How to become a monk is a question that everyone asks himself, who is determined to accept tonsure. Having embarked on a path that implies farewell to the blessings of life and departure from the world, it is impossible to pass it quickly. Priests advise not to rush, since life in the monastery is far from suitable for everyone who dreams of it. What needs to be done in order to fulfill your desire?
How to become a monk: the beginning of the path
How to start a person who has a desire to leave behind the bustle of worldly life and go to the monastery? When wondering how to become a monk, you first need to understand what this means. Anyone who makes such a decision must prepare for radical changes in life. He will no longer have access to the benefits of civilization, to which all the inhabitants of the 21st century are accustomed - cell phones, computers, televisions and other achievements of technological progress will be a thing of the past.
It is important to realize that the life of a monk is dedicated to God, takes place in labor and prayers. People who have received tonsure will have to leave the usual entertainment outside the walls of the monastery. Have to refuse and contacts with the opposite sex. Finally, not every person is ready to accept the fact that he will rarely have to see close people - relatives and friends. It is separation from family that makes many change their minds.
Communication with the confessor
It is wonderful if someone who plans to leave for the monastery has his own confessor. It is he who should ask the question of how to become a monk. If there is no confessor, you can visit any church and discuss the decision with the local priest. From him you can find out details about life in the monastery, which will help to strengthen your desire or change your mind in advance.
As a rule, priests recommend that people who want to say goodbye to worldly life attend church every day for a year. In addition, they must follow the fasts, read prayers and make changes in their daily routines. We are talking about an early rise (at about 5-6 in the morning), lean food, refusal of entertainment, including innocent ones like watching TV shows, using the Internet. Of course, the priest will advise in advance to abandon intimate relationships with the opposite sex.
In addition to all of the above, the future monk is shown reading the Holy Scriptures, familiarity with the works of worthy fathers of the church.
Worker
The next stage is for someone who withstands all the tests of the previous stage, which, as practice shows, is not enough. Before becoming a monk, the candidate will have to go the way of a worker. This is the name of the person who serves as an assistant to clergy. The worker is required to live permanently in the monastery, and strict adherence to all the rules adopted there is also required. In particular, future monks rise at five in the morning, observe fasts, spend days at work. They are forced to clean the premises, to help in the kitchen or in the garden, and they are entrusted with other matters. Of course, much time is devoted to prayers.
Workers live in the monastery for about three years, this is necessary in order to strengthen in the decision. A person who wants to devote himself to serving God must understand that he will have to work hard physically. This is true for those who, in worldly life, were predominantly engaged in mental work, have a diploma of higher education, and worked in a leadership position.
Novice
How to become a monk in Russia? You cannot take tonsure without going through the novice stage as well. If, during the three years spent as a worker, the candidate strengthens in his intention, he becomes a novice. To do this, you must submit a request for the reception of the brotherhood of the selected monastery. The abbot will surely grant the request if the future monk has managed to demonstrate hard work and patience while living in the temple as a worker.
The novice also permanently resides in the monastery, he is awarded the cassock. The duration of the probationary period during which the candidate for the monks will have to confirm his readiness to devote his life to God is determined individually. It is worth knowing that the novice is free at any moment to leave the monastery walls, realizing his mistake.
Vows
How to become a monk in Russia? Having successfully passed the path of a novice, a person can finally say goodbye to worldly life. To do this, he will need to take vows, implying the renunciation of the benefits of civilization. Traditionally, people who want to go to an Orthodox monastery give four ascetic vows.
- Celibacy. Monks cannot access sexual contacts with the opposite sex; they consciously reject the opportunity to marry and have children, thereby condemning themselves to a lonely life. However, the walls of the monastery are open to widowers with adult heirs who no longer need care.
- Obedience. We must be aware that, leaving for the monastery, a person actually gives up his own will, the ability to manage his own life. It requires unquestioning obedience to the confessor. On this path, it is better not to become freedom-loving and proud people who are not ready for humility and obedience.
- Non-possessiveness. What does it take to become a monk besides this? Will have to abandon their property, whether it is an apartment, a cottage or a car. A person leaving for a monastery must make a donation in his favor. However, it can be symbolic, most of the property is allowed if you want to leave close people.
- Constant prayer. Of course, certain hours are set aside for prayers. However, the person who has received the tonsure should pray constantly, even engaged in physical labor.
People who canβt go to the monastery
The above describes how to become a monk in a monastery. However, far from everyone will be able to take this path. Each confessor will say that people should not say goodbye to worldly life if they still have obligations to relatives and friends. In other words, a person will be able to leave the monastery only after he has figured out all the obligations towards other people.
Say, you cannot become a monk with elderly parents who you have no one to take care of. The same applies to close relatives who are not able to self-service due to disability. It is also forbidden to refuse small children, to leave them in orphanages.
Finally, a person suffering from a serious illness cannot go to the monastery, since there will be no high-quality medical care within its walls. The same rule applies to persons with disabilities who are not able to care for themselves on their own. In such situations, priests recommend that people pray for their recovery.
Buddhism
The answer above is given to the question of how to become an Orthodox monk. What can a person do if he is attracted to Buddhism - an ancient religion that appeared more than two thousand years ago, the main postulate of which sounds like "here and now." Dreaming of joining the number of Buddhist monks, one must realize that their life is given to help other people, goes through hardships, they exist on donations, observe a celibacy dinner.
