endeavors...
User avatar
DAWN
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:22 pm

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by DAWN »

sekha silapada wrote:Out of curiosity, I have some questions that I hope you may take the time to answer :namaste:

To those who hope to or are planning to ordain:
What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
The promis to my mother that i will ordain after obtaing a french nationality.
sekha silapada wrote:How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
2 years, but actualy i realise that i have practicing before meeting Buddhism. When i read my first Dhamma book - i cryed, and i kwen that it the aim of my life.
sekha silapada wrote:How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?
22
sekha silapada wrote:Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
Ajhan Chaa lineage
or
Thich Nhat Than lineage.
sekha silapada wrote:When do you hope to ordain?
I hope next year, 2013. It depend on my promis.
Sabbe dhamma anatta
We are not concurents...
I'am sorry for my english
John1122
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:04 pm
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by John1122 »

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Student loan debt

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

3 years

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?

29

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?


Thai Forest Tradition

When do you hope to ordain?

When debts are paid.
Kaktus
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:24 pm
Location: Germany

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by Kaktus »

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?

Familiy, especially 3 underage children

How long have you been practicing Buddhism?

14 years, first tibetan for now about 2 years Theravada

How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?

42 (wouldn´t it be easy if this would be the answer to all questions? :smile: )

Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?

Ajahn Cha lineage - probably Chithurst Buddhist Monastery. A western monastary if somehow possible,

When do you hope to ordain?

In about 7 years, when my youngest daugther becomes 18.
English isn´t my native language. So please accept my apologies for my kind of spelling and grammar ;-)
User avatar
LG2V
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:40 pm

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by LG2V »

My apologies - I deleted my response.
Last edited by LG2V on Tue Dec 24, 2013 5:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Here are some excellent sites for giving free Dana (Click-Based Donation):
http://freerice.comhttp://greatergood.com/www.ripple.orgwww.thenonprofits.com
User avatar
The Sum of Awe
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:57 am
Location: Luana, IA

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by The Sum of Awe »

sekha silapada wrote:Out of curiosity, I have some questions that I hope you may take the time to answer :namaste:

To those who hope to or are planning to ordain:
What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)?
Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
When do you hope to ordain?
1. There's no Buddhists organizations around my area to ordain me.
2. About 2 years
3. 16
4. Nope.
5. Any time of my life.
"And this is the nature of the universe. We struggle against it. We fight to deny it, but it is of course pretense. It is a lie. Beneath our poised appearance, the truth is we are completely... out of control."
User avatar
Dhondup
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:13 am
Location: Connecticut
Contact:

Re: To those who have ordained or plan to ordain

Post by Dhondup »

What is currently holding you back from ordaining?
Lack of experience, and I would like to maintain 2 years celibacy before ordaining. In addition, if I were to ordain in another country my foreign language skills are not yet where I would like them to be.
How long have you been practicing Buddhism?
One year, but the impact has been quite profound.
How old are you (not really relevant, just curious)
22
Do you have a particular place you would like to ordain? If so, where, and why there?
Ideally I would like to ordain in the west, at the monastery I currently attend teachings at because my guru is there. If that option is unavailable, I would prefer to ordain somewhere in either India or Nepal because I feel there are many well established monasteries in those areas (I practice Vajrayana).
When do you hope to ordain?
2-3 years. And thanks for asking! :anjali:
No Distracted Thoughts!- Geshe Karag Gomchung
Post Reply