What does it take to become a monk? How to become a monk in Russia?

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

How to become a monk is a question that every person who has firmly decided to take the vows asks himself. Having embarked on a path that implies farewell to life's blessings and departure from the world, it is impossible to go through it quickly. Priests advise not to rush, as life in a monastery is far from suitable for everyone who dreams of it. What needs to be done in order to realize your desire?

How to become a monk: the beginning of the journey

Where to start for a person who has a desire to leave behind the bustle of worldly life and go to a monastery? When wondering how to become a monk, you must first understand what it means. Anyone who makes such a decision should prepare for cardinal 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 remain in the past.

It is important to realize that the life of a monkdedicated to God, passes through work and prayers. People who have taken the tonsure will have to leave the usual entertainment outside the walls of the monastery. You will also have to refrain from contact with the opposite sex. Finally, not every person is ready to put up with 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's great if someone who plans to enter a monastery has his own confessor. It is he who should be asked the question of how to become a monk. In the absence of a confessor, you can visit any church, discuss the decision with the local priest. From him you can learn details about life in the monastery, which will help strengthen your desire or change your mind in advance.

As a rule, priests recommend that people who want to say goodbye to worldly life visit church every day for a year. In addition, they must follow fasts, read prayers and make changes in their daily routine. We are talking about getting up early (at about 5-6 in the morning), fasting food, refusing entertainment, including innocent ones like watching TV, using the Internet. Of course, the priest will advise you to give up intimate relationships with the opposite sex in advance.

In addition to all of the above, the future monk is shown reading the Holy Scriptures, getting acquainted with the works of worthy church fathers.

Employee

The next stage for the one who endures with honortests of the previous stage, which, as practice shows, few can do. Before becoming a monk, the candidate will have to go through the path of a laborer. This is the name of a person who serves as an assistant to clergy. The worker is required to live permanently in the monastery, and it is also necessary to strictly observe all the rules adopted there. In particular, future monks get up at five in the morning, observe fasts, and spend their days at work. They are forced to clean the premises, help in the kitchen or in the garden, and are assigned other tasks. Of course, a lot of time is devoted to prayers.

The workers live in the monastery for about three years, this is necessary in order to strengthen their decision. A person who wants to devote himself to the service of God must understand that he will have to work hard physically. This is also true for those who in worldly life were mainly engaged in mental work, have a diploma of higher education, and worked in a leadership position.

Acolyte

How to become a monk in Russia? It is impossible to take tonsure without having also passed the stage of a novice. If during the three years spent as a laborer the candidate becomes stronger in his intention, he becomes a novice. To do this, you must submit an application for admission to the brethren of the selected monastery. The abbot will surely grant the request if the future monk has managed to demonstrate diligence and patience during his life in the temple as a laborer.

The novice also permanently resides in the monastery, he is awardedcassock. The duration of the probationary period, during which a candidate for monkhood will have to confirm his readiness to devote his life to God, is determined individually. It is worth knowing that the novice is free to leave the monastery walls at any time, 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. This will require him to take vows that imply renunciation of the benefits of civilization. Traditionally, people who wish to enter an Orthodox monastery take four ascetic vows.

• Celibacy. Monks are inaccessible to sexual contacts with the opposite sex, they deliberately reject the opportunity to marry, have children, thereby dooming themselves to a lonely life. However, the walls of the monastery are also open to widowers with adult heirs who no longer need care.
• Obedience. One must be aware of the fact that by going to a monastery, a person actually renounces his own will, the ability to control 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-possession. What does it take to become a monk other than that? You will have to give up your property, whether it is an apartment, a summer house or a car. A person leaving for a monastery must necessarily make a donation in his favor. However, it can be symbolic, most of the property is allowed if desired.leave loved ones.
• Constant prayer. Of course, certain hours are set aside for offering prayers. However, a person who has taken the tonsure must pray constantly, even while doing manual labor.

People who cannot enter the monastery

The above is about how to become a monk in a monastery. However, not everyone will be able to take this path. Every 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 can enter a monastery only after he has de alt with all obligations towards other people.

Let's say you can't become a monk with elderly parents who have no one to take care of. The same applies to close relatives who are not capable of self-care due to disability. It is also forbidden to abandon small children, leave them in orphanages.

Finally, a person suffering from a serious illness cannot go to the monastery, as there will be no quality medical care within its walls. The same rule applies to people with disabilities who are unable to take care of themselves on their own. In situations like this, priests encourage people to pray for their recovery.

Buddhism

The above is the answer to the question of how to become an Orthodox monk. How can a person be 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." dreamingto join the ranks of Buddhist monks, one must be aware that their lives are given to helping other people, they pass in hardships, they exist on donations, they observe a celibate dinner.

