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The Buddhist Monastic Initiative is dedicated to supporting Westerners who ordain in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, as well as creating a non-sectarian forum for envisioning the future of Buddhist monastic life in the West.

Currently, our main goal is developing and curating resources for those considering ordination, as well as for those who are already ordained. Our hope is that these resources can help answer questions as well as spark ideas and conversations that will support the flourishing of the Western monastic sangha.

 
 

LATEST NEWS

News
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This is my Monastery

In general, monks and nuns are not the same as a family because a 'regular' lay family comes together due to desire and attachment and because, within that cooperation or family, one gives up one's own individual freedom. You no longer have your own choice. In order to get away from that situation, which is based on desire and attachment, and to gain one's own freedom again, one becomes ordained as a monk or nun.

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Profound Path of Peace Archive Now Online

All 17 issues of the Profound Path of Peace, published by the International Kagyu Sangha Association between 1982-1998 are now available online.

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Findings from Initial Survey of Western Tibetan Buddhist Monastics
Findings from Initial Survey of Western Tibetan Buddhist Monastics

INTRODUCTION

This survey was initially sent out in August 2016 to western monastics in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. We compiled the first round of results in November 2016, which we shared with those who we had on our contact list at that time. Since then, we decided to broaden the scope of this initiative to monastics in all the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, and also met and connected with more monastics, some of who also filled out the survey. We’ve now had 42 responses and have re-compiled the results. These results and some of key findings I see from the survey are presented below.

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Khenpo Kunga Answers Questions about Monastic Life

Khenpo Kunga was born in Tibet, and became a monk at Tergar Monastery at a young age. He completed three year retreat by the time he was 19 years old. He then went to India, and enrolled at Dsongsar monastic college near Dharamsala in Northwest India. After studying there for eleven years and receiving his Khenpo degree, he taught at Dzongsar college for three additional years. Khenpo Kunga’s primary teacher is Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, though he has studied with many other revered masters as well. In recent years, Khenpo Kunga has taught in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States as one of the main teachers for the worldwide network of Tergar monasteries, meditation centers, and meditation groups.

During a retreat he was teaching in Groton, MA, Khenpo Kunga agreed to answer questions regarding monastic life for this initiative. This interview was recorded on March 4, 2019. The interview was conducted and transcribed by Jess McNally, and translated by Holger Yeshe.

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Q&A with Matthieu Ricard on Monastic Life for Westerners
Q&A with Matthieu Ricard on Monastic Life for Westerners

On October 24, 2017, Karma Lodro Gangtso of the Buddhist Monastic Intitiative had an opportunity to ask Matthieu Ricard a few questions on monastic life. Matthieu Ricard has been a monk for over 45 years, and is a celebrated humanitarian, author, photographer and translator. He was born in France.

Watch the interview, or read the transcript included below.

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Resources

Articles, interviews and helpful links for those who are considering monastic life or already ordained.

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