Buddhism

1. Buddhism Monastic and Lay Buddhists

2. Monastic Buddhists • Monastic Buddhists are monks and nuns • There are no nuns in the Theravada tradition but there are nuns in Mahayana Buddhism • They live in a monastery away from their families • Monks and nuns own very few possessions • They can be recognised because they wear robes not ordinary clothes • Young monks may go and live in a monastery for a while and receive an education • Monks and nuns live a disciplined life of prayer, study and meditation • Monks and nuns are celibate (do not have sexual relationships)

3. Lay Buddhists • Lay Buddhists live in villages and towns • They are people who follow Buddhism but do not live in a monastery • They do not wear robes but may have been educated by monks • Lay people are not celibate like monks • Lay Buddhists will have families and children • They follow the teachings of the Buddha but not so strictly as monastic Buddhists • They may find it difficult to dedicate themselves to the practice of meditation • They may seek spiritual guidance from monks • Heavy emphasis on morality for laity

4. Monks provide spiritual guidance (if it is required) for lay Buddhists Monks officiate at religious festivals and ceremonies In helping the monks laity receive good merit/kamma Monks support families in times of bereavement They teach meditation Help lay people to understand the dhamma better Lay people provide food for monks on alms rounds in Thailand and Sri Lanka Laity perform ‘menial’ work for monastic community Jobs such as cooking, cleaning, gardening, general maintenance and administration Laity do jobs for monks to enable them to focus on the spiritual path How do lay and monastic communities work together?

5. Why is it easier for monks and nuns to follow the dhamma? • Life in a monastery is very disciplined • Monks get up early and follow a very strict routine of prayer, study and meditation • Far fewer distractions for people living a monastic life than there are for lay Buddhists • No: TVs, alcohol, advertising, consumerism, family pressures, pressures of work, they own very little, very little influence from outside • Living with others who are focussed on following a spiritual path • They support each other and give guidance • Non attachment is embodied in austere living conditions

6. What difficulties might a lay person have when trying to follow the dhamma? • Living in a world surrounded by material and sensory pleasures • Adverts on TV tell people that they will never be complete until they have one of these • Images in the media of how one should look and what you should have • Pressures of trying to provide for their families • Pressure at work • Pressure of not having enough • Pressures of relationships • Financial worries • Alcohol and drugs or sex may be a temptation • Busy lives and the pressure of society • Not enough time to focus on spiritual matters