VISITING THE MONASTERY
VISITING GUIDELINES
A Theravada forest hermitage or monastery is a special place. Supporters of the hermitage aspire to guide their actions with the intention of non-harming. We strive to maintain a respectful attitude towards all living beings and towards the land. The Buddha wanted his nuns and monks to be able to interact with lay people to share the teachings. He also wanted them to be separate from worldly affairs so they could focus their energy on spiritual practice. For that reason the Buddha laid down rules of behavior for monastics (monks and nuns). These rules permit interaction, while at the same time discouraging intimacy. For example, the rules for Theravada monks and nuns require that they do not touch members of the opposite sex. Therefore, you can greet them by holding your palms together in the praying position instead of shaking their hands. Theravada monks and nuns do not eat solid food after midday, to facilitate a simple life and to leave the afternoons and evenings free for meditation. They are not allowed to store food, or to cook their meals themselves, and depend entirely on daily offerings of almsfood. Dependency on alms, which are eaten out of the begging bowl, fosters a sense of humility in the monastic, and gives the lay community an opportunity for simple but deeply meaningful acts of charity.Every morsel of food offered on this occasion provides the monk or nun with health, strength, and energy for their spiritual quest, and will result in joy and good karma for the giver. On almsround, monks and nuns have to preserve a high degree of sense restraint and mindfulness.They walk with downcast eyes and usually receive alms in complete silence, except for a short blessing. The laypeople who come to the hermitage are not bound by the rules for monastics. You can interact with them as you would with any friend or acquaintance. According to the rules of celibacy laid down by the Buddha, a monk alone may not sit or talk privately with women. The presence of another man is always required - even to discuss Dhamma or to sit in silent meditation in the same room. For this reason, ladies need to ensure that another man is present when they visit the resident monk. Lay visitors are also requested to dress modestly when visiting - please no shorts for men or women or dresses above the knees or low necklines. Thank you for your understanding. May you enjoy your visit to Dhammagiri. You may also be interested in reading a detailed guide written for lay people on monastic vinaya: Discipline and Convention |
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Visitors are requested not to use mobile phones or similar electronic devices
(tablets, laptops, games) in or around the Dhammahall. |
