This week the talk is about the Sangha. In Buddhist countries like Burma, the Sangha is the community of Buddhist monks. A monk can also be called Bhikkhu, which means the one on the way to Nibbana or enlightenment.

THE RULES (VINAYA)

       Monks live in monasteries or Viharas in Pali. Monks live by many rules which is called Vinaya. There are two hundred and twenty seven, 227. Lay persons try to keep five precepts, but the monks try to keep all 227.

       There are some very serious rules, like the four "deadly" rules. They are called deadly because if a monk breaks one of them, he must disrobe (change back to a layman). Just like if you cut the top off a palm tree, then try to put it back and make it grow, it will not. So too, a man can not become a monk again after he breaks one of these rules. These four rules are simply as follows;

       A monk must never have sex;

       A monk must not kill any human being;

       A monk must not steal anything;

       A monk must not lie about being an Arahant (a person who has attained to Nibbana) or about having magic or special powers.

       The monks have some other general rules like; monks cannot play games or do exercises to keep fit. Monks can go walking but that's meditation. The monks don't cut trees, plants or even the grass. Monks aren't gardeners or farmers. The Buddha said that there may be devas or deities (spirits) living with the plant. In Burma and Thailand, at the big, old trees there are usually little shrines and places to offer things to the tree spirits. There are uncountable little insects everywhere. So monks are very careful not to harm them.

       Monks don't accept, hold or keep any kind of money, gold or silver. If someone wants to give us money, then someone else can keep it for us and then they ask us to tell them if we need anything. In this way monks are not greedily saving and spending money in any way they like but they may use donated money for necessary things like books, stationery, toothpaste etc.

       Monks don't go to work or make business. They don't go shopping. If the monks really need something, then someone can take us to the shop and we can choose the right thing for a monk but then the layman pays for it. Rather than give money to a monk, it's better to ask him what he needs or tell him, "If you need anything sir, please let me know".

       The Sangha don't watch TV for entertainment and monks don't go to the movies. Monks only wear robes and must shave their heads. Monks don't take alcohol or drugs. These days, there are some monks who smoke cigarettes and own expensive electrical equipment and grand monasteries, I don't think that's what the Buddha wanted monks to do.

THE SANGHA -THE FOUR NEEDS

       There are four things that every human being needs to survive in life. The Buddha said that these are the only things that a monk really needs, everything else is extra. The four things are;

       1) food and water:- To get food, The monks go for alms-round which is not begging, monks don't ask for food, people give it out of faith in the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha. Monks can accept food in the monastery or even go to a family's house, if they invite us. The monks can get water from anywhere.

       2) clothing:- At the time of the Buddha, the monks used to get rags from the roadside or clothes left at the cemetery after a funeral and make a set of robes. These days The monks are given ready-made robes.

       3) shelter:- This includes the root of a tree, a cave, a grass hut or a building.

       4) medicine:- In Buddha's time, there weren't chemists or pharmacies. Traditionally, monks are allowed to take five kinds of medicine; butter, ghee (purified butter), oil, honey, molasses (sugar). These are also allowable to take in the evening but The monks can only keep them for seven days. The monks can take ordinary modern medicine that has been given to us as long as it doesn't contain food.

THE EIGHT POSSESSIONS

       There are eight things that a monk should always carry with him;

       1) An outer robe. This is double thickness in case of cold weather.

       2) An upper robe. The same size as the outer robe but single thickness.

       3) An inner robe. About half the size of the upper robe, like a sarong.

       4) A belt for the inner robe.

       5) Needle and thread, to make and repair robes.

       6) An alms-bowl with a lid and ring base.

       7) A water filter, to make sure the monks don't drink any insects by mistake.

       8) A razor for shaving head and face.

       Of course, monks do have other things such as toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, a small towel, books and pens, a sitting cloth, bag, cup, spoon, an extra, small robe for washing. Monks may also use slippers and an umbrella but never on alms-round.

FOOD RULES

       There are many rules about food, how to get it, when to eat, how to eat and so on. The Buddha said that one meal a day was enough to keep a monk alive. Monks don't eat from 12.00 noon until dawn the next day. Monks are only allowed to take juice, honey, sugar or candy and medicines. Question; "WHY?" At the time of the Buddha some hungry monks used to go to the village for alms-round in the morning and then go back again in the afternoon and people thought that they were greedy, so the Buddha said, only once a day, in the morning. Also, because monks don't take dinner, they don't have to worry about it and they have more time to practise meditation. People spend a lot of unnecessary time searching, preparing, eating and cleaning up after food. Food should be considered more like medicine to keep us healthy and eaten for it's nutritional value not for it's looks and taste.

SAMANERA - NOVICE MONK

       Before a man can become a monk he must be a samanera, it's like a training course. In Burma most young boys are novices for at least a week at some time. It is considered good luck for him and his family. A samanera must follow 175 rules as well as the ten precepts.

       Simply the ten precepts are;

       no killing,

       no stealing,

       no sex,

       no lying,

       no alcohol or drugs,

       no eating after midday or before dawn,

       no entertainments,

       no perfume or jewelry,

       no sleeping on high and comfortable beds or seats and

       no money.

       If a novice wants to become a monk, he has to ask a senior monk to ordain him. He must also have three robes; outer, upper, inner and an alms-bowl. Then there must be at least five monks present. First, the novice will be asked some questions about his health and life, like; Do you have diseases - leprosy, boils, eczema, tuberculosis or epilepsy? Are you a human being? (not a deva or ghost!). Are you a man? (not a woman). Are you a free man? (not a prisoner). Are you free from debt? (no money owing). Are you free from government service? (Army etc.). Do you have your parent's permission? Are you over twenty years of age? Have you got a complete set of three robes and one alms-bowl?

       If all of these things are fine, he may be ordained as a Bhikkhu to live and practise the Dhamma in peace.

       MAY YOU ALL HAVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE IN A MONASTERY AND LIVE IN PEACE.

Related articles for further reading selected by the Course Organizer:

          (1) What is Samga, Ashin (Venerable) Pyinnyathiha,, 1988,

          (2) Bhikkhuni Sasana: the Order of Buddhist Nuns; By K M On, 1981,