Lay practitioners living together

Balancing family life and the Dhamma, in pursuit of a happy lay life.
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Baranek13
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Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2018 7:24 am
Location: London, UK

Lay practitioners living together

Post by Baranek13 »

Do you know any communities of lay Theravada practitioners leaving together in UK or other countries? I heard about groups from Triratna Buddhist Community or other religious groups but not Theravada's.

My plan/dream is to live in the forest, close to nature in the peaceful and supportive community. I am thinking about cheap, simple but comfortable accommodation (forest cabin?) combining pro-practice environment with lay modern necessities like having a job or having access to internet for example. The community criteria could be five precepts maybe? Being unable to ordain and leave my family I am thinking about a compromise: to allow me to stay with my wife but to be with my Sangha the same time. Being able to travel reasonable time to work and having a monastery nearby would be perfect.

These are just ideas but I wonder if more people are interested in such endeavor? Maybe you know about existing communities?
“You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth - inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.”
― Ajahn Chah
befriend
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Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by befriend »

http://morningsuncommunity.org/members-and-residents/ Thich nhat hanh is actually a mixture of zen and theravadan because Vietnam is where he's from and in that country the Buddhism is a mixture of those two traditions atleast that's what I've heard.
Take care of mindfulness and mindfulness will take care of you.
paul
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Location: Cambodia

Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by paul »

Eco pods are a burgeoning phenomenon:
https://www.ecocapsule.sk/
https://www.dwell.com/article/7-compani ... d-33c7796c

By the way Vietnam is a socialist country and any semblance of western Theravada is an underground movement. The Theravada that is allowed to exist in the southern delta region is purely for ritual support of the Khmer community there. The government policy towards all Buddhism is that its function is to support the community, almost like tourist facilities for the ninety million population.
dharmacorps
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Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by dharmacorps »

Sounds like an interesting idea. It isn't forest- oriented but there is a Insight Meditation center here in the Bay Area trying to establish a retirement community which is meditation/Buddhist focused. Not theravadan really, but the idea is interesting. I think I would sooner want to live with my wife in a quiet place conducive to practice without the "other" people :anjali:
Baranek13
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Location: London, UK

Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by Baranek13 »

befriend wrote: Wed Jan 02, 2019 9:21 pm http://morningsuncommunity.org/members-and-residents/ Thich nhat hanh is actually a mixture of zen and theravadan because Vietnam is where he's from and in that country the Buddhism is a mixture of those two traditions atleast that's what I've heard.
Thank you Befriend. The idea is not excluded to Theravada tradition and more about connection to Nature and living Brahmaviharas. It is not call to move now also:) Just checking if there are people feeling similar about it:)
Also I am not sure if I would like to live in the retreat center or any ,,guru'' orientated community. More like bunch of good people living their lay life in the forest as neighbors :console:
Much metta
“You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth - inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.”
― Ajahn Chah
Baranek13
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Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2018 7:24 am
Location: London, UK

Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by Baranek13 »

paul wrote: Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:03 pm Eco pods are a burgeoning phenomenon:
https://www.ecocapsule.sk/
https://www.dwell.com/article/7-compani ... d-33c7796c

Thank you Paul. Looks interesting (apart from the price) but I am more into more traditional cabins:)
https://blog.secretescapes.com/2018/07/ ... uk-cabins/
“You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth - inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.”
― Ajahn Chah
Baranek13
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2018 7:24 am
Location: London, UK

Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by Baranek13 »

dharmacorps wrote: Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:17 pm Sounds like an interesting idea. It isn't forest- oriented but there is a Insight Meditation center here in the Bay Area trying to establish a retirement community which is meditation/Buddhist focused. Not theravadan really, but the idea is interesting. I think I would sooner want to live with my wife in a quiet place conducive to practice without the "other" people :anjali:
Thank you Dharmacorps. Sounds interesting.
I am looking for a difficult compromise between seclusion (for me) and ,,normal'' lay life (for my wife) :juggling:
“You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth - inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.”
― Ajahn Chah
befriend
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Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by befriend »

I've thought of moving close by to a monastery where I could be around and learn and help out the monks that may be an alternative option.
Take care of mindfulness and mindfulness will take care of you.
paul
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Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by paul »

I have lived in a cabin in a wilderness area in an earlier stage of life and the practitioner should be aware that their kamma results from former lives determine the conditions in this life, and that cannot be escaped by moving into a different environment. Whatever hindrances they are subject to will still resurface in a wilderness setting, and critical situations are more likely to emerge there, but admittedly a peaceful environment is a necessity for successful Theravada practice. My eventual solution has been to opt for rural towns where a wilderness area can be accessed for part of the day.

"— not attending to the perception of village, not attending to the perception of human being — attends to the singleness based on the perception of wilderness. His mind takes pleasure, finds satisfaction, settles, & indulges in its perception of wilderness.

"He discerns that 'Whatever disturbances that would exist based on the perception of village are not present. Whatever disturbances that would exist based on the perception of human being are not present."---MN 121
Last edited by paul on Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:27 pm, edited 3 times in total.
SarathW
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Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by SarathW »

My previous post about the Amish lifestyle.
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=19472&p=272866&hilit=
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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JamesTheGiant
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Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by JamesTheGiant »

Baranek13 wrote: Wed Jan 02, 2019 3:20 pm ... I wonder if more people are interested in such endeavor? Maybe you know about existing communities?
It's an excellent idea. The only difficult thing is it requires a LOT of money.
I've lived in two different communal communities, and the startup costs were huge. Once the land is purchased it's good, as long as the energy is there, and as long as the original vision isn't lost.
Baranek13
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Location: London, UK

Re: Lay practitioners living together

Post by Baranek13 »

paul wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 8:05 pm My eventual solution has been to opt for rural towns where a wilderness area can be accessed for part of the day.
That sounds reasonable:)
JamesTheGiant wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 10:21 pm It's an excellent idea. The only difficult thing is it requires a LOT of money.
I've lived in two different communal communities, and the startup costs were huge. Once the land is purchased it's good, as long as the energy is there, and as long as the original vision isn't lost.
Unfortunately you are right. Fortunately I have found many possible ways to do it in the future:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q= ... SEARCH_BOX

https://www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/n ... ers-needed 1

Of course is not everybody’s cup of tea but I am more hippy type:)
“You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth - inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.”
― Ajahn Chah
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