Buddhist monasticism

Main article: Buddhist monasticism The order of Buddhist monks and nuns was founded by Gautama Buddha during his lifetime of over 2500 years ago. The Buddhist monastic lifestyle grew out of the lifestyle of earlier sects of wandering ascetics, some of whom the Buddha had studied under, and was initially fairly eremetic in nature. Monks and nuns were expected to live with a minimum of possessions, which were to be voluntarily provided by the lay community. Lay followers also provided the daily food that monks required, a ...

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Monasticism, Monasticism - Buddhist monasticism, Monasticism - Christian monasticism, Monasticism - Hindu monasticism, Monasticism - Islamic monasticism, Monasticism - Jain monasticism, Monasticism - Monasticism in other religions, Monasticism - External link

Read more here: » Monasticism: Encyclopedia II - Monasticism - Buddhist monasticism

Monasticism is one of the most fundamental institutions of Buddhism. Monks and nuns are responsible for preserving and spreading Buddhist teachings, as well as educating and guiding Buddhist lay followers. The ultimate goal of Buddhist monasticism is liberation from the cycle of rebirth through Nirvana. Collectively, the ordained male and female Buddhist monastics constitute two of the four groups that compose the Buddhist sangha (the other two groups being male and female lay followers). All four groups are seen as being important an ...

Including:

• Buddhist monasticism - History and Development
• Buddhist monasticism - Monastic Life
• Buddhist monasticism - Local Variations
• Buddhist monasticism - Tibet
• Buddhist monasticism - East Asia
• Buddhist monasticism - Southeast Asia

Read more here: » Buddhist monasticism: Encyclopedia - Buddhist monasticism

The Buddhist monastic order is theoretically divided into two assemblies, the male bhikkhu assembley, and the female bhikkhuni assembly. Initially consisting only of males, the Buddhist monastic order grew to include females after the Buddha's step-mother, Mahaprajapati, asked for and received permission to live as an ordained practitioner. In modern practice, the bhikkhuni linneage died out in the Theravada communities, failed to be established in the Vajrayana communities of Tibet and Nepal, and cu ...

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Buddhist monasticism, Buddhist monasticism - History and Development, Buddhist monasticism - Monastic Life, Buddhist monasticism - Local Variations, Buddhist monasticism - Tibet, Buddhist monasticism - East Asia, Buddhist monasticism - Southeast Asia

Read more here: » Buddhist monasticism: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist monasticism - Monastic Life

Buddhism: Buddhist Customs

Buddhist tradition has developed many different customs and practices in different parts of the world. However, two customs are basic to all traditions: Venerating the Buddha and The exchange of gifts.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhist Customs

Karmapa comes from the word karma or karmaka, which means activity. The Karmapas are the first to have realised successive reincarnations. This unbroken succession of masters who have preserved and transmitted the instructions of the Karma Kagyu tradition is referred to as the 'Golden Rosary".

Hence in the Kagyu lineage and practice, the oral teachings and the master-disciple relationship are of supreme significance.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace of Mind: The Tradition of Harmonious Living - Karmapa

The central teaching in Tantra is that all of life is sacred, especially our sexuality. This is because Tantrism views the sex power as being the same inner energy that powers our enlightenment. The practitioner of sexual Tantra attempts to use the powerful sexual force as an agent for awakening and transcendence.

Read more here: » Tantra: Aligning Intimacy with Spirituality

The Therapeutae (meaning "healers" to Philo, "servants" to the Pseudo-Dionysius) and Therapeutridae (the female members of the sect) were an early pre-Christian coenobitic order that the Hellenized Jewish writer Philo of Alexandria knew from personal experience were established on a low hill by the Lake Mareotis close to Alexandria, the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt. Other communities of Therapeutae were widely established in other regions, Philo understood, for "this class of persons may be met with in many places, for both Greece and barbarian countries want to ...

Including:

• Therapeutae - Forerunners of early Christian monastic orders
• Therapeutae - Formative influences

Read more here: » Therapeutae: Encyclopedia - Therapeutae

Monasticism (from Greek: monachos—a solitary person) is the religious practice of renouncing all worldly pursuits in order to fully devote one's life to spiritual work. Many religions have monastic elements, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Jainism, though the expressions differ considerably. Those pursuing a monastic life are usually called monks or brothers (male), and nuns or sisters (female). Both m ...

