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Buddhist Monastic Communities in Europe Overview ● Buddhist monastic code → Canon → Vinaya Term „Buddhist Monastic Community“ (30 min.) ● Definition, Main Monastic Traditions, Purpose Some examples of Monastic Communities in Europe (Asian / Western style) (20 min.) ● ● Conclusion / Perspectives (10 min.) ● ● 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 ● Nuns more than 300 rules ● 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) ● ● 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 ● Main Monastic Traditions All monastic orders follow the Vinaya (Buddhist monastic code) Four Main Monastic Orders Monks Nuns (1) Theravāda (4) Dharmaguptaka ● More than 9 Vinaya traditions known to us (2) Dharmaguptaka ● Only 3 Vinaya traditions alive: (3) Mūlasarvāstivāda ● ● ● 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) ➢ ➢ developed several saṅghas in various countries in each country different monasteries ➢ ➢ developed several saṅghas in various countries in each country different monasteries Similarities / Differences All monastic orders All monastic orders ➢ reach back to the Buddha ➢ ➢ follow the Vinaya ➢ have almost the same rules and rites ➢ ➢ shave their heads during ordination all receive an alms bowl and 2-3 robes ➢ Purpose of Monasticism What are the reasons to become a monastic? wear different colors ● belong to different philosophical schools: Theravāda ➢ Mahāyāna ➢ Vajrayāna ● ➢ What is the purpose of monastic communities? ● developed special features of monastic lifestyle and how to keep their rules ➢ ● Examples of Buddhist Monastic Communities in Europe Two kinds: Asian and Western style 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) ➔ 9 monks of all four traditions (abbot: always Gelugpa / appointed by H.H. the Dalai Lama) ➔ Born between 1931 and 1976 (age 34-79) ➔ Activities ➔ ➔ 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 ● ● ● ● 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) ● ● ● ● ● 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) ● ● ● 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) ● ● ● 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 ● 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 ➔ ➔ ➔ ➔ Most Buddhist Monasteries as well as the Dharma Centers in Europe are headed by monks Conclusion / Perspectives ● Nuns communities in Europe do exist ● 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 ● 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? ● ● ● ● ● 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? ● 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