Should indiviuals be married and be monk?
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:19 am
Amito Fo,
Recently my office received an e-mail from a westerner regarding their experience with a Tendai group in America. Upon review of the situation it was determined that 2 issues needed to be clarified for all westerners.
The first is that it is inappropriate for any individual to be married and to claim/function as a monk/nun. In reality any individual who is married at the time of requesting the monkhood, is ineligible to receive it. It is inappropriate/incorrect for this to be ignored and the monkhood to be granted. If it is ignored, then the monkhood is considered invalid. Also, If any individual gets married after already having received the monkhood it is likewise inappropriate/incorrect for the individual to continue to function as a monk/nun.
Why is it so, because in marriage the husband and wife will have sex. This is the most serious and therefore #1 rule of the Vinaya (the body of rules which Samgha members *must* follow) Samgha members are not allowed to have sex of any kind, therefore it follows they are not allowed to be married as that entails sex. If the rule is broken, generally the individual loses their monkhood effective immediately.
To have individuals who claim to be monks and nuns but then are married, have sex and even kids, work other jobs etc., causes great confusion among the laity as to who is and is not a member of the Samgha. So to simplify, if a person has sex, they are not a monk or nun.
The second issue that needed to be addressed was regarding the proper distribution of Mikkyo related materials. Specifically, it is a violation of the rules of Transmission of Esoteric Dharma to distribute Mikkyo related materials in an open manner. Specifically, you are not allowed to type up Dharani on flyers and to pass them out. That is inappropriate. Mikkyo is precious and not to be treated so lightly as to hand it out where it may be abused, corrupted, etc., Please see the other discussion regarding the rules of transmission of esoteric dharma.
Amito Fo,
Enjitsu
Westerner Representative of Buddhism
Recently my office received an e-mail from a westerner regarding their experience with a Tendai group in America. Upon review of the situation it was determined that 2 issues needed to be clarified for all westerners.
The first is that it is inappropriate for any individual to be married and to claim/function as a monk/nun. In reality any individual who is married at the time of requesting the monkhood, is ineligible to receive it. It is inappropriate/incorrect for this to be ignored and the monkhood to be granted. If it is ignored, then the monkhood is considered invalid. Also, If any individual gets married after already having received the monkhood it is likewise inappropriate/incorrect for the individual to continue to function as a monk/nun.
Why is it so, because in marriage the husband and wife will have sex. This is the most serious and therefore #1 rule of the Vinaya (the body of rules which Samgha members *must* follow) Samgha members are not allowed to have sex of any kind, therefore it follows they are not allowed to be married as that entails sex. If the rule is broken, generally the individual loses their monkhood effective immediately.
To have individuals who claim to be monks and nuns but then are married, have sex and even kids, work other jobs etc., causes great confusion among the laity as to who is and is not a member of the Samgha. So to simplify, if a person has sex, they are not a monk or nun.
The second issue that needed to be addressed was regarding the proper distribution of Mikkyo related materials. Specifically, it is a violation of the rules of Transmission of Esoteric Dharma to distribute Mikkyo related materials in an open manner. Specifically, you are not allowed to type up Dharani on flyers and to pass them out. That is inappropriate. Mikkyo is precious and not to be treated so lightly as to hand it out where it may be abused, corrupted, etc., Please see the other discussion regarding the rules of transmission of esoteric dharma.
Amito Fo,
Enjitsu
Westerner Representative of Buddhism