Including:

• Monasticism - Buddhist monasticism
• Monasticism - Christian monasticism
• Monasticism - Hindu monasticism
• Monasticism - Islamic monasticism
• Monasticism - Jain monasticism
• Monasticism - Monasticism in other religions
• Monasticism - External link

Read more here: » Monasticism: Encyclopedia - Monasticism

They lived chastely with utter simplicity; they "first of all laid down temperance as a sort of foundation for the soul to rest upon, proceed to build up other virtues on this foundation" (Philo). They were dedicated to the contemplative life, and their activities for six days of the week consisted of ascetic practices, fasting, solitary prayers and the study of the scriptures in their isolated cells, each with its separate holy sanctuary, and enclosed courtyard: "the entire interval from dawn to evening is given up by them to spiritual exer ...

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Therapeutae, Therapeutae - Forerunners of early Christian monastic orders, Therapeutae - Formative influences

Read more here: » Therapeutae: Encyclopedia II - Therapeutae - Forerunners of early Christian monastic orders

Main article: Christian monasticism Monasticism in Christianity is a family of similar traditions that began to develop early in the history of the Christian Church, modelled upon Scriptural examples and ideals, but not mandated as an institution by the Scriptures. While most people think of Christian or Catholic monks or nuns as "something to do with living in a monastery", from the Church's point of view the definition of a monk/nun is one who lives under a rule and an abbot/abbess, the focus of the particulars of the ...

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Monasticism, Monasticism - Buddhist monasticism, Monasticism - Christian monasticism, Monasticism - Hindu monasticism, Monasticism - Islamic monasticism, Monasticism - Jain monasticism, Monasticism - Monasticism in other religions, Monasticism - External link

Read more here: » Monasticism: Encyclopedia II - Monasticism - Christian monasticism

In Hinduism, monastic tradition varies somewhat from sect to sect. Historically this path has been open to males only, but some traditions now accept female renunciates as well. Hindu monks are called Sadhus and in most traditions are easily recognized by their saffron robes. Vaisnava monks shave their heads except for a small patch of hair on the back of the head, while Saivite monks in mos ...

See also:

Monasticism, Monasticism - Buddhist monasticism, Monasticism - Christian monasticism, Monasticism - Hindu monasticism, Monasticism - Islamic monasticism, Monasticism - Jain monasticism, Monasticism - Monasticism in other religions, Monasticism - External link

Read more here: » Monasticism: Encyclopedia II - Monasticism - Hindu monasticism

Although Islam denounces monasticism and celibacy, today one may encounter some Muslim traditions with innovative practices that have absorbed monastic disciplines. According to a verse (57:27) in the Qur'an, a sacred text of Islam, Allah rebukes monasticism as a man-made invention and a practice which has never been "prescribe for them." Despite clear prohibitions from the Qur'an and Sunnah (a second source of Islamic law), monasticism has ironically found ...

See also:

Monasticism, Monasticism - Buddhist monasticism, Monasticism - Christian monasticism, Monasticism - Hindu monasticism, Monasticism - Islamic monasticism, Monasticism - Jain monasticism, Monasticism - Monasticism in other religions, Monasticism - External link

Read more here: » Monasticism: Encyclopedia II - Monasticism - Islamic monasticism

Sikhism specifically forbids the practice of monasticism. Hence there are no Sikh monk conclaves or brotherhoods. Manichaeism had two types of followers, the auditors, and the elect. The elect lived apart from the auditors to concentrate on reducing the material influences of the world. They did this through strict celibacy, poverty, teaching, and preaching. Therefore the elect were probably at least partially monastic. Scientology maintains a "fraternal order" called the Sea Organization or just Sea Org. They work only for the ...

See also:

Monasticism, Monasticism - Buddhist monasticism, Monasticism - Christian monasticism, Monasticism - Hindu monasticism, Monasticism - Islamic monasticism, Monasticism - Jain monasticism, Monasticism - Monasticism in other religions, Monasticism - External link

Read more here: » Monasticism: Encyclopedia II - Monasticism - Monasticism in other religions

The order of Buddhist monks and nuns was founded by Gautama Buddha during his lifetime of over 2500 years ago. The Buddhist monastic lifestyle grew out of the lifestyle of earlier sects of wandering ascetics, some of whom the Buddha had studied under, and was initially fairly eremetic in nature. Individuals or small groups of monks- a teacher and his students, or several monks who were friends- would travel together, living on the outskirts of local communities and practicing meditation in the forests. Monks and nuns were expected to live wi ...

See also:

Buddhist monasticism, Buddhist monasticism - History and Development, Buddhist monasticism - Monastic Life, Buddhist monasticism - Local Variations, Buddhist monasticism - Tibet, Buddhist monasticism - East Asia, Buddhist monasticism - Southeast Asia

Read more here: » Buddhist monasticism: Encyclopedia II - Buddhist monasticism - History and Development