How and where to ordain?

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
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Dhammarakkhito
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How and where to ordain?

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

My friend "Jeremy" (his name on this forum) is considering ordaining but doesn't know where, how, etc. Is there some comprehensive guide to this process?

For the record, I am also curious, but I am not ready now. Or if I am, then I have doubts about it. Do all would-be monks begin as anagārikas?
I expressed my opinion that the USA is not a good place to ordain, because selfishness is ingrained in the culture, and it is thus harder to get almsfood. I figure Southeast Asia would be ideal.
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: How and where to ordain?

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

If Bhikkhu Dhammanando has time I'd surely appreciate his input.
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5

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Dhammanando
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Re: How and where to ordain?

Post by Dhammanando »

Sovatthika wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 8:35 am My friend "Jeremy" (his name on this forum) is considering ordaining but doesn't know where, how, etc. Is there some comprehensive guide to this process?
I know that some Western bhikkhus have published guides to those monasteries in Asia that welcome (or at least accept) Westerners. You might be able to find them with Google, though bear in mind that some of them will be years out of date and all of them will be limited to what each author happens to be personally familiar with or happens to have heard about.
Sovatthika wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 8:35 amDo all would-be monks begin as anagārikas?
Each Theravadin sub-tradition has its own procedure for inducting men into the monkhood. Spending a year or two as an 8-precept anagarika is the normal way in monasteries of the Ajahn Chah tradition, but is not a universal practice. In some monasteries one would first live as a layman for a time; in some one would start as a 10-precept samanera; in some one would be given bhikkhu ordination immediately.
Sovatthika wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 8:35 amI expressed my opinion that the USA is not a good place to ordain, because selfishness is ingrained in the culture, and it is thus harder to get almsfood.
Though there are a number of drawbacks to ordaining in the West, getting fed isn't usually one of them. The main problem in my view is that of over-exposure: as a bhikkhu in the West you're in effect something of a public figure right from day one, and at a stage in your training when you should really be as anonymous, withdrawn and low-key as possible.
Yena yena hi maññanti,
tato taṃ hoti aññathā.


In whatever way they conceive it,
It turns out otherwise.
(Sn. 588)
charitha
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Re: How and where to ordain?

Post by charitha »

Dhammanando wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 10:01 am in some one would start as a 10-precept samanera; in some one would be given bhikkhu ordination immediately.
Dear dhammanando thera, can you please tell me places like this in thailand or sri lanka. I'm serching place to ordain and study thripitaka and do meditation.
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