>>674886229
Why? Buddhism is just as fucked as any other religion.

>>674886352
The difference between religion and buddhism and religion is that religion concentrates on theology whereas buddhism concentrates on letting go of suffering.

You may be interested to read what Sam Harris, a neuroscientist and noted writer, thinks about the proposition of finding enlightenment through Buddhism: http://www.samharris.org/media/killing-the-buddha.pdf

>>674887009
Here it is online, so you don't have to download a pdf: https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/killing-the-buddha

I highly doubt you are, most people that become monks have been buddhists for a while. How about you do some research, talk to some dharma teachers and maybe become a buddhist first.

Either way, I've spent quite a while around a lot of buddhists and monks. If you're serious about this then my only bit of advice is be prepared to chop a lot of fucking wood.

>>674887162

An ineresting read. Overall I agree with the author, though I find him to be a bit overly pessimistic. I.E. identifying with buddhism or any other religion does not constitute irrationality.

>>674886229
Its a HUUUGE commitment its not like Hey what up am monk now... no it takes years for you to fullly understand the peace of it and just how your life will be changed

>>674887408
I've never met anyone so spiritually inclined. any specifics about who you talked to, or what you talked about/learned would be appreciated.

>>674888264
Exactly! I'm unsure of myself.

How old are you

When did you decide that you want to live in a monetary, and where (location) do you plan on centering your practice

Bonus: why?
I hope you know they do not accept anyone who has any unfinished business financially

>>674886229
>taking on the eightfold path
the eightfold path was taught for householders.
if you want to become a monk you need to focus on the for noble truths, all teachings are incorporated into the 4 noble truths.

>>674886352
>Buddhism is just as fucked as any other religion
read anon, you obviously have never studied any religion let alone practised what was taught

>>674887408
>chop a lot of fucking wood
WTF is that supposed to mean?
I live in a monastery and chopping wood was never part of any syllabus.

>>674888426
There is alot more u can still meditate and visit the temples even without being monk they will invite you

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>>674888688
Not sure, really. I imagine I'll self teach to the best of my abilities using sources of information I have at my disposal. And just go from there.

Why?
I'm glad you asked. The easiest answer is to say that I want an end to my suffering. I had a pregnancy scare recently. Although luckily the results came back negative, it through me for a mental roller coaster. And I'm at the point now where I can see through the fog and want to start trudging towards the other side.

>>674887162
I'm going to finish reading this due to interest; but so far the first two paragraphs are shit. Buddhists don't consider it a religion, and hate the term "Buddhist/ism" in general because it labels it and builds it as a concept which takes focus away from what it is actually being said, which I have a feeling this article is going to do.

>>674886229
so what has made you decide you want to become a monk?

what teaching and tradition are you versed in?

what do you expect to gain from becoming a monk?

>>674889311
Because they won't take "I'm not sure; I just have a good feeling about it," as an application thesis. How much studying have you done on the subject matter precisely?

>>674889364

Pregnancy scare

None really I'm pretty green but would love some suggestions

I'd like to evolve beyond suffering.

>>674889204
You have internet connection and browse 4chan in a monastery?

>>674889311
>I want an end to my suffering
you know the only way to freedom from suffering is extinction of self right?
this is the 4 noble truths.
even senior mo nks know that they may noyt attain nirvana in this life but work to accumulate merit and wisdom for the next life.

meaning they still suffer for the rest of their lives, to varying degrees. but often lesser than ordinary people.

essentially you cant run away from problems/suffering because they are inherent parts of the sentient condition.

>>674889612

I've googled it.

>>674889735
This.

By you implying that you "want to join a monetary in order to end all suffering" shows you don't belong in one. At least not yet.

>>674889722
not 4chan I was a newfag to 4chan then and I practised abstinence so no porn , degeneracy etc but there was a computer for email, banking etc. I was a lay person though, its kind of frowned on for monks and nuns depending what tradition and level you are at too.
I learnt and practice a vajrayana tradition so in vajrayana, degenerate things like drugs, sex, 4chan can be turnt into spiritual wealth, with skilful means (upaya in buddhism) but only certain people can do these practises, you need to find your own level of wisdom and effort.

>>674886229
That means 1 less faggot in this world

>>674890128
I think I understand. So through these 'degenerate' things you learn something or get a message out of it?

>>674890107
>shows you don't belong in one. At least not yet
no necessarily. it can show tat you are ready to leve the mundane behind to apply effort to the path, that is why people go, not often out of faith but out of hopelessness and a true realization there is no true happiness in this life..

I would suggest to OP, the advice I was given by a monk.
Not to cultivate the desire but to allow it arise naturally.

my problem when I first got into it was I wanted to escape, but there is no escape, there is just different circumstances.

>>674890423
Not op, but good advice. I'll take it with a grain of salt.

>>674890323
>I think I understand. So through these 'degenerate' things you learn something or get a message out of it
no its very more complicated than that.
its called transforming the attachments and bringing the result into the path.

essentially there are no good or bad things there are just actions and effects. buddhas and arhants have purified all suffering by purifying all causes (extinction of self) so all effects are pure and give rise to bliss.
with skillful means some of us can change our world view and to some level experience that bliss before becoming enlightened, then being able to use anything as a method on the path.

where the orthodox traditions would only state to refrain from all these actions, which could turn into repression or deep seeded desires, vajrayana is a different approach.

as I said only suitable for certain people.
something Im not able to teach

if you want to know more look into the vajrayana
Mahamudra and the buddhist tantras

Well, if there's anything I learned from this thread, it's that I have a lot to learn and I should contact some local monasteries. Thanks all for your feedback.

