Thinking of Ordaining

[AdmiralJim]

Hi guys,
After a few years of walking the path I think I have decided to ordain once I have completed my Ngondro. I have a bank loan to pay off which will take about 5/6 years. I wonder if anyone here would be willing to give me advice in relation to this thanks...............

[Kyosan]

Congratulations for your decision to ordain.

What kind of loan is it? If the loan is holding you back, is it possible to pay off?

[AdmiralJim]

Congratulations for your decision to ordain.

What kind of loan is it? If the loan is holding you back, is it possible to pay off?

Thank you for your kind words. It is a standard bank loan I took out when I was a student, I have already paid about 20% of it off already. The loan is holding me back a little but at least it will give me more time to practice and stick to my decision. I only work part time so I am looking for a full time job. I am almost finished a 3 year home dharma course and I am keen to teach at a local group but I am really nervous. One of the reasons I am looking foward to/thinking about ordaining is it will enable me to do chartiable work without worrying about all the material stuff!! I am lucky in that I have a supportive family in fact my mum even suggested I become a monk lol, I was even surprised because my mum told me she thought about becoming a nun ( catholic ) many years ago.

[Paul]

If you're not read Thubten Chodron's writings about getting ordained, then it's worth having a look: http://www.thubtenchodron.org/BuddhistN ... Ordination

There's also a lot of stuff out there from the Theravada tradition about ordination. I really like Yuttadhammo's blog and YouTube videos: http://yuttadhammo.sirimangalo.org/

Which lineage etc. would you be ordaining with?

[Thug4lyfe]

Congradulations!!! May you be a field of merit for sentient beings!!!

[Kyosan]

Congratulations for your decision to ordain.

What kind of loan is it? If the loan is holding you back, is it possible to pay off?

Thank you for your kind words. It is a standard bank loan I took out when I was a student, I have already paid about 20% of it off already. The loan is holding me back a little but at least it will give me more time to practice and stick to my decision. I only work part time so I am looking for a full time job. I am almost finished a 3 year home dharma course and I am keen to teach at a local group but I am really nervous. One of the reasons I am looking foward to/thinking about ordaining is it will enable me to do chartiable work without worrying about all the material stuff!! I am lucky in that I have a supportive family in fact my mum even suggested I become a monk lol, I was even surprised because my mum told me she thought about becoming a nun ( catholic ) many years ago.

It's tough, since it's a student load there is no equity.

Would you be staying in Scotland or moving somewhere else when you become ordained? If you are moving somewhere else and they speak a different language, you'll have plenty of time to learn that language.

It's great that your family is so supportive.

[AdmiralJim]

I am not sure what tradition I have the most experience of the Karma Kagyu tibetan tradition but I am not averse to zen and I like the Theravadin approach also

[AdmiralJim]

Thank you for the links they are very helpful! I am also willing to travel anywhere to find a teacher....................

[Paul]

I am not sure what tradition I have the most experience of the Karma Kagyu tibetan tradition but I am not averse to zen and I like the Theravadin approach also

One thing to bear in mind might be that you often see Theravadan monks at teachings in the Tibetan tradition etc. - so being ordained in one school doesn't actually limit you at all in the teachings you might study, although of course it would mean deviating from your sangha's conventional curriculum.