My friend has made the decision to join the order. She has almost everything in life, looks, intelligence ... but she has also suffered much.
I can't help but feel sad, although I know I shouldn't be. It is for her future good because she can find peace there.
But it is so difficult not to be bothered, it is as though a kin has left me.
And so I remembered, conditions arise, conditions cease ... fate comes, fate goes ...
congrats, at least she bear to part with what she has now, rather than feeling sorrow when she is forced to let go of these when the time comes.
Originally posted by Rick555:My friend has made the decision to join the order. She has almost everything in life, looks, intelligence ... but she has also suffered much.
I can't help but feel sad, although I know I shouldn't be. It is for her future good because she can find peace there.
But it is so difficult not to be bothered, it is as though a kin has left me.
And so I remembered, conditions arise, conditions cease ... fate comes, fate goes ...
got picture ?
Originally posted by ChiBet:
got picture ?
Ananda's wife probably look most beautiful, but still nothing to compare to those female deity in heaven.
Life is short, when death comes everything has to let go... absolutely everything, nothing that matters in your life can be brought forward. You just have to let go and move on...
So, your friend has made the right descision to make the best out of this life for spiritual practice and to help other beings on their path.
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Life is short, when death comes everything has to let go... absolutely everything, nothing that matters in your life can be brought forward. You just have to let go and move on...
So, your friend has made the right descision to make the best out of this life for spiritual practice and to help other beings on their path.
Not necessary right as we do not know the full story behind this lady.
Not necessary a need to be an ordained person to be able to help others in spiritual paths.
Many lay practitioners do as well as if not better than ordained.
Originally posted by yamizi:Not necessary right as we do not know the full story behind this lady.
Not necessary a need to be an ordained person to be able to help others in spiritual paths.
Many lay practitioners do as well as if not better than ordained.
Yes that's true as well, so I'm not suggesting that everyone must do likewise. Personally I do not have intentions (as of now) to renounce home life.
But if she is willing dedicate her life to that, I think it's very good as well.
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Yes that's true as well, so I'm not suggesting that everyone must do likewise. Personally I do not have intentions (as of now) to renounce home life.
But if she is willing dedicate her life to that, I think it's very good as well.
Willing to dedicate is one issue.
What if she actually does have family commitments? And that by becoming ordained will make her less-able to contribute to the family?
=)
My stand is I neither support nor against the decision, because I do not know the full details.
Originally posted by yamizi:Willing to dedicate is one issue.
What if she actually does have family commitments? And that by becoming ordained will make her less-able to contribute to the family?
=)
My stand is I neither support nor against the decision, because I do not know the full details.
I see.. yes true it should be taken into consideration as well.
Two of my dharma teachers, one in Singapore the other in Taiwan are both lay persons because though they intended to renounce, family commitments and matters did not allow them to...
Her siblings will take care of her family. Besides she had already stayed in a monastery as a 'trial' before. And it's not short, about 6 months. So definitely she knows what kind of life she'll be leading.
But me being a worldly human, a part of me can't accept the fact that such a good girl with so many good attributes would choose to be ordained. I'm not saying it's not good, but she'll be leading such a secluded life. And it's very hard labour, as she described.
Yet, the other side of me knows that it's a right decision, because she has truly understood that our lives are fleeting, and she is brave enough to do what many of others are afraid to do, that is, give up our daily worldly activities. Come on, ask yourself, if it is because of family commitments that a person choose to be secular, then there would be no Shakyamuni Buddha. Of course, you can cite Vimalakirti, but really, the true reason is that most of us are just afraid to let go.
Originally posted by Rick555:Her siblings will take care of her family. Besides she had already stayed in a monastery as a 'trial' before. And it's not short, about 6 months. So definitely she knows what kind of life she'll be leading.
But me being a worldly human, a part of me can't accept the fact that such a good girl with so many good attributes would choose to be ordained. I'm not saying it's not good, but she'll be leading such a secluded life. And it's very hard labour, as she described.
Yet, the other side of me knows that it's a right decision, because she has truly understood that our lives are fleeting, and she is brave enough to do what many of others are afraid to do, that is, give up our daily worldly activities. Come on, ask yourself, if it is because of family commitments that a person choose to be secular, then there would be no Shakyamuni Buddha. Of course, you can cite Vimalakirti, but really, the true reason is that most of us are just afraid to let go.
Probably to you it's afraid to let go. But you cannot assume that for many other people.
So come on, is it a must for one to be ordained to be considered as serious in one's spiritual cultivation? I don't know where is your friend becoming a nun in; but a few monks and nuns that I personally know, and observed, seems to be that, ordained lives are busier.
There's a nun I know who's always organising environmental awareness activities; another into buddhist education, both of them did tell me sometime they feel that becoming ordained ended up have more things to do!
So to think that becoming part of sangha gives you more time and space to cultivate (if you're refering cultivate on a personal level), it isn't necessary so. Sometimes, (a good) sangha ended up has to take up the role of cousellors, programmes (be it social welfare or dhamma-related) co-ordinated and even as disciples of their own teachers, it's not easy.
Sangha during the Buddha's time was really quite different from the sangha nowadays.
To me, in Buddhism, both ordained and lay disciples are equally important to sustain the Buddha-sassana. It's just a matter of choice what kind of lifestyle one choose to live a buddhist life.
hi rick555
Everyone always get 24 hour a day regardless of what he do. But seriously after becoming a nun, she will have more time to focus on practice instead of fighting in a rat race life. Since she has try the monastic life for 6 months, rest assure that her intelligence has helped the decision.
Since she is nun already, treat her as a nun instead of a normal ordinary girl.
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Life is short, when death comes everything has to let go... absolutely everything, nothing that matters in your life can be brought forward. You just have to let go and move on...
People comes and people goes. Our possession comes and goes. The weather comes and goes. Feeling arises and falls. Body will grow old and life will withers. All are made up of cause and condition. We have to learn to get used to impermanence.
Originally posted by Rick555:My friend has made the decision to join the order. She has almost everything in life, looks, intelligence ... but she has also suffered much.
I can't help but feel sad, although I know I shouldn't be. It is for her future good because she can find peace there.
But it is so difficult not to be bothered, it is as though a kin has left me.
And so I remembered, conditions arise, conditions cease ... fate comes, fate goes ...
Samsara is endless suffering. Wordly comforts and pleasures do not last. Life is Dukkha. Ponder on the four noble truth. Your friend is getting out of samsara while she can. Not many people have the golden opportunity to join the Sangha Order. Furthermore, It isn't easy to be a human, to receive dharma teachings and meet good dharma teachers in this dharma-degeneration era.