How to become a Buddhist monk? First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the teachings of religion, find a spiritual mentor and start preparing for leaving for a monastery. For example, with the help of a mentor, you need to master the art of meditation. Buddhist temples are scattered all over the world, they are also in the cities of Russia. A person wishing to adopt this religion must become a regular in such a monastery.

Buddhist monk

How to become a Buddhist monk in Russia? A person who has firmly decided to become a monk of a certain monastery must find out its requirements. It is better to ask them in advance, as they are different. A person whose candidacy is approved undergoes training in the temple, the duration of which depends on the rules of a particular monastery, the degree of readiness of the candidate. This is followed by an initiation ceremony, which can only be performed by an ordained monk. At this stage, the transmission of the Five Commandments and the Three Jewels is carried out, and a Buddhist name is chosen.

The initiate has a teacher, usually the person who performed the ceremony. He is allowed to settle permanently in the monastery. Also, the newly minted monk takes the vow of the Bodhisattva, the legendary hero who laid his life on the development of Buddhist teachings, helping the suffering. Taking a vow, people promise to do good and seek enlightenment throughoutthroughout its existence.

Wishing to devote himself to Buddhism, the monk will have to reject worldly pleasures, luxury items. Of course, relationships with the opposite sex, the creation of a family and the birth of children will become inaccessible to him. However, there is also an opportunity to become a monk temporarily, devoting several months or years to the development of one's own spirituality, the search for the meaning of life.

Road to Tibet

How to become a monk in a Tibetan monastery? Theoretically, this path can be taken by a person living in any country in the world, if he is not afraid of numerous difficulties. Education in the temple is available to anyone who has reached the age of eight. Candidates who do not speak the language need to set aside a year or two for classes at a special school. If you wish, you can also find monasteries with a Russian community without wasting time getting to know the Tibetan language. For example, the communities of Goman and Namgyel, which accept Russian-speaking novices, can be advised to residents of the Russian Federation.

How to become a Tibetan monk? Having mastered the language, it is necessary to find a teacher at the monastery (lama), who will agree 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 studying with a lama, you will need to pass a difficult exam in Buddhism. Having coped with this task, a person acquires the status of a monk-disciple.

On average, novices study for five years, the duration of classes may vary depending on which monasteryselected, as well as on the success of the student. 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

The path from a monk-student to a certified lama teacher is not able to withstand every applicant. Studying in a monastery is hard. Students have to refuse any activities that are entertaining. For example, a student monk can even be kicked out for playing football. The monks lead the lifestyle of ascetics, they are allowed to have a minimum of personal belongings.

The main subject is philosophy, and students also learn logic, the concepts of Buddhism, metaphysics and so on. There is a constant danger of being left for the second year, since the requirements for academic performance are extremely stringent, any manifestations of laziness are severely punished. Some monks are forced to study for twenty years or more if they wish to become PhDs. In addition to studies in the life of a monk, there is also monastic work. He can be entrusted with kitchen work, washing rooms and other tasks. Novices have very little personal time left.

It is interesting that a person whose training is completed is not at all obliged to say goodbye to worldly life. Many monks become administrators, teachers of the temple where they studied. Some become hermits, going to the mountains of their own accord.

The Way to Shaolin

Shaolin is a famous Buddhist temple located in central China. How to become a Shaolin monk? It is also possible thatif a person is not afraid of the difficulties that are inevitable. First of all, the applicant should learn to understand Buddhism, Shaolin philosophy. The followers of the teachings comprehend the techniques of kung fu not at all for the sake of fighting, as it may seem to those who are familiar with the art only through feature films and 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 Shaolin monk? It is useful for people who have such a desire to visit kung fu sections for a while or to practice on their own by 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, a number of European countries.

Shaolin Monk

What to do for 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. Age limit - from six years. However, this person is required to permanently reside in China. In addition, the candidate must be purposeful, hardworking and virtuous, demonstrate readiness for the lifestyle of an ascetic, the manifestation of humility. Less stringent requirements apply to those who wish to practice in the martial arts schools operating at the monastery.

Becoming a novice, the applicant undergoes training, during which mentors observe him, assessing his readiness. Some get the chanceto take monastic vows already a few months later, others have been waiting for this for several years.

Thinking about how to become a Shaolin monk, you need to assess your readiness. People who have been trained in the monastery acquire fantastic endurance, which is developed by grueling workouts. These are physical exercises, martial arts, meditation. All years of study are devoted to the improvement of the mind and body, there is no time for rest and entertainment. It is also worth knowing that the monks do not eat meat, their diet consists of vegetables, fruits, and cereals. This life path is categorically not suitable for those with poor he alth.

Instead of conclusions

A person who thinks about becoming a monk must 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.