Table of Contents
What is the purpose of being a monk?
A monk may be a person who decides to dedicate his life to serving all other living beings, or to be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live his or her life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many religions and in philosophy.
What is the daily life of a monk?
The typical day of a Buddhist monk, whether young or adult, follows a fixed schedule: wake-up call at 4:30 am (including Saturdays and Sundays); one-hour gathering in the temple to recite mantras; personal hygiene in one of the several fountains scattered around the monastery (there are no showers but they wash …
What does the monk do that monks are not supposed to do?
The Monk is nothing like the usual monk many people imagine. He hunts hares and rides horses instead of studying, praying, and working. He does not follow the rules of the monastery which say that monks should not hunt, be reckless, nor leave the monastery. Instead,they should study and perform manual labor.
Do you have to be a man to be a monk?
Officially, only men can become monks and novices in Thailand under a Buddhist order that since 1928 has forbidden the ordination of women. Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, the 74-year-old abbess of the Songdhammakalyani monastery, flew to Sri Lanka to be ordained in 2001 as Thailand’s first female monk.
Why are monks so peaceful?
Why are they so happy? The answer is, of course, that the monks have worked very hard to become happy, peaceful people. They spend hours a day meditating and quieting the mind, and they also work hard to maintain a philosophy of compassion for all human beings. Humans, like all animals, are essentially selfish beings.
How many times do monks eat a day?
Traditionally, those alms are calorie-rich foods, either processed or homemade – with the Buddhist faithful wanting to offer something of high value and taste. The monks are also forbidden from eating anything after 12 p.m., having only one or two meals a day between the hours of 6 a.m. and noon.
What do monks eat?
Their main foodstuffs included vegetables such as turnips or salad, dark breads, porridges, an occasional fish, cheese curds, beer, ale, or mead. Fish was smoked and meat dried to increase their longevity. As a rule, monks did not eat meat except if they were ill and on special occasions.
What are cloisters used for?
A cloister is an enclosed garden, usually surrounded by covered walkways. Because such spaces are often featured in buildings that house religious orders, cloister can be used to mean “monastery” or “convent.”
What is the monk’s favorite sport?
hunting
The Monk’s favorite past-time is hunting, and to this end he keeps gorgeous (and probably expensive) horses and greyhounds.
What is the meaning of brahmacharya in Buddhism?
Brahmacharya is when a person completely controls his body and mind ( citta) through ascetic means. In the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist monastic traditions, brahmacharya implies, among other things, the mandatory renunciation of sex and marriage. It is considered necessary for a monk’s spiritual practice.
What is the difference between celibacy and Brahmacharya?
Brahmacharya is somewhat different from the English term “celibacy,” which merely means non-indulgence in sexual activity. Brahmacharya is when a person completely controls his body and mind (citta) through ascetic means.
What is brahmacarya in Jainism?
The epic declares that brahmacarya is one of twelve virtues, an essential part of angas in yoga and the path of perfecting perseverance and the pursuit of knowledge. Brahmacarya is one of the five major vows prescribed for the śrāvakā (layman) and ascetics in Jainism.
Does brahmacarya lead to jñana shakti and kriya shakti?
Tattva Vaisharadi and Yoga Sarasangraha assert that brahmacarya leads to an increase in jñana-shakti (power of knowledge) and kriya-shakti (power of action). The great epic Mahabharata describes the objective of brahmacarya as knowledge of Brahman (Book Five, Udyoga Parva, the Book of Effort).