Typical daily routine for a monk living in a Buddhist Monastery
5:45 am:Wake-up Bell (gong) 6-7 am:Morning Prayer (with breakfast) 7:30-9: Recitation and Memorization of the prayer/ritual texts 9-10: Tibetan Language Class 10-11: English Language Class 11:30-1: Lunch Break (last meal of the day) 1-2pm: Tibetan Language Class 2-3: Revision of the Day's Lesson 3: Tea Break 3-5: Revision of Recitation and Memorization of the prayer/ritual texts Break 7-9: Evening Prayer and Recitations 9-9:30: Self Study 9:30: Bed and Lights Off
The Monk Story - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRHkivEzCfw
Zen Buddhist Meditation Method - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4gTXjg1g1s
- Monk's Code of Conduct - Defines the status of a monk as being a medicant (beggar) - Rules governing the life of all monks - Vary depending on geography and culture - Conventions of etiquette to support harmonious relations among the monks and their lay supporters (depend on for material needs) - Many of the rules were developed to avoid offending lay people - Four requisites that lay people can offer: 1. Food 2. Shelter 3. Clothing 4. Medicine
- Monks eat between dawn and midday - Cannot store food overnight - All food and drinks must be offered into his hands or placed on something in direct contact with his hands - Cannot cure/cook food - Vegetarianism is encouraged - No fruits/vegetables containing fertile seeds - Monks can remove seeds - OR can damage with a knife and saying "Kappiyam bhante" ("I am making this allowable") - According to the rules, a monk should accept what is given to him as long as the following conditions exist: 1. He himself is not involved in the act of killing the animals 2. He urges not someone to do the killing for his own consumption 3. He does not see someone doing the killing for his own consumption 4. He does not hear that killing of the animals was done for his own consumption 5. He does not have doubt that the killing was done for his consumption
- Monks make their own robes from cloth - Three parts to a typical robe: 1. Uttarasanga (kashaya) - Rectangle wrapped to cover both shoulders 2. Antaravaska - Under uttarasanga, wrapped around waist down to the knees 3. Sanghati - Extra robe to wrap around body for warmth, or draped over shoulder - In Tibet, monks have a many different pieces that can be worn, some for special occasions - Dhonka - wrap shirt with cap sleeves, maroon with blue piping - Shemdap - maroon shirt with pleats - Chogu - wrap worn on upper body, for ceremonies and teachings - Zhen - similar to chogu, ordinary day-to-day wear - Namjar - larger than chogu, for formal ceremonial occasions
- Ideal lodging for a monk can be described as solitary, silent, and simple - Bed is acceptable, although most monks sleep on mats or thick blankets on the floor - Cannot sleep more than three nights in the same room with an unordained male - Cannot lie down in the same sleeping quarters as a woman