Download Buddhist Monastic Communities in Europe Buddhist Monastic

Buddhist Monastic Communities
in Europe
Overview
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Buddhist monastic code → Canon → Vinaya
Term „Buddhist Monastic Community“ (30 min.)
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Definition, Main Monastic Traditions, Purpose
Some examples of Monastic Communities in
Europe (Asian / Western style) (20 min.)
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Conclusion / Perspectives (10 min.)
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especially the situation of nuns
Discussion (30 min.)
Ethymology of a Buddhist
Monastery/Nunnery/Convent
Tibetan Buddhism
Theravāda
Tib.: Tsuglagkhang
(Sanskrit: vihāra) –
assembly hall, esp. for the
poṣadha ceremony. At least
3 km distance from the next
village
Pāli: Vihāra - first an abode
or a hut (kutī) in the forest
(ārañña), later a larger
building, an organized
monastery
Tib. coll.: Gönpa (Skt:
āraṇya - being in or relating
to a forest)
Buddhist Monastic Community
Definition, Traditions, Purpose
Pāli: uposatha hall
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Nuns more than 300 rules
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Monks more than 200 rules
Monastic Community/ Monastic Order (Saṅgha)
Assembly of at least 4 fully ordained monks or 4 fully
ordained nuns (bhikṣus/bhikṣuṇīs)
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for some monastic rites: 5, 6, 10 or 12 bhikṣu(ṇī)s
monastery/nunnery/convent: the residence of a
monastic community of at least 4 bhikṣu(ṇī)s
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Main Monastic Traditions
All monastic orders follow the Vinaya (Buddhist
monastic code)
Four Main Monastic Orders
Monks
Nuns
(1) Theravāda
(4) Dharmaguptaka
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More than 9 Vinaya traditions known to us
(2) Dharmaguptaka
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Only 3 Vinaya traditions alive:
(3) Mūlasarvāstivāda
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Pāli Vinaya / Theravāda (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma,
Cambodia and Laos)
Dharmaguptaka Vinaya (Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam)
Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya (Tibet, Bhutan, in the Indian
Himalaya region and Mongolia)
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developed several
saṅghas in various
countries
in each country
different monasteries
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developed several
saṅghas in various
countries
in each country
different monasteries
Similarities / Differences
All monastic orders
All monastic orders
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reach back to the Buddha
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follow the Vinaya
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have almost the same
rules and rites
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shave their heads
during ordination all
receive an alms bowl and
2-3 robes
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Purpose of Monasticism
What are the reasons to become a monastic?
wear different colors
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belong to different
philosophical schools:
Theravāda
➢ Mahāyāna
➢ Vajrayāna
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What is the purpose of monastic communities?
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developed special
features of monastic
lifestyle and how to keep
their rules
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Examples of Buddhist Monastic
Communities in Europe
Two kinds: Asian and Western style
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Rikon Monastery near Winterthur/Zürich in
Switzerland (founded 1968)
Cittaviveka Chithurst Buddhist Monastery (founded
1979)
Nalanda Monastery near Toulouse in France
(founded in 1981)
Plum Village Monastery in the Dordogne in the
south of France (founded 1982)
Amaravati near Hertfordshire in England (founded
1983-85)
to follow the example of the Buddha's way of renunciation
in order to attain liberation from the cycle of existence
(saṃsāra)
by vocation, to lead a simple life, reduce attachment and
to focus on study and practice of Buddhism
to make monastic life possible (to give idell and material
support)
to maintain the teaching of the Buddha
Monastic Community of the
Tibet Institute Rikon (1968)
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9 monks of all four traditions (abbot: always
Gelugpa / appointed by H.H. the Dalai Lama)
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Born between 1931 and 1976 (age 34-79)
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Activities
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communal daily prayers, taking care of the refugee
community (spiritual guidance, ceremonies during
Tibetan festivals, teaching Buddhist philosophy and
Tibetan language)
imparting knowledge of Tibetan culture, Science
meets Dharma project
Nalanda Monastery near Toulouse
in France (1981)
For Western monks in the Tibetan Gelug tradition
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Vision: not less than 50 monks; currently
around 25 monks
Tibetan resident teacher (study program)
Aims to be a home for monks to train in
philosophy, monastic discipline, and retreats
Visitors welcome (specially on Sunday, women
can stay in the local area)
Monks community Nalanda/France
New building project
Video: http://www.nalandamonastery.eu/nalanda/index.php?
