Join the Online Course Exploring Monastic Life Offered by Sravasti Abbey

Exploring Monastic Life 2019, Sravasti Abbey e-newsletter.

Sravasti Abbey is the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery for Western nuns and monks in the US. It was established by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron in 2003.

Exploring Monastic Life

Each year Sravasti Abbey offers the course "Exploring Monastic Life." This year's course will be held online in August 2020.

The Course

The Sravasti Abbey website says, "'Exploring Monastic Life' is an intensive training program, held in August every year. It’s for people thinking about becoming a Buddhist monk or nun, and for newly ordained monastics. There’s no other program like it.

"The program usually lasts three weeks and entails living and practicing in monastic community.

"This year, due to COVID concerns, we’re taking it online. Ven. Chodron will give teachings and lead discussions every morning. Abbey monastics also participate, including you in daily meditation.

"It’s not quite the same, but it’s still a place learn, bring your questions, and explore your aspirations.

"Venerable Thubten Chodron teaches from over 40 years of living as a Buddhist nun. You learn how and why the Buddha started the ordained sangha—the community of monks and nuns—and the ethical and behavioral guidelines for monastics.

"The Abbey monastics join in your daily discussions about family, career, romance, and 'stuff,' to explore the issues that you need to think about."

Venerable Thubten Chodron, www.clearemptymind.com.

The website also says, "Applicants must have taken refuge in the Three Jewels at least one year ago and must not be in a long-term relationship. Priority will be given to applicants under 50 years old."

Schedule

August 6-17, 2020

Participants must commit to attending all sessions.

August 6

8:30 AM PT - 9:30 AM PT - orientation

August 7-17

5:30 AM PT - 7:00 AM PT - meditation

8:45 AM PT - 10:15 AM PT - teaching

10:45 AM PT - 12:15 PM PT - discussion groups

Join the Course

Admission to "Exploring Monastic Life" is by application.

"Qualified applicants will:

• Have taken refuge at least one year ago
• Are not presently in a committed relationship
• Agree to live within the 5 lay precepts during the course: refraining from killing, taken what has not been freely given, sexual misconduct (keeping celibacy during the course), lying, and taking intoxicants of any kind
• Agree to attend all sessions."

This year's "Exploring Monastic Life" course will take place online using Vimeo and Zoom.

The course is offered on a donation basis.

Watch YouTube Videos

If you cannot join the course then you can still explore the topic. Recordings of previous "Exploring Monastic Life" courses are available on the Sravasti Abbey YouTube channel.

Langri Tangpa Buddhist Centre organized an online event "Meet the Sangha - Stories of the Langri Tangpa Centre Monks and Nuns" as part of the Australian Dharma center's July 2020 Choekhor Duchen activities.

The event was described this way on their website, "A day in the life of a western sangha, what propelled them to ordination, their biggest challenges and surprises, and all the best bits!

"Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a western monk or nun is like? We might imagine it to be a life of quiet contemplation, or perhaps study and retreat, but it can often be the exact opposite – a whirlwind of visits to the sick, email questions, hours of travelling, battles with technology, and continuing family duties.

"Langri Tangpa Centre has a wonderful track record of students becoming ordained, and last year we had four new monks and nuns become ordained! To celebrate International Sangha Day (that falls on First Wheel-Turning Day), all proceeds from this event will go into the LTC Sangha Fund to help cover their emergency needs.

"In this online afternoon forum, we will be able to ask about everything we ever wanted to know about our LTC Sangha but never got a chance! We have invited the LTC monks and nuns to do a 10-minute guest spot each, moderated by LTC Spiritual Program Co-ordinator Miffi Maxmillion. Attendees will also be able to pose their own questions in the chat throughout the afternoon.

"We hope to be able to address such varied questions as: What’s the most surprising question you have been asked on the street? What’s the most challenging aspect of being ordained in the west? What did you have to do to create the merit to be able to ordain? Do you still go to work – what kind of job do you have? And what’s the best bit about a life as a renunciate?"

Watch the 1.5 hour video "Meet the Sangha 2020" on the Langri Tangpa Buddhist Centre YouTube channel. I watched it and enjoyed it a lot. I heard many references to "Khen Rinpoche," and later determined they were talking about Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering.