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Monastic Life

 

Readings and Resources


"… most Buddhists in both Asia and the West remain lay practitioners. Nevertheless, there is a corner in many people's hearts that wonders, ‘What would it be like to be a monastic?’"

  Venerable Thubten Chodron



Readings and Resources

There’s a surprising wealth of material available on monastic life. Use these resources to explore further.

Articles & Audio Teachings on Line

Suggested Readings (download word format)

Monastic Life and Community Life

  • Chodron, Thubten, ed. Preparing for Ordination: Reflections for Westerners Considering Monastic Ordination in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition. Seattle: Life as a Western Buddhist Nun, 1997. For free distribution, write to Sravasti Abbey, 692 Country Lane, Newport WA 99156, USA. Online at http://www.thubtenchodron.org/Publications/PreparingForOrdination

  • Chodron, Thubten. “Spiritual Sisters: A Benedictine and a Buddhist Nun in Dialogue.” See http://www.thubtenchodron.org/InterreligiousDialogue

  • Chodron, Thubten. Various articles on monastic life at: http://www.thubtenchodron.org/BuddhistNunsMonasticLife

  • Hanh, Thich Nhat. Friends on the Path. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 2002.

  • Hanh, Thich Nhat. Joyfully Together: The Art of Building a Harmonious Community. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 2003

  • Hanh, Thich Nhat. Stepping into Freedom: An Introduction to Buddhist Monastic Training. Berkeley: Parallax Press,1997.

  • International Kagyu Sangha Association. The Profound Path of Peace (several past issues. Gampo Abbey, Pleasant Bay, N.S. BOE 2PO, Canada.

  • International Mahayana Institute. Sangha Magazine. (Several previous issues). www.fpmt.org.

  • Monastic Training Sourcebook, volumes I and II. Gampo Abbey, Pleasant Bay, N.S. BOE 2PO, Canada

  • Sanghadevi. Living Together. Birmingham, UK: Windhorse Publications, 2003

Sutras:
From the Majjhima Nikaya (Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha):

  • MN 3 Heirs in Dhamma (Dhammadayada Sutta)
  • MN 15 Inference (Anumana Sutta)
  • MN 21 The Simile of the Saw (Kakacupama Sutta)
  • MN 22 The Simile of the Snake (Alagaddupama Sutta)
  • MN 31 The Shorter Discourse in Gosinga (Culagosinga Sutta) *
  • MN 33 The Greater Discourse on the Cowherd (Mahagopalaka Sutta)
  • MN 46 The Greater Discourse on Ways of Undertaking Things (Mahadhammasamadana Sutta)
  • MN 50 The Rebuke to Mara (Maratajjaniya Sutta)
  • MN 54 To Potaliya (Potaliya Sutta)
  • MN 65 To Bhaddali (Bhaddali Sutta)
  • MN 75 To Magandiya (Magandiya Sutta)
  • MN 76 To Sandaka (Sandaka Sutta)
  • MN 77 The Greater Discourse to Sakuludayin (Mahasakuludayi Sutta)
  • MN 82 On Ratthapala (Ratthalpala Sutta) *
  • MN 85 To Prince Bodhi (Bodhirajakumara Sutta)
  • MN 104 At Samagama (Samagama Sutta)
  • MN 105 To Sunakkhatta (Sunakkhatta Sutta)
  • MN 108 With Gopaka Moggallana (Gopakamoggallana Sutta)
  • MN 113 The True Man (Sappurisa Sutta)
  • MN 125 The Grade of the Tamed (Dantabhumi Sutta)
  • MN 128 Imperfections (Upakkilesa Sutta)
  • MN 139 The Exposition of Non-Conflict (Aranavibhanga Sutta)
  • MN 142 The Exposition of Offerings (Dakkhinavibhanga Sutta)

From the Digha Nikaya (The Long Discourses of the Buddha):

  • DN 25 The Great Lion's Roar to the Udumbarikans (Udumbarika-Sihanada Sutta)

Vinaya

  • Aggacitta Bhikkhu. Kathina Then and Now. Perak, Malaysia: Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary, 2001.

  • Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. The Siladhara Vinaya Training. 1995.

  • Bhikkhu, Thanissaro. The Buddhist Monastic Code. 1994. For free distribution, write to: The Abbot, Metta Forest Monastery, P.O. Box 1409, Valley Center, CA 92082, USA.

  • The Daily Requisites of Vinaya, English translator unknown. Taiwan: The Committee of Religious Affairs Fo Kuang Shan Buddhist Order, 1998.

  • Dharmacarya Council. Revised Pratimoksha: Recitation Ceremony of the Bhikshur Precepts. France: Plum Village Press, 2003.

  • Dhirasekera, Jotiya. Buddhist Monastic Discipline. Sri Lanka: Ministry of Higher Education Research Publication Series, 1982.

