Monasteries

[MattSaldana]

If it is true, that your inside lead you here, searching for a teacher.. I must ask, what is your idea of enlightenment?

My idea of enlightenment is to be one with everything, which is to love unselfishly at all times, and be free from the ego. That is my path and my purpose. While I understand that I can pursue this path on my own everyday, I'm here to seek help, like an addict seeking rehabilitation. I feel I'm making great strides on a daily basis in my battle with my ego. However, as I get higher up the mountain, I'm starting to see my ego is much larger than I ever thought it to be. Even when I tell myself that I've made so much progress, it is only my ego telling me that. My ego is so large it is beyond my comprehension right now. Wherein lies the issue; my ego is so large, that I alone cannot see beyond it. I wish to work with a guide who has been to the top of the mountain and can see my ego better than I can, from a higher vantage point.

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In the event that someone was willing to join a monastery to begin taking their growth seriously, where would one go? Could I get some recommendations of places to go?

Hi Matt,
I spent some 10 months or so at Buddhist Monasteries in UK (Cittaviveka/Amaravati) which are from the Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedo (as visitor as well as novice/anagarika) - impressive meditation teachers. I recommend those places for anyone truly interested in serious meditation practice. Also there is the option of going straight to Thailand at Wat Pah Nanachat or Wat Pah Pong. And there is one monastery in US, it's called Abhayagiri.

The environment is very good designed for meditation practice; for me, from all Buddhist traditions, Theravada or Zen seem to be the one most diluted of any cultural content and left with the basis of mental/meditative practice. Of course, there are some limitations in usual life due to joining a traditional religion in form of restraints (sexual, verbal, conduit), but they can be integrated as part of the practice. It is good to be informed on all aspects before making any step in this direction - ask, if necessary.

The branch monasteries from western europe (Amaravati/Cittaviveka) were established some more than 30 years ago by Ajahn Sumedho , a monk that from perspectives of many, is a 'realized' being.

If you have any questions, let me know, I have some experience in this field.

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how old are you?

when I was around 19-21 I felt the strongest urge to move to Thailand and become a buddhist monk for life. Never followed through on it, of course.

the alternative to the allure of the monastic life is finding ways to create more free time in your ordinary life. For eg, if you are able, to drop down to 4 or 3 days of paid work if you are able to survive on that reduced income.

the extra time that opens up for use in meditation or reflection or reading or contemplation is like the highest gold; and an asset that even the rich and wealthy are poor in.

I agree with this: I moved from monastery and am developing life in such a way as to balance 'material life' - getting an income, family, relations, etc- with moving towards more inner practice, i.e. meditation, contemplation, open awareness. I really expect to experience (some) enlightenment this lifetime (a modesty joke, of course )

Hello Mahai,

Thank you so much for your terrific information! I am going to send you a PM, I would like to know more!