How do monks live safely in the forest? I want to meditate under a tree when I ordain but there might be snakes in the forest so how do monks protect themselves? Are there any preliminary tasks a monk has to do before sitting under a tree like looking for any snakes or maybe cleaning up the area a bit and then sitting down and meditating? What if one wants to use the bathroom but there’s no bathroom nearby? What should one do in such cases?
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Most monks who live outside use at least a mosquito net. That will keep snakes and bugs out of the way (mostly).
Actually, I bet you didn’t know this, but most of the outdoor scenic meditation pictures you see are simply “posed”. If they are outside and don’t have a net, it is unlikely they are meditating longer than the time it takes to take a photo.
All that said, I did know one monk who didn’t use a net. He was known as the walking monk in Australia (long before the walking monk in the USA). He is very rare. But even so, he will put his robe over his head completely to keep the bugs out.
As for staying safe, we have a chant called Khandha Paritta.
This is required for monks who live in the forest to chant every day.
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Forest monks in well supported monasteries can just stay in well done huts in the forest, some has even attached toilets or toilet is nearby, or can just use pee jar.
Then it’s basically can live in a room, without danger from wildlife, but can get the fresh air and seclusion.
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The majority of monks live in kutis.
Living under a tree is rare. It should be known it is prohibited during the official rainy season, unless you can make it into room with a door. You can read about that in bmc2.
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Not to mention ants for one sitting under a tree. Ants crawling and biting is not conducive for meditation.
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Practicing loving kindness is a must for monks that live in the forest. It helps protect you from such harms. When i had an ant problem at my house, i noticed they would never bite me if i practiced loving kindness the night before.
Practical things like mosquito nets and such are also the norm.
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With the power of Atanatiya Protective Sutta…
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The answer is very easily. First thing is to learn the metta sutta and khanda metta sutta which is specifically for snakes. In all the time I was a monk I have seen lots of snakes, cobra, vipers, banded kraites. Come close but never bitten. I have never seen any monk bitten by a venomous snake not even heard of one being bitten. Imagine that.
Myanmar has one of the highest death rates from snake bites in the world. Farmers get bitten when harvesting rice. The snakes can be under the cut rice straw.
If you live with wild animals as I have done you see that it is more scary living with humans. Humans are dangerous and deadly on a scale that wild animals can never match. Just have a think about it. HUMANS are the most dangerous animal alive… send them metta too, they need it.
The animal kingdom has its own ethics. Especially if you not percieved as food you won’t be eaten. I have seen a lot of snakes up close, but never seen one be agressive towards a monk. Leave them alone and they are fine. I lived in a cave and woke up one morning with a snake in the corner within 3 feet of me. It just slink out the door slowy when I lit a candle. I have had a cobra sitting on a shelf right next to me.
Wild pigs, wild deer, snakes, scorpions etc they all respond to metta and stillness in a peaceful way. Many times I sat peacefully meditating in the forest and you will hear a rustle in the leaves etc and there is a deer next to you nibbling on the leaves or a snake slithering past. They just ignore you. Squirrels, frogs and birds can land on your shoulder. Scares you but it is amazing. I have watched without moving as a wild civet cat came up to me and never saw me because i did not move. Very bizarre.
Insects however will bite, mosquitoes etc… but they also respond to metta in some strange way. Most forest monks are living inside. And sit under mosquito nets. Usually we also oil the legs of our wooden huts and beds so you don’t wake up in the middle of the night covered in ants etc. Sometimes when it rains the ants will invade your room climb up on you and for some reason all bite at once. That is not fun to wake up to. But you survive and deal with it.
We usually have pit toilets in forest monasteries. Can be very basic with a bamboo screen. We always have a pot of water and soap for washing after defacating. Olden times used bamboo sticks as toilet paper.
Old monks tell you about Tigers… they eat people… stay off the animals paths at night they will walk straight by. Sit on the path you will get run into all night. Never seen a wild tiger. A monk told me once they were all over the forests. Then you only saw them on match boxes (tiger brand) then later they even disappeared off match boxes. Last place I lived where they had Tigers once hadn’t seen one since just after ww2.
People are always afraid of what they don’t understand. Animals are easily befriended humans are not so easy.
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