Applicants must have at least a high school diploma, be reasonably healthy and pass a physical exam. I want to learn how to meditate, how do I do it? A person takes to this life solely for realization of God, renouncing all worldly bondages like the home, parents, name-fame etc. You may try writing letters or emails to Buddhist teachers in your area and opening a correspondence. Other religions, such as Islam and Judaism, don't have monastic traditions per se, though some choose to follow traditions that are monastic in nature. References Rasanath Das, a former New York investment banker who gave it all up to become a Hindu monk, was recently spending his Sunday afternoons leading Occupy Wall Street protesters in meditation until police cleared their camp at Zuccotti Park this week. "I was searching for Sangha Buddhism and ways to attain freedom from earthly pleasures, and I found it right in, "I got all the information I needed. In his first book, Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day, out this week, Shetty draws on his experience as a monk in a Hindu … Anyone who practices a scientific technique of God-contact is a yogi; he may be either married or unmarried, either a worldly man or one of formal religious ties. The main idea is to sit still and withdraw into your mind, focusing on nothing, allowing thoughts to pass through you and away. Is there an age after which a person can't become a monk? ", "As part of a project, the article was indeed very helpful and informative. You’ll live in a monastery or at least among your peers, THEY’ll be your family. Monks in contemplative orders spend most of their time inside the walls of the monastery praying, while those in active orders leave the monastery to serve others. For specific tips on joining different monastic traditions, read on! Strive to embody your faith in every aspect of your life. Contact your local Christian monastery to find out about how to become a monk. Monasticism (from Ancient Greek μοναχός, monakhos, from μόνος, monos, 'alone'), or monkhood, is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. All material goods, as well as live a life of celibacy. One can be of any race, country, socio-economic background, gender, etc. In a village, a person declared that he will become a saint after six months. He now lives in Manhattan with his wife and is currently a speaker. Just remember that the Golden Rule in Christianity is the same as in Buddhism. He has a degree in electrical engineering but left everything behind to become a Hindu monk for 10 years. Moreover, the time after 1 or 2 years ? Young, single men under 24 years of age (under 23 if outside USA) who are interested in traditional Hindu monastic life can explore our How to Become a Monk page. Dave welcomes Dandapani to the podcast. Here is the story of becoming a monk. But a little advice from former Hindu monk Jay Shetty won’t hurt. To become a monk at Downside you need to be a confirmed and practising Catholic, a man over the age of 18, in good mental and physical health, if possible involved in the life of your parish or something similar, unmarried, with no dependents. Dandapani is a Hindu priest, entrepreneur and a former monk of 10 years. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. This requires the presence of at least ten bhikkhus of pure sīla (five are enough if this takes outside the Majjhima region), and with at least ten years of seniority. The book How To Become a Hindu was published in 2000, so it has a lot of relevance for us today. By using our site, you agree to our. (3) You will be required to participate in the Ashram Living Experience program for at least one month. A swami, formally a monk by virtue of his connection with the ancient order, is not always a yogi. ", "The pictures and the simple words were most helpful. Last Updated: November 5, 2020 Monastic orders are typically started by important religious figures who devote themselves to maintaining the traditions and working on the causes established by the founder. The vocation to be a monk requires a wholehearted commitment. Depending on the order, there may be more than one level of novicehood. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. In order to begin the process of entering the monastic life, you must first be familiar with our practice, and you should have received the Precepts (usually at the Ten Precepts Retreat) and thereby become a lay Buddhist. How to convert? For specific tips on joining different monastic traditions, read on! Will I ever be able to see my family again? The procedure of integration in the saṃgha basically consists on a few questions. Six months of celibacy and abstinence from alcohol and illegal drugs are required before joining, and applicants should be free of any debts. First judge wether the urge to be a sanyasi is a genuine urge, or it is some sort of escapism.If it is escapism, then U are knocking at the wrong dorr. If you are returning to school for a religious education, that may cost tuition. Religions having monastic traditions include Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant), Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana), Hinduism (Brahman, Shaivite, and Vaishnavite), Jainism and Taoism. Research into local monasteries which would best suit you and your needs. 