Ten points monastics should reflect on

• Monastic life is special and different
• Livelihood depends on others
• Recognising and acknowledging fault in behaviour
• Impermanence and karma
• Observing the mind to work with the afflictions
• Insights and death
• How to handle if a monastic is not behaving according to the precepts
• Monastics relating to lay practitioners

40 Ten Points Monastics Should Reflect On (download)

Contemplation points

1. Spend some time unpacking each of the ten points that the Buddha recommended for monastics. How are these true for you in your life? In what ways should your behaviors and attitudes be different because of these? Be specific, making personal examples from your own life:
   • I have entered a different and special way of life.
   • My livelihood depends upon others.
   • My deportment should be different [calmer]. There remain further practices that I must do.
   • Do I reproach myself concerning faults in my conduct?
   • Do my wise companions in the spiritual life find fault with my conduct?
   • I must part and be separated from everyone and everything dear and agreeable to me.
   • I am the owner of my karma, heir of my karma, I have karma as my origin, karma as my relative, karma as my resort; I will be the heir of whatever karma, good or bad, that I do.
   • How am I spending my days and nights?
   • Do I delight in solitary dwellings or not?
   • Have I experienced any profound truths or wise insights on the ariyas, so that when facing death, I do not feel embarrassed when questioned by my spiritual companions?
2. Consider the Buddha’s words on how monastics should relate to lay practitioners. Why is this kind of relationship so important? Whether you are a lay or monastic practitioner, what can you do in your own life and practice to support this kind of relationship?
   • As the moon gliding across the sky does not form intimacy, affection, or attachment with anyone, nor give rise to fondness, longing, or obsession, yet remains dear and agreeable to the multitude, so you too should not form intimacy and so forth with anyone. Then, by doing so, you will approach families like the moon, dear and agreeable to the multitude. Further, as the moon dispels darkness and emits light, so you will dispel the darkness of defilements and emit the light of knowledge.