Ordination despite of child

[bodom]

Hi everybody,

would it be possible to ordain as a monk if one has a little child to leave or would he be required to fulfill his duty as a responsible father and give up his dream of ordination??

Thanks for your opinions..

How regularly are you keeping the eight precepts? I recommend seeing how well you are able to maintain these eight precepts daily for a year or so before seriously considering ordaining.

[Nehemia83]

Well the situation is that i am not married to my partner (actually never considered married life fitting for me) and i have a lovely little daughter (three years of age). I would never just pack my stuff and leave her, although the child wasn´t really planned she´s the queen of my heart. But on the other hand i have recognized that this "normal" life isn´t and probably will never really work for me. I am more of a spiritual person and i am on a search for meaning and happiness since i am 14 (now 29). I am a regular meditator also..

I know that becoming a monk would be the right thing for me but on the other hand leaving my daughter behind isn´t an option at all!

So you see this creates suffering..

But i have the responsibility as a father to be there for my child at least until she reaches a age where she probably can continue her walk of life without her father right by her side..

I guess i have to practice patience and wait..

[Ben]

I guess i have to practice patience and wait..

A very good idea. And don't forget engage in bhavana day-in-day-out.
kind regards,

Ben

[manas]

Well the situation is that i am not married to my partner (actually never considered married life fitting for me) and i have a lovely little daughter (three years of age). I would never just pack my stuff and leave her, although the child wasn´t really planned she´s the queen of my heart. But on the other hand i have recognized that this "normal" life isn´t and probably will never really work for me. I am more of a spiritual person and i am on a search for meaning and happiness since i am 14 (now 29). I am a regular meditator also..

I know that becoming a monk would be the right thing for me but on the other hand leaving my daughter behind isn´t an option at all!

So you see this creates suffering..

But i have the responsibility as a father to be there for my child at least until she reaches a age where she probably can continue her walk of life without her father right by her side..

I guess i have to practice patience and wait..

'Not planned' huh...well I can relate to that, too I just spent a wonderful day with my youngest daughter, believe me the love you feel does not just grow, it also becomes refined. You eventually learn what love is really about. You realize that, "Wow, so this love I feel for my child - warm, tender, protective - is how the Buddha advises us to feel (ultimately) towards all beings in the Universe?" It's not a bad journey to take, my friend. I apologize if my earlier posts sounded judgemental in any way. May you, and your dear one(s) be well, and grow in the Dhamma.