What should I become, a hermit or a monk? I’m inspired by hermits such as Sumedha, Temiya, etc, and I want to live the kind of ascetic life that they live. However, there is also the monk life which has its own benefits such as guidance from a preceptor.
Although one can’t ordain as a monk by himself, it’s possible to self-ordain as a hermit based on the jataka stories.
Are hermits allowed to stay at Pa-Auk?
Monk is better, more challenging. Having to live with others. Once one becomes independent, one can choose to be a hermit monk.
But if one finds that certain precepts one doesn’t want to hold, better to just become a hermit and not be a bad monk.
That is true, Venerable Sir, In the past, the 227 rules did scare me, but I realize as long as I have hiriottapa, wise friends teachers, I won’t break the rules intentionally. If I can fully learn and memorize all the rules, I think it’s possible to not even break rules unintentionally.
I want to become a hermit in 10 years. I might still become a monk later, but I want to become a hermit first.
What do you mean by “hermit”? Do you mean a Himalayan yogi? When there is Dhamma presented in a well-explained manner, through the Buddha’s words, meditation techniques, and Abhidhamma, what will you gain by becoming an independent hermit?
I live in India, and I feel bad for those yogis who seem to waste their lives. They often don’t understand true Dhamma and follow their teachers blindly. The situation is not far different from what it was during the Buddha’s time. Ascetic practices of various kinds and degrees can still be seen today. If you follow any accomplished yogi, you may reach certain meditative states, perhaps even up to bhavanga.
It’s often better to follow the Sangha or to go to Pa Auk and become a full-time meditator.
I mean an ascetic like Sumedha, Temiya, Kosiya, etc.
The ascetic Sumedha wasn’t forced to become a Bhikkhu after receiving the definite prophecy to become a Buddha. I think he remained as a hermit as far as I know.
The ascetic Kosiya was one of the past lives of Venerable Subhuti in the Thera Apadana. He met the Buddha and the Buddha of his time encouraged him to practice recollection of the Buddha. The ascetic Kosiya also wasn’t encouraged to become a Bhikkhu as far as I know.
From these examples, we can see that it’s completely fine to remain as a hermit instead of becoming a monk.
The kind of hermit that I’m thinking off is probably different from what you have in mind.
In Myanmar, there are hermits who wear the clothes with the ascetic hat as mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures. I don’t see that kind of ascetics in India, but the tradition still exists in Myanmar. They are also Buddhists. There was even a famous hermit in Myanmar in the past and he was a Buddhist who established many Buddhist shrines as far as I’ve heard.
So, it’s completely fine to practice the Dhamma as a hermit.
Even modern day nuns are a kind of ascetic.
I kind of got approval from my parents to ordain in 10 years so I’m happy. They want me to graduate from college and work for a while. I still have 2-3 more years until I graduate from college. They’re fine with me just working for 7 years.
So, I just have to choose between becoming a hermit or a monk. If I succeed in meditation by the time I’m allowed to ordain, I think I might become a hermit first and go to Pa Auk, but if I don’t succeed in meditation by then, I’ll just go to Pa Auk and do as the Venerables from Pa-Auk recommend.
10 more years doesn’t feel that long to me. It’s still a while, but I’m happy I’ll be able to leave the household life and renounce the world in 10 years.
Okay, it’s your choice. I respect it. As you grow in meditation and teaching through these years, I am sure you will make the best decision.
But can you just tell me what the difference is between the practices that hermits and monks follow?
Actually, I thought about it and I’ve decided to just become a monk instead because I want to be a disciple of the Buddha(I want to become a Buddha but I want to be a disciple of the Buddha in this life).
Also, I did more research and it seems a monk’s life is more simple. A monk only needs a bowl, robe and a few more requisites.
As for practice, both hermits and monks can practice the Dhamma, but I realize that usually if one wants to practice under someone, they have to follow their rules and and instructions.
So, if I want to follow the Buddha’s teachings and practice under His instructions, it’s best to become a monk and follow the vinaya.
A fully ordained Bhikkhu, faithful to the Dhamma, has more opportunities of spiritual development and to benefit other beings. If it is possible for you to ordain as a Bhikkhu, I believe it is better and more advantageous than living as a hermit.
However, there are those who cannot or do not wish to ordain as Bhikkhus. Some are restricted by Vinaya clauses that prevent full ordination. Others may have different reasons, such as temperament issues, difficulties in adhering to monastic rules, the necessity of handling money, or the desire to live in areas with few Buddhist practitioners. If these reasons are not manifestations of mental issues or spiritual immaturity, practicing as a hermit becomes a possibility.
In the Buddhist tradition, there are already wandering monks, but this requires substantial prior experience and is challenging outside Buddhist countries. If I’m not mistaken, wandering monks are also required to congregate regularly (e.g., on Uposatha days).
A non-monastic alternative would be the practice as an Anagarika, individuals who renounce household life and regularly observe the Ten Precepts- or adhere to the Eight Precepts if they still handle money. Those who do not use money must rely on alms for food, so an alms bowl is useful in such cases. However, they must avoid wearing ochre robes (or any color commonly associated with monastic robes), as this could be seen as self-ordination.
Can one become anagarika or live like anagarika in pa auk monestries???
I prefer hermit over anagarika to be honest. But yeah, becoming a Bhikkhu is better than being a hermit.
I also prefer community life. Associating with noble people is a crucial factor in attaining the state of sotappana. I prefer living as a layperson in Pa-auk or Na-Uyana rather than being a hermit.