I'm leaving forever.

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Solver
April's Fools or not, Blake, I have to say your transformation from the ultimate SMAC nerd into a devoted Buddhist is quite... impressive and surprising!

In case this is serious, good luck

[Blake]

This thread is not a joke, but there is of course a reason why I made it on April's 1st. It's kind of a retro-joke.

The full title should be:
I'm leaving forever, in about six months time.

I still have some worldly obligations to complete before I can enter the buddhist monastic life.

So I'll be around for a while longer to bug ya all with my Buddhist prattle, sorry to (mostly) dash Asher's hopes .

[Kidlicious]

Good. We can still save you from that dangerous cult.

[Asher]

/me starts a petition to ban Blake for six months.

[Riesstiu IV]

So that means officially, I had the first April Fool's thread. Take that!

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by Blake
This thread is not a joke, but there is of course a reason why I made it on April's 1st. It's kind of a retro-joke.

The full title should be:
I'm leaving forever, in about six months time.

I still have some worldly obligations to complete before I can enter the buddhist monastic life.

So I'll be around for a while longer to bug ya all with my Buddhist prattle, sorry to (mostly) dash Asher's hopes .

And yet it remains that your comment about monks not really using computers is STILL patently false.

[Blake]

Responses to ill and well wishers!

Originally posted by Dracon II
Given that you have a life membership with Apolyton Plus... I'd say you cannot leave... Markos and DanQ will turn up at the monastery with a ventilated sack and some chloroform.

"one of us... one of us..."

Hmmm. Well I didn't actually PAY for Poly+, DanQ kind of just gave it to me for being awesome, and out of the goodness of his heart. I didn't read any small print, but then again, I didn't sign anything either, so I think I'm safe .

Originally posted by unscratchedfoot During your training as a monk, remember that pain is your friend, though this is hard to remember when they are training you to retract your testicles while they kick you relentlessly in the groin (yes they do this).

I will be ordaining in the Thai Forest Tradition (Forest Sangha), not the Zen Order. It is the Zen Order which does things like kicking people in the nuts.
Actually I don't think that's true, but it's fun to blame Zen Buddhism for all the funny misconceptions, like Buddhism is about kicking people in the nuts, rather than Buddhism is about not kicking people in the nuts.
Zen Masters have some very funny ideas!

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
This is patently false.

http://www.buddhanet.net/mag_surf.htm

Individual monks may do whatever they want, they can even start a new Monastery with new rules, if they wish.

But as a rule, the Forest Sangha monks do not use computers much. They do a little, but I'm right in saying they "Don't really use computers". They might use a computer if thay are kind of forced to, some monasteries let people e-mail the monastery for information, so a Monk may be expected to do his part in the interaction.

In any case, individual monks may do whatever they want, and I WANT to be free of this wretched Internet, mostly free anyway, I'll only use it as obligated to.

Originally posted by Solver
April's Fools or not, Blake, I have to say your transformation from the ultimate SMAC nerd into a devoted Buddhist is quite... impressive and surprising!

In case this is serious, good luck

Thanks!

Originally posted by Kidicious
Contradiction is not a problem in eastern religion and philosophy.

This is true, or as I like to say "I'm a Buddhist! I don't need no stinking logic!".

But in Buddhism, the idea of "Both right" or "both wrong" is quite valid. The classic story for this, is two monks having an argument about whether someone needs to believe in rebirth to be a real buddhist. The argument gets heated and they decide to go to the Abbot to settle it.
The first Monk gives his argument for why someone NEEDS to believe in rebirth to be a real buddhist! Saying that rebirth is a central part of the Buddha's teachings, it's a huge part of Kamma, Kamma doesn't even make sense without rebirth! Kamma is very central to buddhism, so someone surely can't be a real buddhist without believing in rebirth!
The Abbot nods his head and says "Oh, you're right".

The other monk then protests and launches into his argument. He says that the Buddha made it perfectly clear, that people must only believe what they experience as being true, so that until someone encounters satisfactory proof of rebirth, they should not, indeed must not, believe in it. Just because the Buddha said it's true, is not good enough - because the Buddha made it clear that his disciples must not take what he says in blind faith, so someone can be a disciple of the Buddha, without believing in rebirth.
The abbot nods his head and says "Oh, you're right".

"WHAT?" exclaim both monks. We can't both be right!!!
The abbot nods his head and says "Oh, you're right".

