Retirement, Healthcare, etc.

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
Post Reply
User avatar
convivium
Posts: 577
Joined: Wed May 05, 2010 7:13 am

Retirement, Healthcare, etc.

Post by convivium »

Do Buddhist Monks have any retirement or healthcare? Is it normal for western monks to save up money, for this purpose, before ordaining?
Just keep breathing in and out like this. Don't be interested in anything else. It doesn't matter even if someone is standing on their head with their ass in the air. Don't pay it any attention. Just stay with the in-breath and the out-breath. Concentrate your awareness on the breath. Just keep doing it. http://www.ajahnchah.org/book/Just_Do_It_1_2.php
User avatar
badscooter
Posts: 406
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:07 am
Location: New Jersey

Re: Retirement, Healthcare, etc.

Post by badscooter »

From what I have heard from certain areas, the lay community in that sangha, temple, or center helps with the costs of any health issues for the monastics... I could be wrong though.
"whatever one frequently thinks and ponders upon will be the inclination of one's mind"
User avatar
Anagarika
Posts: 915
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:25 pm

Re: Retirement, Healthcare, etc.

Post by Anagarika »

It may be true that some farang ordain in say, Thailand, and are able to use their pensions and/or social security to fund the Wat and support their own medical costs. I doubt that many Wats, Thai, Sri Lankan, or western, have the ability to fund the retirements and healthcare of new monks. Surely, to ordain just to have financial support or health care is not a proper intention, and it would be a mistake in that most Wats can't provide this funding.
User avatar
James the Giant
Posts: 791
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:41 am

Re: Retirement, Healthcare, etc.

Post by James the Giant »

I heard that one of the big costs for Abhayagiri monastery in the USA, is insurance and health insurance for the monks. The anagarikas have to cover their own insurance, but as soon as someone becomes a novice it is paid for by the monastery. Full insurance in the USA is a big cost.
There is no retirement fund.
In the UK, Canada, NZ, Australia, etc, a fair level of healthcare is offered free by the government, so it's not a burden on the monastery funds or lay supporters. Likewise, if a monk wants to disrobe, in those countries everyone gets a pension. Otherwise a monk can remain a monk till he dies. The monastery and lay community provides him with all the requisites. What need for a retirement fund?
One Canadian monk I knew thought it might be a good idea to get the pension and pay it automatically to some other monastery, so he would help the sangha but not break the rule about handling money. But in the end he found he would have to have a bank account in his name, so he didn't want to go there.
Then,
saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering and stress.
SN 9.11
User avatar
Goofaholix
Posts: 4017
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:49 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Retirement, Healthcare, etc.

Post by Goofaholix »

BuddhaSoup wrote:Surely, to ordain just to have financial support or health care is not a proper intention, and it would be a mistake in that most Wats can't provide this funding.
It's quite common in places like Thailand for men (or women) who don't have enough financial support from their family in their old age to ordain for this reason, many Wats function a bit like a retirement home as i don't think there is much in the way of retirement homes otherwise.
Pronouns (no self / not self)
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
User avatar
convivium
Posts: 577
Joined: Wed May 05, 2010 7:13 am

Re: Retirement, Healthcare, etc.

Post by convivium »

Thanks for your responses
Just keep breathing in and out like this. Don't be interested in anything else. It doesn't matter even if someone is standing on their head with their ass in the air. Don't pay it any attention. Just stay with the in-breath and the out-breath. Concentrate your awareness on the breath. Just keep doing it. http://www.ajahnchah.org/book/Just_Do_It_1_2.php
Post Reply