Can monks ever eat what they want?

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
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Virgo
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Re: Can monks ever eat what they want?

Post by Virgo »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 5:35 am How do western monks cope with this massive change in lifestyle? Can they ever eat what they want .. suppose they have terrible craving for chocolate ice cream one day .. or even plain lasagna .. how do they cope ..
Their mind should be in the right place, in so far as they realise that craving for such things is really the enemy to developing renunciation, concentration, and wisdom. They should reflect on the drawbacks (of samsara and of sense pleasures), and other than that, when the craving is strong, they just have to "suck it up and move on". Things are not always easy. Tge craving itself is the problem, not that fact that they cannot eat what they like.

Kevin
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Re: Can monks ever eat what they want?

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Virgo wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:30 pm
No_Mind wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 5:35 am How do western monks cope with this massive change in lifestyle? Can they ever eat what they want .. suppose they have terrible craving for chocolate ice cream one day .. or even plain lasagna .. how do they cope ..
Their mind should be in the right place, in so far as they realise that craving for such things is really the enemy to developing renunciation, concentration, and wisdom. They should reflect on the drawbacks (of samsara and of sense pleasures), and other than that, when the craving is strong, they just have to "suck it up and move on". Things are not always easy. Tge craving itself is the problem, not that fact that they cannot eat what they like.

Kevin
How can they eat what they like? I thought they cannot buy food. Can they (in Thailand)?

:namaste:
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
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Re: Can monks ever eat what they want?

Post by befriend »

For monks food is not meant for pleasure or beautification but for the development of the holy life. Why be a monk if you are still chasing after certain delicious foods.
Take care of mindfulness and mindfulness will take care of you.
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Virgo
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Re: Can monks ever eat what they want?

Post by Virgo »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:06 pm
How can they eat what they like? I thought they cannot buy food. Can they (in Thailand)?

:namaste:
No, they take a vow not to use money, and also they cannot store up food, or prepare it for themselves. The food has to be donated. In some instances, however, they have a lot available at a given meal and can then pick and choose what they would like best from what has been offered. In that case, they may pick based on their personal biases. That is allowable, but they really should not eat for taste. The purpose of taking food is to sustain the body so that one can practice.

All the best,
Kevin
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