Except>>674890107 your really gonna condescend me because I want to do something about human suffering? That is a shame.

>>674891260
just like anything anon, we need teachers, your first point of call would be to find people more experienced than you, in person as well as books.
there are plenty of masters around in this world but only THE buddha did it on his own.

good luck, even if you just practise simple effective techniques it can still enrich your life and make your inner wealth strong

Reformed Neo Buddhism is so much better. Imagine what you could do as a level 5 lazer lotus

OP, will you still log in to /b/ when you're on the eightfold path?

>>674890323
not same guy but i certainty love all the stuff i read on here, gives me a good pov.
been studying far eastern philosophy/religion 3 1/2 years

>>674891914
what have you been studying anon? have you put any of it into practice?

>>674892069
mostly taoism, but also zen and buddhism and yes i have
but because of its nature its only truly in practice if im not trying to put it in practice.....
oh fuck thats delicious i just love how all this stuff makes sense.

>>674892307
>but because of its nature its only truly in practice if im not trying to put it in practice
seems like you got the grasp
its The way the tao, Im a toaist to but only call myself that as a lable for that is all it is. I commented on a lot of the above buddhist wisdom as I have spent a great deal of my time practising buddhist tantras, and now I am able to mix buddhist tantra with taoist chi gong and inner alchemy.

my life is shit but im happy most of the time.

>>674889311
That and OP's pic merely show that ppl. looking for 'spiritual' enlightenment secretly desire to have the impact of an atomic bomb. I.e. ego all the way.

>>674892627
its weird im not happy but at the same time i am because this whirling of life is only alive when its free to go anywhere
so into hells and heavens i endlessly indulge, gotta love it all not because i should but because its so beautiful.

>>674893311
TBH you sound like a manic despressive more than anything else.

>>674893288
this, but once you get in deep you can drop that ego shit, its tricky as fuck but can be done, obviously lol

>>674890933
You thought young women doing yoga in stretchy leotards was good? This week we have a special issue on vajrayana as one of the best ways to feel like a special snowflake whilst indulging all your desires.

>>674893440
no i just see both ends of the spectrum are equally beautiful.

>>674893440
>TBH you sound like a manic despressive more than anything else.
if you understood the tao te ching you would understand what he is on about.
society likes to pigeon hole us down, like I said a few post above my life is shit, but that is only conventionally (not much money, house good career etc) ultimatly I am free and can live my life however I want it because Of a lack of attachments to things.

this is in a way what this anon is saying, he is following the tao and finding the wonder at the root of things.

>>674893288
>ego all the way.
the only way to eradicate it it to get it to fight itself
the expression "how can I heal a deluded mind when all I have as a tool is a deluded mind" ego being the delusion.
you trick it into thinking it is strengthening itself by weakening it, because weakening it makes you feel good, which the ego likes very much.

>>674893658
>This week we have a special issue on vajrayana as one of the best ways to feel like a special snowflake whilst indulging all your desires
If you know what the vajrayana is, then you would know what I was vaguely trying to convene. its not like I could take heroin 24/7 and become enlightened but I could emanate myself as vajrayogini when i drink beer and feel bliss in worldly enjoyments, as if I was a buddha already

>>674894052
>he is following the tao and finding the wonder at the root of things.

Or he is trying really hard to convince himself that even though he is knee-deep in shit, he still smells like roses.

>>674894327
no you fool, im quoted fag
the smell of the roses makes the shit so interesting, and the shit makes the roses soooo lovely

>>674894327
well you will never know, maybe pick up a translation and try to solve the riddle yourself, live by some of its philosophies and find out.
the tao te ching changed my life and perspective at such a young age, I managed to smell the roses in the crime and drug infested shit social life I was living in.

>>674894625
sorry not quoted one, the one ur referring to
sorry

>>674894625
>the smell of the roses makes the shit so interesting, and the shit makes the roses soooo lovely
this is the interconnectedness of all things
tho quote the tao
"beauty and mercy are only recognized by those who know their opposites"

>>674894703
cool man....so similar to me....i too found it at a young age soaked in drugs
and social life was shit cuz i was awkward and couldnt get along with anyone (too shy and introverted)
spent so much time getting high alone everyday, the tao kept me sane

>>674894625
>no you fool
I can just feel the peace of mind and security through the copper wires.

>well you will never know, maybe pick up a translation and try to solve the riddle yourself, live by some of its philosophies and find out.

You know nothing about me. I was merely offering an alternative explanation, not even claiming it was true. Your overreaction seems to indicate it struck too close to home. Note that word, 'seems'.

>the tao te ching changed my life and perspective at such a young age,

What do you want, a cookie?

>I managed to smell the roses in the crime and drug infested shit social life I was living in.

Good for you.

>>674895724
sorry i have a sentimental love for the "no you fool" line because of zen tales and such with the masters awakening their students
i can see it seeming like i was being a dick but i was just using the flavour the masters used cause it tastes good.

>>674896002
I see, I appreciate the civility especially since I do realise I am playing the cynic here. No-one like cynics.

>>674896863
on the surface maybe but cynics help me see what it is not to be cynical
and other pov are fun even if sometimes annoying, not that cynics or you are particularly annoying

I spent some time at a buddhist temple and it was great I left feeling like i had just been blessed. everytime i went to a church as a kid I could just tell half the people there were really not the greatest people. Im still a buddhist till this day sinse about 13 but i still feel no matter what i do life is always shit because of how the world is run and all the hoops we jump thru to qualify for the essentials.

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>>674886229
How about you do something productive rather than run away from life?