[Buddha-l] Bourgeois Buddhism

[Christopher Fynn]

Westerners generally expect anyone who is "ordained" and wearing
religious robes to have studied at a seminary or something prior to
ordination. But almost any man can become ordained as Buddhist monk
without any educational qualification and little if any knowlege of
the Buddha's teachings. However I think taking and keeping the
precepts of a Buddhist monk is usually seen as a form of practice
which, in itself, encompass the 8-Fold Path - and, from that
viewpoint, you could say these monks are practicing.

 - C

On 8 December 2011 02:33,  <Jackhat1 at aol.com> wrote:
> Interesting that they don't have to follow the 8-Fold Path or know much of
> the Buddha's teachings.
>
> Jack
>
> In a message dated 12/5/2011 11:42:33 P.M. Central Standard Time,
> chris.fynn at gmail.com writes:
>
> Hmm
>
> AFAIK - Buddhist monks actually only have to keep their  precepts ~ and
> not one of the 250 or so of these actually enjoins them to  meditate or
> study Buddhist philosophy. However there is a common belief  amongst
> Asian Buddhists that when an ordained monk practices  meditation,
> virtue or whatever it is at least 1,000x as effective. By  that
> reckoning, if they do even 1% of the practice of the lay  western
> members of your temple they are  doing at least 10x more.  :-)