The rightness here, is having a logical argument to prove something. Both monks are right, they both have a logical argument that makes sense to them and arrives at a conclusion.

They are both right in their arguments, the logic does reach their conclusion.

But the reality is, there is no absolute definition of a Buddhist, just some things a lot of buddhists would agree on. There's no god almighty to define perfectly what a Buddhist is. The Buddha didn't define what a Buddhist must be. That is where the monks are both wrong, it's up to individuals to decide whether they want to call themselves a Buddhist or not.

The moral of the story perhaps is, it can be foolish to look for absolute right, all right is relative to something...

Another good example, is Ajahn Brahm's advice on what to do when someone comes up to you, and argues for why you should accept their belief system, they give a nice logical (for them!) argument for why you should believe in Jesus to avoid damnation in hell or whatever.
Ajahn Brahm says: Agree with them and convert! They go away happy!
Then once they're gone, convert right back (to Buddhism or Atheism or whatever)!
After a while they'll figure out that they can't keep you converted and stop trying!

And you do this, because it's so much easier, more peaceful, more enjoyable, just more fun! To get along, than to be right... It's better to have fun than to be right! .

[Asher]

Leave already!

[DaShi]

Well, my respect for you have improved considerably Blake. It's rare to see someone truly take action on what they are passionate about (though not so rare to hear them talk on and on about it ).

[Darius871]

So how do you expect to feed yourself and whatnot?

[Spec]

Originally posted by Darius871
So how do you expect to feed yourself and whatnot?

Pee can sustain life for 5 days or so.

SPec.

[Blake]

Originally posted by Darius871
So how do you expect to feed yourself and whatnot?

The Buddha actually set up a system for the contingency of getting hungry. It was thoughtful of him.

Buddhist Monks survive on "almsfood", food which is offered by lay people to the monks. Monks are only allowed to eat what is offered, that's an important aspect of Buddhism, the monks must survive on compassion from others alone - if they are not doing anything useful for the community, if they aren't DESERVING of receiving food, then they ought to disrobe or starve.

In reality, people tend to be very, very generous to buddhist monks and monasteries. I've visited the Bodhinyanarama monastery in New Zealand, and they eat like kings. Albeit, they put all the food in a single bowl and don't get knives and forks or eat after noon, but the food is very good and plenty of it is offered. Incidentally, staying at a monastery as a guest is free, and that fee includes meals - the guests eat the offered food also. A monastery essentially operates on reciprocal generosity - there are no expectations except that both parties will use what is offered as wisely as they can.

It's quite easy to be generous to a Buddhist Monk, because he has and wants for very little. 3 robes, a bowl, sandals, some shaving gear, that kind of thing. So basically, their ongoing needs are food. Monks don't cost much to keep, they are less expensive than children and perhaps even pets - especially since multiple people tend to share a monk. Furthermore monks wont follow you home after you're tired of them, which is nice, so there is merit to using monks as a source of spiritual comfort. Many Many people enjoy having monks in their life a lot.

Actually, part of the reason why the New Zealand monks are so well looked after, is that there are LOTS of Buddhist Lay People immigrants, but very, very few monks. So the monks inevitably get spoiled.
The people who look after the Bodhinyanarama monks, are mainly immigrants from Japan, Thailand and Lao and stuff, although westerner support is gradually growing too.

[Blake]

Originally posted by DaShi
Well, my respect for you have improved considerably Blake. It's rare to see someone truly take action on what they are passionate about (though not so rare to hear them talk on and on about it ).

I actually committed myself to becoming a Monk, at about Christmas time. I've just been delaying announcing it until I felt like it. April 1st seemed like a good as time as any.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Blake
if they are not doing anything useful for the community...

That invites the question then, what in particular would you do for the community in a given day? Aside from upkeep of the monastery?

I'd like to think with just 3-4 hours of menial labor daily (fake purses or whathaveyou) you guys could make enough money for basic necessities without needing to mooch off the guilt of others.

Originally posted by Blake
if they aren't DESERVING of receiving food, then they ought to disrobe or starve.

Aren't you the same person who in the other thread constantly eschewed any concept of just desert?

[Wiglaf]

Fanatics http://www.vietnampix.com/bilder/fire5e2.jpg

I think committing yourself to vegetarianism or Buddhism or whatever is nice but it's important to be productive in life, not just to be content with sitting around bumming for food and rides all the time.