Lack of Mahayana monasteries in the US?

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Nicholas2727
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Lack of Mahayana monasteries in the US?

Post by Nicholas2727 »

Does anyone else feel that there is a lack of Mahayana (East Asian) monasteries in the US? I know there is a lack of monasteries in general here, although it seems that there are a few Theravada, as well as a few Tibetan monasteries throughout the country. To my knowledge the only East Asian monasteries are the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and some of TNH monasteries. I know Dharma Drum and Fo Guang Shan have larger temples here, although I am not sure if westerners would be able to ordain there or what kind of education they provide since it is not their main monastery. Are there any others I am missing? I know Tibetan Buddhism is more popular among westerns who practice Mahayana, although the lack of opportunities was surprising to me so I thought I would get some other opinions.
Genjo Conan
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Re: Lack of Mahayana monasteries in the US?

Post by Genjo Conan »

Zen is what you're missing. There are quite a few Zen monasteries. IIRC a few Tendai as well.
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Budai
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Re: Lack of Mahayana monasteries in the US?

Post by Budai »

Can someone point to a good list of Mahayana monasteries in the United States? Or mention any/some they know of. I would be interested.
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Astus
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Re: Lack of Mahayana monasteries in the US?

Post by Astus »

1 Myriad dharmas are only mind.
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?

2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.

3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.

4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.


1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
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Budai
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Re: Lack of Mahayana monasteries in the US?

Post by Budai »

How often do people of other Schools join certain Monasteries of other Traditions? I assume it isn’t always a common practice, but one that crosses people’s mind from time to time when they see an inspiring Teacher or really want to be a monk or a nun. Would the real answer be that one should probably be an advanced practitioner of a certain School they are fully devoted to to become a monk or a nun in a Monastery there?
Nicholas2727
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Re: Lack of Mahayana monasteries in the US?

Post by Nicholas2727 »

Genjo Conan wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 6:01 am Zen is what you're missing. There are quite a few Zen monasteries. IIRC a few Tendai as well.
Yes there seems to be a few Zen monasteries throughout the country. I was specifically referring to monasteries that offer monastic ordination since there seems to be a lack of these.
Genjo Conan
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Re: Lack of Mahayana monasteries in the US?

Post by Genjo Conan »

Nicholas2727 wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 2:16 pm
Genjo Conan wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 6:01 am Zen is what you're missing. There are quite a few Zen monasteries. IIRC a few Tendai as well.
Yes there seems to be a few Zen monasteries throughout the country. I was specifically referring to monasteries that offer monastic ordination since there seems to be a lack of these.
Sorry, do you mean specifically "ordination in a vinaya lineage"?
Nicholas2727
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Re: Lack of Mahayana monasteries in the US?

Post by Nicholas2727 »

Genjo Conan wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 6:49 pm
Nicholas2727 wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 2:16 pm
Genjo Conan wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 6:01 am Zen is what you're missing. There are quite a few Zen monasteries. IIRC a few Tendai as well.
Yes there seems to be a few Zen monasteries throughout the country. I was specifically referring to monasteries that offer monastic ordination since there seems to be a lack of these.
Sorry, do you mean specifically "ordination in a vinaya lineage"?
Yes, that it was I mean.
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