page=videos&hl=en_US
Cittaviveka Chithurst
Buddhist Monastery (1979)
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Monastery in the tradition of Theravada
Buddhism (lineage of the Thai forest tradition)
20-25 monks, nuns, novices, lay guests (abbot:
Ajahn Sucitto, b. London 1949, bhikkhu 1976)
Residence for bhikkhus (monks) and siladharas
(nuns)
Training in ethics, meditation and renunciation
in a quite rural environment
Visitors, men and women, welcome to stay
Amaravati near Hertfordshire
in England (1983-85)
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Amaravati near Hertfordshire
Buddhist monastery in the tradition of Ajahn
Chah (Thai) and Ajahn Sumedo (American, b.
1934, bhikkhu 1967)
21 monks (mainly Westerner, age 20-76), 13
nuns (mainly Westerner, age 37-64), 9 lay
residents and guests, age 31-59)
Daily routine from 5.00-21.30 (meditation,
cleaning and other work, light breakfast and
meal offering, individual practice and study
time)
Plum Village Monastery in the
Dordogne in France (1982)
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Buddhist monastery for monks and nuns and a
mindfulness practice center for lay people
(tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh)
growing Sangha of 200 monastics spread out
among 3 centers in France, California and NY
„Those with a sincere aspiration to cultivate
understanding and compassion as their only
career, are welcome to join our monastic
community. You would live, learn, and practice
in one of our three monasteries“
Recent annual Great Ordination
Ceremony at Plum Village
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Jan. 2010: Plum village conducted a series of
ceremonies lasting one week, transmitting
„trainings, precepts and Dharma lamps to new
Dharma teachers“. Monks and nuns from
Vietnam and Europe, family and friends from
around the world came to support and to
participate in the program.
Conclusion / Perspectives
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Most Buddhist Monasteries as well as the
Dharma Centers in Europe are headed by
monks
Conclusion / Perspectives
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Nuns communities in Europe do exist
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Nuns, if present, mostly play a subordinate role
(adjunct of the monks community)
Reasons: 1. nuns order, although founded by
the Buddha, no longer existent in all traditions;
2. lack of equal education for Buddhist nuns
Since the 1980s trials to revive the nuns order
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mainly in the Vietnamese tradition (Germany,
France), most senior nun is the head of a pagoda in
Hamburg (all Vietnamese); Plum Village and most
other pagodas in Europe headed by monks
the Tibetisches Zentrum Hamburg has the only
complete bhikṣuṇī saṅgha (5 bhikṣuṇīs) in Europe
following the Tibetan tradition, but they have no
building or common housing
Perspectives:
Nunnery in Lerab Ling in France?
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Five monks (2 bhikṣus), 8 nuns, age 35-67
Countries: Australia, US, Denmark, France,
Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Tibet, UK
Probationary period: 2 years (resident in center)
Duties: shrine, ritual, care for international lay
saṅgha (5000), retreat manager, administration
Number of nuns are seeking higher ordination
now (full support of Sogyal Rinpoche, lay lama)
Perspectives:
Nunnery in Lerab Ling in France?
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Technically listed with the French government
as religious congregation, housed in a temple
without a guiding abbot or abbess. Large
dharma centre, with the monastic and the lay
community working alongside each other, as
directed by Sogyal Rinpoche. The monastic
community operates distinct from the lay
community, with it's own rules and residence