where could i become a monk

[joehaz100]

i would like to becom a buddhist monk but i do not know where in the [san fransico bay area california] i could become a buddhist monk can you guy help me out and tell me some places i can check out and some web sites to help out thanks. bye

[Shaolinlueb]

google it man. find a local temple and take your vows. it requires a lot of dedication.

[norther practitioner]

You posting this on every board?

:o

Find a temple, study, take your vows, but wait 'till you're at least 18 or 20.... Live your life a little.

[GeneChing]

...if you don't even know where to find a temple? It's a big commitment and you want to enter it sight unseen? That's a bit absurd, but I guess we shouldn't question your calling. To me, it's a bit like saying "I want to be a stripper. Tell me some places I can check out..." Actually, stripping is a lesser commitment (you can put your clothes back on faster than you can grow your hair back) but the process of getting started is about the same. If you want to be a monk, start by going to a monastery; if you want to be a stripper, start by going to a strip club.

How do you think monks/strippers got started before the internet? I mean really, if you want to dedicate your life to a monastery, if your are really serious, you'd do your own research.

[Roc Doc]

joe,
you don't need to be a monk to obtain serious relief from the dharma...
you can study and practice as a lay follower.
~doc

[Shaolinlueb]

Originally posted by GeneChing
...if you don't even know where to find a temple? It's a big commitment and you want to enter it sight unseen? That's a bit absurd, but I guess we shouldn't question your calling. To me, it's a bit like saying "I want to be a stripper. Tell me some places I can check out..." Actually, stripping is a lesser commitment (you can put your clothes back on faster than you can grow your hair back) but the process of getting started is about the same. If you want to be a monk, start by going to a monastery; if you want to be a stripper, start by going to a strip club.

How do you think monks/strippers got started before the internet? I mean really, if you want to dedicate your life to a monastery, if your are really serious, you'd do your own research.

i appluad the analogy gene. monks and strippers :D

[rik]

joehaz100,

http://www.hlu.edu

You might want to email
daruil@hlu.edu
r.

[ngokfei]

gene

now that made my day, funny:)

Joe

do your research first.
best to visit, then study as a "layman"
then after some time (at least 3 years) you can seek taking your vows.

Have you even researched the different buddhist sects. I guess if you want to be like Shaolin you should seek a Chan Sect.


When I was in San Fran Last time (94) I visited 2 temples:

Golden wheel??

and the city of 10,000 buddhas???


its a start


Really think about it but then if your ready just jump right in.

good luck

[David Jamieson]

I want to be a rocket pilot, can you guys help me out?

No wait, I changed my mind, I want to be an airplane! NO! wait, I'm seriously considering being a fireman! Do you guys know where I could become a fireman?

Now hold on, I wasn't really serious, I want to be a soldier man! Yeah, no wait, that shiot can get me killed....

HMmmm what do I want to be?

I know, I want to be a porn star! yeah! Can you guys help me out becoming a porn star? I can't wait to get the clap so bad it kills me!

No wait, I want to be.... I want... I

dang!

I'm not realy sure what I want to be. Where was that temple?

:D

[norther practitioner]

I want to be a rocket pilot, can you guys help me out

move out of canada




I want to be an airplane

do more mushrooms.




I want to be a porn star

Sorry man, from what I hear, Canadians just aren't up to the role.

[David Jamieson]

move out of canada

Hmmmph, whatever Np! I can find it myself! (http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/csa_sectors/human_pre/cao/cao.asp)


do more mushrooms.

That can easily be arranged up here... (http://www.magic-mushroom-kit.com/canadian-mushroom-kits.html)




Sorry man, from what I hear, Canadians just aren't up to the role.

No link but a name, Brad Armstrong.

Ha!

3 for 3!

Steeeeerike and the murcan is out! You're going down like Marvin Hagler in a wig on Hugh Grant buddy!.

[Dim Wit Mak]

Now this is going to sound silly, but I'm serious. Why not look into becoming a Catholic monk, and be the new Bodiharma that they will talk about in martial arts circles 1000 years from now. Bring martial arts exercises and discipline into, say, the Carmelite Order. Fighting monks are not unknown in the Catholic Church (The Knights Templar) and you may not even have to slit your eyelids, sit in a cave or fight snakes or anything like that. Just a thought from a divergent thinker.

[blooming lotus]

I don't think it's right to deter the guy..if you're serious about becomming a monk, or buddhism in general, study and research to find out exactly what is you plan to commit yourself to. If you're still interested, there are temples around the US, where you can further your study of both kungfu and buddhism...if you're not happy with that, you can always go to the temple in china....be warned though, these folks have degrees in Buddhism and study as hard as they train....good luck

PS...KL good luck with Airoplane thingie

[David Jamieson]

:D

neoooowwwwwwwwww!

[Phenix]

To be come a buddhist monk is similar to getting married. If you think twice, you might not be able to do it. :D

[David Jamieson]

The catholic church backstabbed the Templars and burned many of them as heretics.

[GeneChing]

...fair enough, BL, but here's my motivation. First of all, none of you, NONE OF YOU, can even begin to imagine how many times I get this question. Secondly, I considered becoming a monk on several occasions. Perhaps I still might, after I retire (either that or I'm going to milk it in the new age...;) ) So I do take this question very seriously, very personally. Third, and most important, this is the martial community, and the zen family at that. If I can't spank a junior with a kyoshaku stick every once in a while in hopes of getting them to wake up, then what's the point? And if he can't take the kyoshaku, maybe he should consider becoming a monk on Everquest.

And the stripper/monk thing was sort of inspired by my disciple bro, russbo. Anyone who knows doc, knows...

[Dim Wit Mak]

Kung Lek: You are absolutely correct about the fate of the Templers. Friday the 13th gets its bad luck rap due to the Owl King of France doing them in. Unfortunately, the history of mankind is filled with treachery and betrayal, and it is not limited to the Catholic Church. I do not choose to let the possibility of treachery guide my life. I keep my eyes and ears open and can act in a treacherous manner myself when necessary. Maybe that is why I like the leopard so much in kung fu. I do not screw with people and only do what is necessary when I am screwed with. I would venture the possiblity of the knife in the back is always present, but a person must prepare for this and forge ahead with their dreams and goals.

I agree with Gene that a person should really research and know what they are getting into before totally committing to something. It is called, "counting the cost" by some people.

[David Jamieson]

Gene, I do believe the old whacking cane was used to answer the question "what is enlightenment"

when the student is in pain, they are truly living in the moment. They are consumed with the pain of being struck, they are alive with the neurons firing, the confusion as to why they were struck etc etc.

And for that moment, before the pain subsides and they fall back into the relentless noise in their mind, they were in a state of enlightenment.

:D

stupid bas.tards lol

much easier to just sit and listen to the bird sing.

[GeneChing]

Come on, we're martial artists allegedly. The old whacking cane is what it's all about. Nothing more enlightening than when someone cracks you on the noggin', especially if they have lesser skills....

[David Jamieson]

What's frightening is that we live in the day and age of the Nuclear Whacking Cane.

What kind of enlightenment comes from having ones soul evaporated i wonder?

hmmmm.

I think overall, skills are balanced. If we focus to much in one area, we become arrested in others, if we try to reach out to too many we attain nothing in any, but if we take the middle path and just live for the sake of breathing air and enjoying life, well, then skills or lack of them is of little concern.

