333 wrote:Does anyone know of such a place conducive to this type of training?
Nowhere is perfect. Too many mosquitoes, too many rules, too many egos, too many tourists, too many chores, too many interruptions, too many scandals... the list goes on.
The too many part is in your mind.
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
The outline of the perfect monastery for me was rough and composed within minutes, and I don't expect to find a perfect monastery anywhere. Those details were given to assist people with monastery knowledge who would be wondering what is the ideal monastery I would like. Na uyana is close to perfect, until I found out the abbot beat a monk, drugged another, and allegedly poisoned another to death for exposing said abbots corruption. "Too many scandals" , all in my head, eh? No, I will ordain to cultivate virtue and murder my ego, a corrupted environment is not where I need to be. I know your comment was well intended, so thank you. But I am not so easily deterred by "too many of this or that". If I plan to move to a foreign country I had better be willing to endure hardship, let alone mosquitoes, wouldn't you think
To Avoid All Evil,
To Cultivate Only Good,
And To Purify One's Mind
This Is The Teaching Of All The Buddhas!
-Dhammapada 183
I didn't say that, I said "The too many part is in your mind", actually the "The too many part is in the mind" would have been better.
This lifestyle has an important aspect of going against the grain and living with things that aren't as you'd like them to be, wherever you choose it's worth reflecting on what the plan is when inevitable disappointments arise.
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
Inevitable disappointment as a monk is the same as inevitable disappointment as a layman, it is only seen from a different perspective, and only seen from that different perspective if one identifies with their role. "I am a layman", "I am a monk". I just broke my foot 4 days ago while I am planning to leave the country within months. But I have not felt self pity, why me, or irritation; I meditate daily on impermanence and this was a great example and teaching of the impermanence of bodily health.
Just an example of my mind state, I am prepared to face life head on as a monk like I have done in the home life. I imagine there has been people here who say they want to ordain but are unaware of the reality they are facing. A monks life isn't roses and an ongoing meditative trance of transcension. But it is virtuous, if lived right, and it is a great opportunity to sever ego identification.
To Avoid All Evil,
To Cultivate Only Good,
And To Purify One's Mind
This Is The Teaching Of All The Buddhas!
-Dhammapada 183
333 wrote:Just an example of my mind state, I am prepared to face life head on as a monk like I have done in the home life. I imagine there has been people here who say they want to ordain but are unaware of the reality they are facing. A monks life isn't roses and an ongoing meditative trance of transcension. But it is virtuous, if lived right, and it is a great opportunity to sever ego identification.
If that's the case finding an acceptable monastery should be easy.
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
333 wrote:Does anyone know of such a place conducive to this type of training? In Thailand or sri Lanka, or anywhere else. Except the west; I would like to leave this area. I only speak English as well. Thanks for any replies
There are probably many in Thailand. There is also Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya in Sri Lanka, which is apparently a good monastery, but somewhat difficult to live there. Have you considered Australia, New Zealand or the UK?
I don't know if you like the Ajahn Chah monasteries, but maybe this could be useful (Ajahn Chah branch monasteries from around the world). http://forestsangha.org/monasteries/
Very helpful, thanks! Buddhanet has a lot of information, it is taking some work to navigate
So many beautiful wats I would be happy with, the challenge is to find the English speaking wats
To Avoid All Evil,
To Cultivate Only Good,
And To Purify One's Mind
This Is The Teaching Of All The Buddhas!
-Dhammapada 183
333 wrote:Very helpful, thanks! Buddhanet has a lot of information, it is taking some work to navigate
So many beautiful wats I would be happy with, the challenge is to find the English speaking wats
I would aim at learning the language where you intend to ordain. If you are mainly interested in English speaking monasteries, then that would basically come down to Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand, monasteries in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
That is, unless you don't mind learning the Vinaya and listening to Dhamma talks in Sinhalese or Thai, not having a clue what is being said.
I've read on dhammawheel there are many thai wats English speakers can ordain. Wherever I go I will make an effort to learn the language. But I'm not discouraged by this language barrier, I know there are wats that teach in English. http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... 4&start=20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. This thread is very helpful, wat tha ma o is a candidate and wat sri born ruang... I may end up traveling there without knowing which wat I will ordain but bounce around a list of candidates until I find home.
To Avoid All Evil,
To Cultivate Only Good,
And To Purify One's Mind
This Is The Teaching Of All The Buddhas!
-Dhammapada 183
Good luck with your research. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I have been preparing to ordain for more than a year and can probably help you out with some things.