  • The Essentials of the Rules of Discipline for Sramanera and Sramanerikas. English translator unknown. Taiwan: The Committee of Religious Affairs Fo Kuang Shan Buddhist Order, 1998.

  • Gyaltshen, Sakya Pandita Kunga. A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes. Albany NY: SUNY, 2002.

  • Gyatso, Tenzin. Advice from Buddha Shakyamuni Concerning a Monk's Discipline. Dharamsala: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1982.

  • Hanh, Thich Nhat. For a Future to Be Possible. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1993.

  • Hirakawa, Akira. Monastic Discipline for the Buddhist Nuns. Patna, Tokyo: Kashi Prasad Jayaswal Research Institution, 1982.

  • Horner, I. B. Book of the Discipline (Vinaya-Pitaka). Pts. 1-4 of Sacred Books of the Buddhists. London: Pali Text Society, 1983. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, Ltd., 1982.

  • Kabilsingh, Chatsumarn, trans. The Bhikkhuni Patimokkha of the Six Schools. Bangkok: Thammasat University Press, 1991. (also Chowghambha, Varanasi, India)

  • Kabilsingh, Chatsumarn. A Comparative Study of Bhikkhuni Patimokkha. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia, 1984.

  • Miao, Shu-lien, trans. The Dharmagupta-Bhiksuni-Karman, Taiwan: Chinese Buddhist Association, 1983.

  • Miao, Shu-lien, trans. The Model Transmission of the Sramanerika Ordination. Taiwan: Chinese Buddhist Association, 1983.

  • Mipham, Lama and Tsongkhapa. Stanzas for a Novice Monk. Dharamsala, India: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1978.

  • Mohoupt, Fran, ed. Sangha. Kathmandu, Nepal: International Mahayana Institute. (P.O. Box 817).

  • The Profound Path of Peace, no. 12 (Feb. 1993). Write to: International Kagyu Sangha Association c/o Gampo Abbey, Pleasant Bay, N.S. BOE 2PO, Canada.

  • Provisional Version of Regular Monastic Rites for Nuns. Contact Bhikshuni Jampa Tsedroen, Tibetisches Zentrum e.V., Herman-Balk-Str. 106, D-22147 Hammburg, Germany.

  • Rhys Davids, T. W. and Herman Oldenberg, trans. Vinaya Texts. Pts. 1-3. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, 1990.

  • Roth, G.,Bhiksuni-Vinaya, Manual of Discipline for Buddhist Nuns (Arya-Mahasamghika-Lokottaravadin) (Tibetan Sanskrit Works Series, 12), Patna: K.P. Jayaswal Research Institute, 1970.

  • Tegchog, Geshe. Monastic Rites. London: Wisdom Publications, 1985.

  • Thrangu Rinpoche, Khenchen. The Tibetan Vinaya: Guide to Buddhist Conduct. Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications, 1990.

  • Theravada Bhikkhuni Vinaya. Vol. 3 of Vinaya Pitaka. Pali Text Society. Tsedroen, Jampa. A Brief Survey of the Vinaya. Hamburg: Dharma Edition, 1992.

  • Tsering, Tashi and Philippa Russell. “An Account of the Buddhist Ordination of Women.” Cho-Yang 1.1 (1986): 21-30. Dharamsala: Council for Religious and Cultural Affairs.

  • Tsomo, Karma Lekshe. Sisters in Solitude: Two Traditions of Monastic Ethics for Women. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1996.

  • Upsak, C. S. Dictionary of Early Buddhist Monastic Terms. Varanasi: Bharati Prakashan, 1975.

  • Wijayaratna, Mohan. Buddhist Monastic Life According to the Texts of the Theravada Tradition. Trans. Claude Grangier and Steven Collins. Cambridge: Cam¬bridge Universi¬ty Press, 1990.

  • Wu Yin, Bhikshuni. Choosing Simplicity: A Commentary on the Bhikshuni Pratimoksha. Ithaca: Snow Lion, 2001.

  • Wu Yin, Bhikshuni. Teachings on the Dharmagupta Bhikshuni Pratimoksa. Given at Life as a Western Buddhist Nun. For audio tapes, write to Hsiang Kuang Temple, 49-1 Nei-pu, Chu-chi, Chia-I County 60406, Taiwan.

  • Yeshe, Lama and Zopa Rinpoche. Advice for Monks and Nuns. Boston: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archives, 1998.

History

Warder, A. K. Indian Buddhism. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1980.

Other

Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses. Upon this Tradition. 2000.

Henry, Patrick, ed. Benedict's Dharma: Buddhists Reflect on the Rule of Saint Benedict. New York: Riverhead Books, 2002.

Monastic Life
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