Preparing to stay at a Monastery, to experience the lifestyle for a while :)

[Idappaccayata]

I believe birken is looking for a long term resident to help in the kitchen.

Birken often has trouble attracting laypeople. It's known for it.

should i take that as a warning? why would that be, may I ask?

I'm guessing James will have a more accurate answer, but I'm guessing it's mostly due to the location, in Canada. The winters are long and harsh, and the monastery is secluded. The Abbott, ajahn Sona, has many talks on YouTube you can check out.

[manas]

Birken often has trouble attracting laypeople. It's known for it.

should i take that as a warning? why would that be, may I ask?

I'm guessing James will have a more accurate answer, but I'm guessing it's mostly due to the location, in Canada. The winters are long and harsh, and the monastery is secluded. The Abbott, ajahn Sona, has many talks on YouTube you can check out.

Both Canada and the U.S. are too far away , and my kidneys can't tolerate the cold. A warm climate would help them heal, actually. I need the sun and warmth at this time. But thanks for the heads-up on that.

[Idappaccayata]

No problem. If that's the case I would highly recommend wat metta. I've stayed there before and it sounds like it would be the perfect mix for what you're looking for.

[manas]

No problem. If that's the case I would highly recommend wat metta. I've stayed there before and it sounds like it would be the perfect mix for what you're looking for.

Since it's a cold Melbourne winter here at the moment, I'm assuming the weather would be heading into Summer at Wat Metta right now, yes? How cold do the Winters get over there , just out of interest? thank you

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Manas,

Excellent news.

If there's any way I can be of assistance in this process, don't hesitate to ask.



Metta,
Paul.

[Idappaccayata]

No problem. If that's the case I would highly recommend wat metta. I've stayed there before and it sounds like it would be the perfect mix for what you're looking for.

Since it's a cold Melbourne winter here at the moment, I'm assuming the weather would be heading into Summer at Wat Metta right now, yes? How cold do the Winters get over there , just out of interest? thank you

I went in the middle of winter last year. It rained and was about 55 degrees fahrenheit, and everyone was saying it's the coldest they've ever seen their.

Back home for me was -5 and ten inches of snow, so I thought it was hilarious that everyone was cold.

I would guess the temperature ranges from around 50 - 110 throughout the year. So generally very hot.

[DooDoot]

However, surely I should go somewhere where English will be understood, right?

I trust where you go will have English speakers.

[manas]

Greetings Manas,

Excellent news.

If there's any way I can be of assistance in this process, don't hesitate to ask.



Metta,
Paul.

Thanks Paul, because with so many options, i feel a bit out of my depth here, in making a decision. Even if we could just meet in person some time to discuss it, that would be of great assistance. I suddenly wonder if, despite a gradual and incremental improvement in both practice, understanding and conviction over almost 25 years, now, that at 50 years of age, I would not be accepted long-term. I heard recently, that in some places, there's a policy to not accept anyone over 40; too hard to change, apparently. Also, what monastery would accept a man who, due to a tiny hernia in my navel, cannot heavy-lift? I can of course sweep, clean, cook and I'm good at making medicinal drinks should anyone have a cold, but I would not be of much use with building projects. I recall reading once, that an aspirant should be 'fit enough to undertake the duties of a monk'.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Manas,

If you're able to get yourself over to my end of town, I'd be more than happy to!

I can also share with you my (now aborted) plans to follow such a path myself, and what I learned along the way.

Metta,
Paul.

[SarathW]

Greetings Manas,

If you're able to get yourself over to my end of town, I'd be more than happy to!

I can also share with you my (now aborted) plans to follow such a path myself, and what I learned along the way.

Metta,
Paul.

It is great if you can share your experience here. That may help many.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Sarath,

It is great if you can share your experience here. That may help many.

I won't go into it in great detail, but when I divorced in 2012, I intended to ordain in the same city, so that my son (then 8 years old) would still be able to see me on occasion, if he chose to do so. After some time it became apparent to me that I felt too much responsibility towards him to go down that path, so I decided instead to buy a unit and continue working, but with the view of undertaking a minimalist lifestyle, and hopefully having paid off the unit in order to gift it to him, by the time he became an adult in 9 or 10 years time, at which time I would finally ordain. Then, on my travels through life, I started Bikram Yoga, met my wife at the yoga studio, now have two more sons (Owen, 3 & Patrick, 1), and plans of ordination are totally out the window. Interestingly though, I'm at peace with this outcome in a way that I wasn't during my first marriage. I think I've learned how to find the right balance, navigating past situations faced in 2010 and 2016.

Metta,
Paul.

[manas]

No problem. If that's the case I would highly recommend wat metta. I've stayed there before and it sounds like it would be the perfect mix for what you're looking for.

Since it's a cold Melbourne winter here at the moment, I'm assuming the weather would be heading into Summer at Wat Metta right now, yes? How cold do the Winters get over there , just out of interest? thank you

I went in the middle of winter last year. It rained and was about 55 degrees fahrenheit, and everyone was saying it's the coldest they've ever seen their.

Back home for me was -5 and ten inches of snow, so I thought it was hilarious that everyone was cold.

I would guess the temperature ranges from around 50 - 110 throughout the year. So generally very hot.

Thank you

[manas]

I've done a bit of research...

I have a kidney condition, 'low kidney function', due to high blood pressure, or so the specialist believes. I just looked up 'malaria in Malaysia' and not only do they have it, there are a few other tropical illnesses for which either vaccination or medication could be required, either of which could harm my already compromised kidneys. So it's best if I travel to a country without diseases such as Malaria, Yellow Fever, Typhus etc. Even if I didn't get the actual illnesses, the drugs alone could do moderate (or in some cases, great) harm to my kidneys, which is not a good idea. So sadly, Vihara Buddha Gotama in Malaysia, much as I respect Luangpor Dhammavuddho, is not a viable option at this time, or in the future, unless my kidneys heal back to high functioning again. Got to accept reality on this.

Perhaps it would be best to choose from somewhere in Australia, New Zealand or the United States after all, or any other country where I would not need to have a lot (or any ) vaccinations, or take any anti-malarial drugs, so I don't risk the health of my kidneys, or even 'renal failure' which some drugs can bring about.

[manas]

However, surely I should go somewhere where English will be understood, right?

I trust where you go will have English speakers.

Well, since anywhere Malaria-prone is out of the question due to the risk any tablets or vaccinations could prove to my health, (so, no Thailand or Malaysia, unfortunately), that's a certainty now. I was quite willing to travel to an Asian / Sth East Asian land, but for the sake of my health and possibly even survival, I'd probably best stick with either Australia, New Zealand or the U.S / Canada (unless you have any other suggestions, of places where I would not need to have vaccinations or drugs which in themselves, could harm my kidneys quite badly).

[JamesTheGiant]

Limiting to Aus, NZ, North America, at the top of my list I'd consider: (and in no particular order)

• Newbury, VIC. (Ajahn Brahm affiliated)
  
  East Warburton, VIC. (Ajahn Anan branch monastery).
  
  Bodhinyanarama, Wellington, NZ. (Wat Pah Pong branch monastery).
  
  Wat Buddha Dhamma, North of Sydney (Ajahn Dtun branch monastery)
  
  Bodhinyana, Perth, (Ajahn Brahm, but years-long waiting list).
  
  Tisarana, Ontario, Canada. (Wat Pah Pong branch monastery).

There are so many more but those are the ones I'd consider staying at. On that list there are 4 in Australia, so you could line up a one month stay at each, and spend a good 4 months as a start.