Expert: Bodhicitta - 5/6/2005

Question
As a relpy to your question. I am 14 years old and i live in Australia
Queensland.

I have a very spiritual back ground .

I have been interested in Buddhism for many years. Though never got
into it. I have stared to go to cerimonies read books exetra.... I have an
understanding of the concepts used in Buddhism.
At present i am reading 'the tibetan book of living and dying' and that
is giving me even more
help to biscover what buddhism is about.

i feel i have come to a point in my spiritual development where i must
become a tibetan monk
and have very strick rules while following budda's teachings.

It was like waking up and noing what i had to do.
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I am very interested in becoming a tibetan monk. i would like to
know what is the prosess. What is involed and who do i contact
exetra... What are the requirements for being a monk.
This is the path i am ment to take.
Answer -
Hi Matt
Thank you for your question.

Why would you become a monk?

Write back and tell me more please. How old are you,
where you live. How much contact you have had with Buddhism
and what is driving you to be a Monk?

Bodhicitta

Answer
hi matt
im pleased that you are interested in Buddhism. I started to
get seriously interested at 14 too!

one thing you should realise is that there are many styles
of being a buddhist. a monk is just one style. in buddhist
countries there are monasteries containing many monks
who live by very strict rules. it is a life style choice.

other life styles are to live and work in the world and be
buddhist, or to be a yogin. Yogins usually have very
special teachers and learn the inner teachings and
practice alot. they are the great practioners in the
tibetan tradition. the teacher of the author of the book
your reading was a great tibetan yogin.

yogins are usually married. monks are celebate.

western people having their first contact with buddhism
see photos of colourful monks dressed in brightly coloured
robes and are attracted. actually some teachers in tibet
who are yogins wear robes too when they teach but arent
monks.

so you see saying "i will become a monk" means first
understanding the different types of lifestyle in buddhism
and what would be best. I would recommend a book to you
called Indestructible Truth by Reginald Ray that does
go in to all this.

I would recommend strongly that you dont become a monk.
I would recommend that you learn the basics of buddhism
and in particular meditation. meditation is the core of
buddhism , without meditation you are not able to
understand anything.

to learn meditation you must find a qualified teacher
who you can meet and learn the technique. also some one
you can go back to from time to time. look around a bit
and compare the different styles of buddhism , maybe visit
a few different teachers. trust your inner feelings.
there are many teachers and many styles of buddhism.

realise that buddhism is a search for truth over your whole lifetime and many lifetimes. be very patient.
make the wish in your heart that one day you will
find the perfect teacher. until then you will find many
imperfect teachers with fragments of what will lead
you to truth.this is all the manifestation of the Buddha
in this imperfect confused world.


i dont know australia - i am in england. i do know a teacher in Fremantle - but that is probably many miles from you?

I wish you well with your search Matt - I have sent
you my heartfelt advice wishing you a swift passage to
truth. Please do correspond with me anytime.

Best wishes in the dharma
Bodhicitta