How to become a Buddhist monk? First of all, you need to get acquainted with the teachings of religion, find a spiritual mentor and get ready for leaving the monastery. For example, with the help of a mentor, it is necessary to master the art of meditation. Buddhist temples are scattered around the world, they are in the cities of Russia. A person who wants to accept this religion should become a regular in such a monastery.
Buddhist monk
How to become a Buddhist monk in Russia? A person who is determined to become a monk of a certain monastery should know his requirements. It is better to ask them in advance, as they are different. A person whose candidacy is approved is being trained in the temple, the duration of which depends on the rules of a particular monastery, the degree of readiness of the candidate. Then follows the initiation ceremony, which only a dedicated monk has the right to hold. At this stage, the transmission of the Five Commandments and the Three Jewels is carried out, a Buddhist name is chosen.
The initiate has a teacher, usually the person who conducted the ceremony. He is allowed to settle permanently in the monastery. Also, the newly-made monk takes the vow of the Bodhisattva - the legendary hero who laid down his life on the development of Buddhist teachings, helping the suffering. Taking a vow, people promise to do good and seek enlightenment throughout their life.
Desiring to devote himself to Buddhism, the monk will have to reject worldly pleasures, luxury goods. Of course, relations with the opposite sex, the creation of a family and the birth of children will become inaccessible to him. However, there is also the opportunity to become a monk temporarily, giving several months or years to the development of one's own spirituality, to the search for the meaning of life.
Road to tibet
How to become a monk in a Tibetan monastery? Theoretically, this path can go a person living in any country in the world, if he is not afraid of numerous difficulties. Education in the temple is available to everyone who has reached the age of eight. Candidates who do not speak the language need to allocate a year or two to classes in a special school. If you wish, you can also find monasteries with the Russian community, without wasting time getting to know the Tibetan language. For example, residents of the Russian Federation can be advised by the communities of Goman, Namgyel, which host Russian-speaking novices.
How to become a Tibetan monk? Having mastered the language, it is necessary to find a teacher at the monastery (llama), who agrees to become a mentor. You need to understand that the number of applicants exceeds the number of places in the temples, so the search can take a lot of time. After training with a llama, you will need to pass a difficult exam in Buddhism. Having coped with this task, a person gains the status of a disciple monk.
On average, novices are trained for five years, the duration of classes may vary depending on which monastery is chosen, as well as on the student's success. During this time, future monks will have to exist on their own money, so you need to take care of the availability of the necessary amount in advance.
Tibetan monk
Not every applicant is able to withstand the path from a student monk to a certified llama teacher. Studying in a monastery is hard. Pupils have to abandon any activities that are entertaining in nature. For example, they can even expel a student monk for playing football. Monks lead the lifestyle of ascetics, they are allowed to have a minimum of personal belongings.
The main subject is philosophy, students also master logic, concepts of Buddhism, metaphysics and so on. There is always a danger of staying in the second year, since the performance requirements are extremely stringent, any manifestation of laziness is strictly punished. Some monks have to study for twenty years or more if they wish to become doctors of philosophy. In addition to studying in the life of a monk, there is also monastic work. He can be entrusted with kitchen work, washing rooms and other tasks. There is very little personal time for novices.
Interestingly, a person whose training is completed does not have to say goodbye to worldly life. Many monks become administrators, teachers of the temple in which they studied. Some turn into hermits, voluntarily leaving for the mountains.
Way to Shaolin
Shaolin is a famous Buddhist temple located in central China. How to become a Shaolin monk? This is also possible if a person is not afraid of difficulties that are inevitable. First of all, the applicant should learn to understand Buddhism, the philosophy of Shaolin. The followers of the teachings comprehend the techniques of kung fu not for the sake of battle, as it may seem to those who are familiar with art only through feature films, television series. The goal they set for themselves is the development of self-discipline, the achievement of harmony with the outside world.
How to become a monk of a Shaolin monastery? Itβs useful for people who have such a desire to visit the kung fu sections for some time or to study independently, finding the appropriate video courses. It is also worth visiting the Shaolin Temple, which can be seen as a tourist. In addition to China, such monasteries can be found in the United States and several European countries.
Shaolin monk
What to do to someone who not only wants to acquire kung fu skills, but also undergo serious training? How to become a monk? Shaolin is theoretically ready to accept anyone who shares the Buddhist doctrine. The age limit is from six years. However, this person is required to live permanently in China. In addition, the candidate must be purposeful, hardworking and virtuous, demonstrate readiness for an ascetic lifestyle, display of humility. Less stringent requirements apply to those who wish to study at the martial arts schools operating at the monastery.
Having become a novice, the applicant undergoes training, during which the mentors observe him, assessing his readiness. Some get the opportunity to take monastic vows a few months later, others have been waiting for this for several years.
Thinking about how to become a Shaolin monk, you need to evaluate your readiness. People trained in the monastery acquire fantastic stamina, which develops through grueling training. These are physical exercises, martial arts, meditation. All years of study are devoted to improving the mind and body, there is no time for relaxation and entertainment. It is worth knowing that the monks do not eat meat, their diet consists of vegetables, fruits, cereals. This life path categorically does not suit holders of poor health.
Instead of conclusions
A person who thinks about how to become a monk should understand that this is not a profession, but a way of life. Do not make an impulsive decision under the influence of problems that seem insoluble, failures in your personal life or professional activity.