Having said that, I do so enjoy narrowing down my interests as I grow older so that i actually can get good at something. :p

[blooming lotus]

this might sound a little crazy, but the cane excites me!!! lol....I love the idea that if my teacher spots something that he sees need attention, all he needs to do is "stick " me and interupts my nuerological association and I have a negative association and will be less likely to repeat it.....

ok...so I watched the wheel of life the other night,and some funny-monk(?????)..hit me with a pebble in the forehead right before the other monk-dude went on for some iron-body..I still have the lump and the mark..but I was in tears through most of the show!!!..that was the saddest thing I have ever seen in my life..point is that shaolin is close to my heart too and I know through our communications, whether you have admitted it or not, that you have wrestled with this monk concept personally...either way..your heart is right and your "spreading the word" regardless .....the rest is between you and yourself...

but this dude who asked this question is young...and sometimes language doesn'tquite express committment,..... onthe chance he could turn out ( after finding out what he was applying for :D ) to still be dedicated...in the name of everything buddhist..we owe the dude a real answer...

amituofo

[David Jamieson]

fair enough...

go out, do not go in, but be sure to go in so that you can see when you do go out.

if you wish to become a monk, give away everything you have to the person who most needs it. Hold back nothing, give it all away.

say goodbye to your mother and father, your sisters and brothers and all your friends, you will need to leave them behind.

leave your son(s) and your daughter(s), all family must be left behind, they will not be coming with you.

enter the community and seek a master who will show you the master inside you. Learn the law and reform in the community. Take sanctuary in those three things and then destroy them.

Then leave and go out into the world.

Good luck, I hope your journey serves you well.

[blooming lotus]

Originally posted by Kung Lek
What's frightening is that we live in the day and age of the Nuclear Whacking Cane.

What kind of enlightenment comes from having ones soul evaporated i wonder?

hmmmm.
:p

what enlightenment???? the enlightnment of operating without one :rolleyes: ;)

K.....for your advice...shakyamuni buddha or guatama siddharthahimself did the whole leave it all behind trip and went into total aesetic seclusion only to find that in killing himself with his self-denial he was being inconduciver to the good he could do if he stayed alive...how enlightening......

true, you need to be prepared to give up worldly possessions and "normal" acquaintenences etc ( including family who will think you're wacked and take your daughter with crazy allegations of "the hells of China"...but in reality, as soon as let go of these things...it's not so bad...besides, as a monk, you 're shooting for nyorai right??? well the legit ones are, (kungfu aside)...and dude...that's a committment for the long haul...long after your family or your material possessions cease to exist...

comprehende???

Little dude...who asked the question of where and how....check out what you really are subscribing to and if you still want it..you'll find your opportunities and means

cheers :D

[blooming lotus]

Originally posted by Kung Lek
Take sanctuary in those three things and then destroy them.

.

no...detatch from them...there's a difference and because they have become so important the detatchment or enlightenment of not having them becomes that much more valuable

cheers again :D :cool:

[GeneChing]

this might sound a little crazy, but the cane excites me!!! That's just too tempting of an opening, my dear. No wonder monks are throwing pebbles at your forehead. ;)

[David Jamieson]

bl-

:) methinks you are "intellectualizing it a bit too much"

"destroy" is "detach"

soul is the spirit that drove you to seek whether or not you had one.

good and evil do not exist because groups delineate them. the groups exist, the concepts exist, the actuality is illusory.

i think the monk threw the pebble at you because he likes you. :)

cheers

[blooming lotus]

Originally posted by Kung Lek
bl-


soul is the spirit that drove you to seek whether or not you had one.


no...soul is the spirit you drive to develop it


good and evil do not exist because groups delineate them. the groups exist, the concepts exist, the actuality is illusory.


I have no idea what you're sayying Mr. youre over intellectualising

i think the monk threw the pebble at you because he likes you. :)

cheers

LOL...mee too :p :D

[GeneChing]

You're supposed to snatch the pebble out of his hand and here he is just throwing it at you. It's because monks dig chicks who dig whacking sticks.

[MasterKiller]

Originally posted by GeneChing
It's because monks dig chicks who dig whacking sticks. Don't we all?

[blooming lotus]

:o :D :o :cool: