Monk - (Bhikṣu / Bhikṣuṇī)
Gatha on Shaving the Head
this drifting, wandering world,
difficult to transcend worldly ties.
to cast them away entering true activity.
expressing gratitude as
the ignorance grass falls away,
vowing to live a life of
simplicity, service, stability, selflessness,
and to accomplish the Buddha Way.
manifesting this life
with wisdom and compassion
become one
the Tathagata
this drifting, wandering world,
difficult to transcend worldly ties.
to cast them away entering true activity.
expressing gratitude as
the ignorance grass falls away,
vowing to live a life of
simplicity, service, stability, selflessness,
and to accomplish the Buddha Way.
manifesting this life
with wisdom and compassion
become one
the Tathagata
The Buddhist monastic vows within Five Mountain Zen Order are intended for only a select very few individuals. They are both rigorous and demanding and they are also ultimately liberating. Because these vows ask much more of the person who is receiving them than do the Brahmajala Priest Precepts, they must be studied and clarified carefully by those who are called to them. In greater detail, the five vows are:
Full ordination entails a lifetime commitment to these vows. Monastic candidates need to personally embrace these vows, investigating their internal motivations and possible limitations within the guidelines that the vows provide.
Monks make the ultimate visible commitment to the teacher, the dharma and practices of the Mahasangha. This position signifies that they are a senior elder having fulfilled the additional requirements of passing the Advanced Seminary program for Monastics. Monks have the additional responsibility to perform some of the advance Buddhist ceremonies, and are encouraged to enter the service of the community in an interactive role.
To become a Monk, the applicant must have been actively practicing as a Novice Monk for at least twenty-four months, have graduated from the Seminary Program and taken and passed the Bodhisattva Monk certification test.
The first requirement is that Monks should dedicate all of their extra energy to helping the Zen community by volunteering in every capacity required there; and must have the approval of the Zen center’s Guiding Teacher.
Ordained Clothing (Kāṣāya)
Monastics wear a Jiāshā Summer Brown Bangasa as well as a Summer Brown Full Gasa for ceremonial wear. Monastics also wear the Hǎiqīng 海青 (Long Robe)
The Precepts which a Monastic takes have their origin in the Brahmajala Sūtra and have been handed down since at least the time of the Great Indian Ancestor Kumarajiva.
A Summary of the Dharmagauptaka Bhikșu Prātimokṣa (250 Monastic Precepts)
A Summary in Twenty-five precepts by Most Venerable Thich Thien An
(Derived from the Sūtra of the Mūlasarvāstivādins)
The Four Pārājika Rules – Grave Offences that require expulsion from the Sangha.
1. Do not commit adultery, including sexual congress with a corpse, animal, or object.
2. Do not commit theft.
3. Do not take, or cause to be taken, a human life.
4. Do not claim power, or attainments you do not possess.
The Thirteen Saṅghādisesa Rules – Serious Offences that requiring confession to the Sangha (five or more monks) and suspension by the Sangha.
5. Do not, with a perverted mind, touch, or speak to a woman.
6. Do not act as a go-between, for the purpose of sex or marriage, for a man and woman.
7. Do not build, or have built, a dwelling or Vihara without the approval of the Sangha.
8. Do not, through malice, falsely accuse another monk of a grave offence.
9. Do not cause disharmony within the Sangha, with the intent of causing a schism.
10. Do not hide, or protect, a monk bent on causing disharmony and schism within the Sangha.
11. Do not corrupt families, or practice evil.
12. Do not be difficult to speak with concerning your accordance with the dharma.
13. Do not give the appearance of a wrong doing by going with a woman to a concealed place, or an open place, where one might speak to a woman with wicked words about unlawful sexual intercourse.
14. Do not hoard robes, keeping more than meets the practical needs of a monk.
15. Do not have more than one bowl or ground cloth.
16. Do not ask a layman, or laywoman, for a robe, bowl, or ground cloth that is not needed.
17. Do not knowingly confiscate wealth belonging to the Sangha.
The Nissaggiya Pācittiya Rules – Minor Offences requiring confession to a senior monk.
18. Do not speak a conscious lie.
19. Do not destroy seeds and vegetables.
20. Do not be vexing and abusive.
21. Do not speak of the defects of men.
22. Do not slander a monk.
23. Do not quit a monastery, or Sangha dwelling, without permission.
24. Do not strike another monk, or threaten another monk, in anger.
25. Do not intentionally deprive an animal of life.
The Pāṭidesanīya Rules – Offences concerning deportment requiring self-confession.
1. Conduct oneself in a proper, and mindful manner as a monk, whether walking, sitting, or laying down.
2. Keep ones clothes and robes, clean and presentable.
3. Keep one’s self, clean and presentable.
4. Keep ones living and practice place, clean and presentable.
5. Conduct oneself in a mild manner, avoiding anger and contention, with senior and junior monks.
6. Conduct oneself in a mild manner, avoiding anger and contention, with laymen and laywomen.
- Vow of simplicity – A vow of restraint, which means monastics are mindful of their actions, consumptions and lifestyle.
- Vow of service – Following the guidance of seniors and teachers, monastics vow to give themselves freely.
- Vow of stability – This vow requires that monastics have completed major life changes in order to give themselves wholeheartedly to their vows. (this does not preclude stable monogamous relationships, however parenting must be examined closely on a case by case basis).
- Vow of selflessness – The realization and actualization of one’s life as the life of all beings, rather than a personal entity.
- Vow to aspire to the Buddha way – To act as a model of the manifestation of the moral and ethical teachings of the Buddha, manifesting wisdom and compassion in all actions.
- Vow to always represent yourself in the manner of a Bodhisattva – This means always wearing Monastic Clothing in all venues of your life, the reason for this is to make yourself available to all who see you while you are out in the public eye. Monks are expected to engage themselves in the world (Monastery Without Walls) 24 hours a day.
Full ordination entails a lifetime commitment to these vows. Monastic candidates need to personally embrace these vows, investigating their internal motivations and possible limitations within the guidelines that the vows provide.
Monks make the ultimate visible commitment to the teacher, the dharma and practices of the Mahasangha. This position signifies that they are a senior elder having fulfilled the additional requirements of passing the Advanced Seminary program for Monastics. Monks have the additional responsibility to perform some of the advance Buddhist ceremonies, and are encouraged to enter the service of the community in an interactive role.
To become a Monk, the applicant must have been actively practicing as a Novice Monk for at least twenty-four months, have graduated from the Seminary Program and taken and passed the Bodhisattva Monk certification test.
The first requirement is that Monks should dedicate all of their extra energy to helping the Zen community by volunteering in every capacity required there; and must have the approval of the Zen center’s Guiding Teacher.
Ordained Clothing (Kāṣāya)
Monastics wear a Jiāshā Summer Brown Bangasa as well as a Summer Brown Full Gasa for ceremonial wear. Monastics also wear the Hǎiqīng 海青 (Long Robe)
The Precepts which a Monastic takes have their origin in the Brahmajala Sūtra and have been handed down since at least the time of the Great Indian Ancestor Kumarajiva.
A Summary of the Dharmagauptaka Bhikșu Prātimokṣa (250 Monastic Precepts)
A Summary in Twenty-five precepts by Most Venerable Thich Thien An
(Derived from the Sūtra of the Mūlasarvāstivādins)
The Four Pārājika Rules – Grave Offences that require expulsion from the Sangha.
1. Do not commit adultery, including sexual congress with a corpse, animal, or object.
2. Do not commit theft.
3. Do not take, or cause to be taken, a human life.
4. Do not claim power, or attainments you do not possess.
The Thirteen Saṅghādisesa Rules – Serious Offences that requiring confession to the Sangha (five or more monks) and suspension by the Sangha.
5. Do not, with a perverted mind, touch, or speak to a woman.
6. Do not act as a go-between, for the purpose of sex or marriage, for a man and woman.
7. Do not build, or have built, a dwelling or Vihara without the approval of the Sangha.
8. Do not, through malice, falsely accuse another monk of a grave offence.
9. Do not cause disharmony within the Sangha, with the intent of causing a schism.
10. Do not hide, or protect, a monk bent on causing disharmony and schism within the Sangha.
11. Do not corrupt families, or practice evil.
12. Do not be difficult to speak with concerning your accordance with the dharma.
13. Do not give the appearance of a wrong doing by going with a woman to a concealed place, or an open place, where one might speak to a woman with wicked words about unlawful sexual intercourse.
14. Do not hoard robes, keeping more than meets the practical needs of a monk.
15. Do not have more than one bowl or ground cloth.
16. Do not ask a layman, or laywoman, for a robe, bowl, or ground cloth that is not needed.
17. Do not knowingly confiscate wealth belonging to the Sangha.
The Nissaggiya Pācittiya Rules – Minor Offences requiring confession to a senior monk.
18. Do not speak a conscious lie.
19. Do not destroy seeds and vegetables.
20. Do not be vexing and abusive.
21. Do not speak of the defects of men.
22. Do not slander a monk.
23. Do not quit a monastery, or Sangha dwelling, without permission.
24. Do not strike another monk, or threaten another monk, in anger.
25. Do not intentionally deprive an animal of life.
The Pāṭidesanīya Rules – Offences concerning deportment requiring self-confession.
1. Conduct oneself in a proper, and mindful manner as a monk, whether walking, sitting, or laying down.
2. Keep ones clothes and robes, clean and presentable.
3. Keep one’s self, clean and presentable.
4. Keep ones living and practice place, clean and presentable.
5. Conduct oneself in a mild manner, avoiding anger and contention, with senior and junior monks.
6. Conduct oneself in a mild manner, avoiding anger and contention, with laymen and laywomen.