Is a major reason for becoming a monastic that it is hard to survive financially in a Right Livelihood as a layperson? I vaguely remember a sutta where the Buddha says that people ordain not because they can't make a livelihood.Majjhima 82 wrote:Then Ratthapala, rising from his seat, bowing down to the Blessed One and keeping him on his right, went to his parents and said, "Mom, Dad, as I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it's not easy, living at home, to practice the holy life totally perfect, totally pure, a polished shell. I want — having shaved off my hair & beard and putting on the ochre robe — to go forth from the household life into homelessness. Please give me your permission to go forth from the household life into homelessness."
From: Ratthapala Sutta: About Ratthapala
translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Thanks / dhammapal.