Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Why and how monastics keep precepts, cultivate contentment and concentration, and benefit society.

All Posts in Exploring Monastic Life 2008

The 2008 Exploring Monastic Life participants pose in front of the beautiful Medicine Buddha thangka in the Abbey living room.
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Introducing Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Opening the 2008 Exploring Monastic Life program with an introduction and advice on how to…

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Two novices studying, one novice writing on the paper of the other novice.
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

The benefits of precepts

What is important in our lives? Happiness is getting our lives together to pacify our…

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EML group in sitting position and chanting.
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Taking and holding the precepts

Vows aren't designed to make us miserable, but to make our minds peaceful and happy…

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A happy bhikshuni from Bhutan
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

“The Fruits of the Homeless Life”

Monastic context of socializing with family and friends, receiving gifts and donations, appropriate bodily conduct…

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Buddha with five monks kneeling in front of him.
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

The life of the Buddha

The life of the Buddha in terms of the direction we can go in mind…

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Buddhist monks carrying a bowl to get offerings.
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Livelihood for monastics

Avoiding activities that are naturally negative and activities that will take you away from your…

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A sign with the word : the mindfulness bell written.
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Mindfulness and checking awareness

Going through the day feeling confident we have good ethical conduct and bearing no guilt…

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A wall with the words: Sanctuary of Contentment
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Contentment

Dissatisfaction is painful so we train our mind to be happy with what we have,…

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EML group discussions with Venerable Chodron
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Deciding to become a monastic

What does being useful really mean? What are your spiritual aspirations? Coming to the decision…

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A small stone statute of Buddha
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Perfection of concentration

On the basis of ethical conduct, training to abandon the hindrances and as a result…

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Venerable Chodron and Abbey monastics smiling happily.
Exploring Monastic Life 2008

Monastic life in America

Advice for those considering ordination, putting the aspiration in the framework of Buddhism, monasticism, and…

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