good books for those wishing to become a monk

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
konchokzopa
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Re: good books for those wishing to become a monk

Post by konchokzopa »

BlackBird wrote:Getting off: A Portrait is a brilliant account. It's a real shame it's been removed for some reason - I was re-reading it only a few months ago, Bhante's wit and humour made the account such a pleasure to read :(

metta
Jack

well good that its in book format, its always nicer to read actual books than through the computer screen.
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Bhikkhu_Jayasara
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Re: good books for those wishing to become a monk

Post by Bhikkhu_Jayasara »

Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:Not a book, but see the Going Forth site.
Thank you for this website Bhante


also for those who recommended the getting off book,I just ordered it off amazon. My long journey moving towards renunciation is come to a close as if all goes as planned I will go in to Bhavana Society as a resident with intent to renounce in May. If all does not go as planned, well who knows where life will take me :). The wisdom of monastics who have gone before is always welcome.


konchokzopa I wish you well in your practice friend :)
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Bhikkhu_Jayasara
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Re: good books for those wishing to become a monk

Post by Bhikkhu_Jayasara »

Viscid wrote:I found Getting Off - A Portrait by Samanera Bodhesako to be one of the most honest depictions of Theravadin monkdom.

I just finished this book on recommendation of you guys in this thread. It was an amazing and captivating book that made me think about things I had not previously even pondered in my journey towards renouncing(now only a mere 4 months away!). It helped me simultaneously become more confident in my decision but also more scared about staying power. As I said before I don't know if it will be a life long thing, but It is something I feel I need to do.

thank you guys for this amazing recommendation. i think I'm going to read " One Night's Shelter: From home to homelessness , the autobiography of an american Buddhist monk by Bhikkhu Rahula. I've had this book for a few years now but never delved into it, preferring straight dhamma books.
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JacquelineR
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Re: good books for those wishing to become a monk

Post by JacquelineR »

I'd like to make a slightly heterodox recommendation- read anything by Thomas Merton. He was a Catholic monk who encountered Buddhism later in life and felt a deep sense of connection with Buddhism.

In particular, I'd recommend "The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers". While the monastic forms of the Desert Fathers were different to ours (they wove baskets to make a living), a lot of their habits are very close to the habits of Buddhist monastics and they practiced "interior silence".
culaavuso
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Re: good books for those wishing to become a monk

Post by culaavuso »

konchokzopa wrote:anyone else, real books maybe? :p
Autobiography of a Forest Monk (Ven. Ajahn Tate's autobiography) is available in book form as well, not just the online copy mentioned above.

Wat Mettavanaram will send you free books from their list of available material. This includes Ven. Ajaan Lee's autobiography mentioned above as well as the biographies of Ven. Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta and Ven. Ajahn Khao Analayo.

If you're looking to ordain, it might also be interesting to request a copy of the Buddhist Monastic Code in order to gain a deep understanding of the Vinaya.
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Sokehi
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Re: good books for those wishing to become a monk

Post by Sokehi »

http://www.amazon.com/Nights-Shelter-Fr ... B0010FWQ2O

I found this book very inspiring years ago. I don't like advertising Amazon too much, and there is a free epub format somewhere to be found in the web (legal). So if a non physical book ist good enough you might find it :)
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konchokzopa
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Re: good books for those wishing to become a monk

Post by konchokzopa »

thanks , i found the ebook. will get to it slowly.
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appicchato
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Re: good books for those wishing to become a monk

Post by appicchato »

...I need my preceptor to be a person who is not handling money.
Your preceptor is just another guy performing a brief ceremony...and depending on where you ordain, it may occur that you never see him again...
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