the sangha and cultural differences in B

Question 1

why do people become monks/nuns

Answer 1

• increases karmic merit –> depends on intention
• factor in how devoted you are to the monastery

Question 2

theravadin role of a monk/nun

Answer 2

• community teamwork
• vihara contribute to community as culture bank and hotel
• vihara is benefit for whole community
• believe monk and nuns can work
• Bhikkhu/bhikkhunis

Question 3

mahayanan beliefs on the role of monks

Answer 3

• monks have families
• mutal dependence
• protect buddha teachings
• japan: bhik can grow own food, not dependent on
  community
• community ceremonies
• bhikkshu/bhikkshuni

Question 4

5 additional precepts for T monks

Answer 4

• no eating after midday: no thinking about their next meal, as a distraction; also practical as they gather all their food in the morning to not disturb lay community
• no singing
• no perfume: no attatchment to scent
• no comfortable bed –> attatchment to sleep
• no handling of gold or silver

Question 5

what is the sangha

Answer 5

• community
• anyone who follows B and the dhamma
• 4 assemblies
• lay sangha supported bhikkus by providing food, clothing and accomodation
• B and followers travelled from place to place to minimise attachment
• creation of viharas

Question 6

influences of thailand in the past concerning B

Question 7

role of education in TB

Question 8

organisation of the sangha in thailand

Question 9

wats, monks and nuns in thailand

Answer 9

• ordination is believed to bring good karmic merit for monk’s family for the rest of their lives

NUNS
- 240,000 monks but a few hundred nuns, not recognised by T monk council
- dhammananda, buddhist scholar, female nun ordained in sri lanka
- male monks banned from ordaining women
- TB maintains sexist culture –> women can only become mae chi, lower status than nuns and monks (complete domestic chores, teachers, work with troubled girls), lower karmic status than monk and nun if giving alms

Question 10

the laity in thailand

Answer 10

• upasaka and upasikas
• look after needs of monks an realise good karma , especially T monks
• depend on sangha’s teachings and guides to help them reach enlightenment –> mutal dependence, M belief
• buddhism has patrons who were kings/commoners –> emperor ashoka helped spread it far
• custom of thai males entering sangha contributes to better understanding and cooperation between the lay community and the monkhood

Question 11

the revival of buddhism in thailand

Answer 11

• 2500 years on, great revival, progress in study and practice
• commemorated by meetings, symposia, exhibitions and the publication of B texts and literature
• 2nd world war, europe, america, australia interest in B increased
• spiritual thirst due to war and distress –> mankind realises the truth better
• young people in thailand have had a resurgence in interest of their religion
• thailand B: trying to purify the dhamma of impurities, pristine teaching of Buddha –> depends on economic, social and political climate

Question 12

Examine the changing role of the monastic sangha

Answer 12

• nuns –> dhammananda, sri lank: monks can ordain nuns
• not enough nuns to ordain in thailand, never recognised by monk council
• women can only be mae chi
• temporary monks
• political influence
• reduction in ordained monks
• education –> children need to have other education other than buddhism
• wat phra dhammakaya

Question 13

origins of wat phra dhammakaya

Answer 13

• founded in 1970 by mae chi chandra khonnokyoong + luang por dhammajayo
• theravada tradition
• claims to revive traditional values through modern methods and technology –> face of modern thai buddhism
• international, millions of followers globally, manchester and london temples

Question 14

growth of wat phra dhammakaya and controversy

Answer 14

• massive growth during 1980s
• huge stupa built and in 2007 had 1 mil members world wide
• controversial: dhammajayo + buddhists shouldnt be handling gold/silver or have possessions due to 5 precepts
• statue of buddha and dhammajayo
• engaged in pol discoursed and winning favour with gov, more than the traditional monastic sangha
• 2014: military junta charged dhammajayo with handling stolen goods from the opposition, political tension

Question 15

how does dhammakaya differ from traditional T buddhism

Answer 15

• commercialism and capitalism enforced
• size, organised religion not way of life
• formation
• strict discipline
• devotion to leaders
• political ties
• elements of the miraculous
• use of modern technology
• building