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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Dandapani is Sri Lankan and he grew up in Australia. Becoming a sadhu is a path followed by millions. Being a monk means living in spiritual, physical, and philosophical devotion to your faith. All postulants and priests of the Order are celibate. Becoming a monk involves study, devotion, and years of training and transitioning. Begin your journey to monkhood by making a deep commitment to your spiritual path today. In this case, 83% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. At that time, requirements for becoming a nun, or bhikkhuni, were the same as those for becoming a monk, or bhikkhu: simply dedicating oneself to the Buddhist path and taking vows in the five precepts of not to kill, steal, lie, consume intoxicants or participate in sexual misconduct. Similarly, to be a Hindu monk, one would have to go to a temple regularly, associate with other devotees, learn to do puja and meditation in order to raise his level of consciousness and then look for ways to become a monk. To become a Buddhist monk, you'll need to be familiar with Buddhist teachings, so try reading books on Buddhism or learning about it online. Listen to this episode from EO 360° on Spotify. Some active orders assign monks to work far from a monastery. How to Become a Nun or Monk at Siddhayatan (1) First complete the inquiry form below. How to Become a Monk or Nun. Who can I talk to about becoming a Christian monk and get all the information I need? I've never heard of a monastic community with an upper age limit. Not that I know of. The 32-year-old monk isn’t sure now where his next session will be. You don’t have to become a monk to achieve inner peace. But each must assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve his individuality and grow according to his own law of growth." You will officially renounce having a family. He now lives in Manhattan with his wife and is currently a speaker. One does not have to be "born" into Buddhism, nor do one's parents have to be Buddhists. ", "Thank you for great help to me in seeking the required path. Consult a monk or a nun about his or her life to learn more about monastic life and living in the community. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Does it cost me anything to become a Christian monk? How does one initially become a Buddhist? Monastic life is a simple, dedicated life of servitude, which asks the devoted to live a celibate lifestyle and relinquish worldly goods. Monastic life plays an important role in many Christian churches, especially in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions as well as in other faiths such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Approved. There are Christian monks; Buddhist monks, etc. By becoming a monk or a nun, one abandons the ways and appearance of a lay person and adopts the appearance and ways of an ordained person by keeping a number of vows. You should also join a temple that practices Buddhism so you can learn what it's like to be a part of the Buddhist community. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Yes there are. Are there still two different types of Monk you can be now? Meditation Retreat – Yoga Retreat – Awaken Soul Retreat – Chakra Retreat – PTSD Retreat – Addiction Retreat – Stress Relief Retreat – Personal Retreat  – Water Fast Retreat – Silent Retreat – Transforming Anger. What's with the swastika under "Becoming a Buddhist Monk"? There are lots of tutorials online which can get you started, or you can join a meditation class. ", "Great use of artwork to help explain the subjects. Nuns eat simple foods, wear simple goods and avoid selfishly pursuing anything that would contradict the principles of Hindu modesty. In eremitic orders, monks are discouraged from interacting with each other and spend most of each day in their cells. (4) During your participation, you will be interviewed by Acharya Shree Yogeesh to discuss your path and your desire to become a monk. Ever feel like something is just OFF with your stomach? The decision to enter the monastic life is not one to be taken lig… For a person to become sadhu needs vairagya. Perhaps you are one of them. 4. If you’d like to become a monk, you need to choose your community well, because that’s all you’re going to have. You don't need to give up singing, dancing, or other activities that you truly enjoy, unless one were to become a monk or a nun. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If you find that this way of life is in harmony with your deepest aspiration and you are able to find happiness with the daily practice, you can write a letter to share your desire to enter the five year training program. Dave welcomes Dandapani to the podcast. http://en.dhammadana.org/sangha/monks/become.htm, http://fpmt.org/centers/sangha/firstletter/, http://imisangha.org/ordain/preparing-to-become-a-buddhist-monk-or-nun, http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/layguide.htm, http://mepkinabbey.org/wordpress/becoming-a-monk/, http://www.religious-vocation.com/differences_religious_orders.html#.Vwz43hMrJ-V, http://imisangha.org/ordain/resources-for-those-contemplating/monastic-communities, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow.