These survey results were compiled in December 2017. I believe many of these results and collected resources, quotes, etc. are still relevant and helpful so I am publishing them here so they may be accessed.
-Jess McNally
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.
Lineage and Location
“What lineage of Buddhism are you most involved with?”
Respondents represented all four major lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, however the majority of respondents were from the Kagyu lineage (70%). Within the Kagyu respondents, most were Karma Kagyu, but some were also Drukpa Kagyu and Drikung Kagyu. There were also respondents from the Nyingma (14%), both Kagyu and Nyingma (10%), and Geluk (4%) schools, and one from Sakya/Rime. We initially sent this survey only to monastics in the Kagyu and Nyingma tradition, so that is part of the reason the results were highly skewed to those lineages.
“Where do you live most of the time?”
We received answers from 15 different countries. The greatest number of responses came from the USA (15), followed by India (9), Spain (4), Canada (4), and Nepal (3). When grouped together by region, the greatest number of monastics lived in North America (43%), followed by Asia-Pacific (32%) and Europe (26%). A few monastics responded that they divide their time between Asia and the western country where they are from, for example, Australia and India, or the UK and Bhutan.
One of the interesting results of this question was most countries only had one or two responses. While some of this is surely due to not connecting with every monastic, it points to the fact that a lot of Western Tibetan Buddhist monastics (WTBMs) are one of only a handful in their country—or possibly even the only one.
It’s worth pointing out that the number of responses from the different lineages and countries likely had more to do with our particular network of dharma friends rather than an accurate picture of where and how many western monastics are worldwide. In particular, there are definitely quite a few Gelukpa WTBMs, especially in FPMT, who we haven’t connected with yet. A larger research effort will be needed to get a more full and accurate picture of how many WTBMs there are, where we live, what lineage we are associated with, etc. At this point it is hard to even guess how many WTBMs there are worldwide—500? 1000? More? Less?
Communities
“Are you part of a monastic community? If so, which one?”
We received a variety of responses to this question. When deciphered as simply yes or no, 57% said yes, and 43% said no. However, based on the responses to the question (and the fact that I personally know most of the people who responded to the survey), I also calculated how many of the respondents live with other monastics. This showed that 24% do live with other monastics, while 66% do not, and 10% I wasn’t sure based on the response.
The fact that nearly half of WTBMs who responded to our survey are not associated with a monastic community, and a sizable majority live alone is something that makes WTBMs rather unique compared to most Buddhist monastics around the world, and different than Himalayan monastics in particular. I think this result does not come as news to most of us. However, I think this point is critical for understanding many of the challenges faced by WTBMs and what might be helpful in terms of support and training going forward.
The responses to this question also yielded a list of 19 different communities that respondents are or have been part of (listed below). Some people mentioned the community they were a part of wasn’t a “monastic community” per se (such as a school or Buddhist center). There were also a number of responses that made it clear they had spent some time at a particular place, but were either no longer there or not part of a monastic community there.
I know there are several other communities where western monastics live, so I need to work on expanding this list and finding out where those places are. If you know of any more please let me know.
Communities by Region (with number of responses)
North America
Karma Triyana Dharmachakra / Karme Ling, USA (6)
Vajra Dakini Nunnery, USA (1)
Drikung TMC and Drikung Urban Dharma, USA (1)
Scholastic Institute Chokyi Gyaltsen (SICGU), USA (not yet built) (1)
Thrangu Monastery Vancouver, Canada (1)
Karma Changchub Ling (KCCL), Canada (1)
Karma Sonam Dagye Ling (KSDL), Canada (1)
Dharmadatta Nuns Community, Mexico (1)
Asia-Pacific
Nagi Gompa, Nepal (1)
Shechen Monastery, Nepal (1)
Tergar Osel Ling, Nepal (1)
Thrangu Tashi Choling and Namo Buddha, Nepal (2)
Thosamling, India (2)
Palpung Sherabling Monastery, India (1)
Sera Jay Monastic University, India (1)
“Theravada and Taiwanese community” (1)
Europe
Samye Dechi Ling, Girona, Spain branch of Samye Ling, Scotland (2)
Karma Samye Dzong, London, UK (1)
Samye Dzong Barcelona, Spain (1)
Ordination
Next in the survey we asked three questions about ordination: Are you a [monk, nun, Gelong, Getsul, etc.]? Who ordained you? How long have you been ordained?
“Are you a monk, nun, etc.?”
In total, 69% of our respondents were nuns, and 31% were monks. While again this could be a sampling error, it does seem that there are many more western nuns than monks in the Tibetan tradition. It would be interesting to investigate why that might be.
Who ordained you?
With response to the question, “who ordained you?” over 20 different teachers were named. Several people, especially the gelongmas, had more than one preceptor; one preceptor for getsul in the Tibetan tradition and a preceptor from a different lineage for gelongma ordaination, mostly Taiwanese or Thich Nhat Hanh/Vietnamese Zen. In total there were 20 different preceptor names given. The most common preceptors were H.E. Tai Situ Rinpoche (13 responses), Thrangu Rinpoche (8) and H.H. Dalai Lama (5). But most of the other preceptors had only ordained one or two of the respondents to the survey. I think the conclusion of this survey is that while there are a few high-ranking lamas who ordain many WTBMs, there are also a large number of other Buddhist masters giving ordination vows to WTBMs.
How long have you been ordained ? (See chart below.)
Monastic Training
Have you received monastic training, if so, where?
Based on the responses, first I decided to look at whether the answer was yes, no or somewhere in the middle. The results are:
YES = 50%
NO = 33%
MAYBE = 17%
For those who said yes or sort of, there was a wide range of responses in terms of what that monastic training consisted of. The responses included:
living at a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery in India or Nepal
studying the vinaya through traditional Tibetan monastic courses (shedra)
monastic training at Gampo Abbey, Halifax, including vinaya studies in English
Buddhist Studies courses at Ranjung Yeshe Institute, Nepal
Studying the three platforms during 5-week ordination course in Taiwan (for Gelongmas)
Three-year retreat
Living at a Hindu or Catholic monastery
Pre-ordination course at Plum Village (Thich Nhat Hahn’s Vietnamese Zen community)
Pre-ordination course at Tushita, in Dharamsala, India (organized by FPMT)
Private instruction on the vinaya from a qualified khenpo
One-on-one instruction from the guru
Guidance from older Western and Tibetan monks while living at a monastery in Nepal
Living with other western monastics at KCCL (Halifax, Canada), Thosamling (India), etc.
Vinaya course being taught through SICGU (online program)
There are a couple points I take away from these results. First, it’s quite striking that only half of the respondents said they had received some monastic training, especially given that most have been ordained for longer than five years. Second, the results to the second part of the question show that there is a wide range of ideas about what monastic training is. The results could be summarized into five categories:
Academic study of the vinaya
Living at a monastery
Three-year retreat
Ordination or pre-ordination courses
Personal guidance from teachers and older monastics
It’s also interesting how many western Tibetan Buddhist monastics have received some or all of their monastic training from other traditions, including other Buddhist traditions as well as Hindu or Catholic monasteries. This is yet another indication of the lack of opportunities for monastic training within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition for many western monastics.
I think one of the main questions these results bring up is, “What is monastic training?” What are the goals of monastic training? How is it different than meditation training or general Buddhist study, or is it even different? And how is monastic training the same or different in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition compared to other Buddhist or non-Buddhist traditions?
Do you know of places where monastics can go to train? If so, where?
Here’s a list of the places mentioned in the responses:
Ranjung Yeshe Institute (not monastic training until one’s Tibetan is fluent enough to join the monk’s shedra)
Drolma Ling in India
Kopan and affliated FPMT centers
Gampo Abbey, Nova Scotia, Canada (Shambhala tradition)
Sravasti Abbey, USA
Samye Ling, Scotland
Karma Changhub Ling (KCCL) Halifax, Canada
Thosamling nunnery, Dharmasala, India
Vajra Dakini Monastery, Maine, USA
Samye Dechi Ling, Gerona, Spain
Palpung Sherabling, India
Plum Village (Thich Naht Hahn tradition), France
Taiwan
Gelugpa monasteries in India
SICGU “is working hard to establish a university, monastery and nunnery in the USA”
Theravada monasteries
I think one of the things that will be good to do in the near future is make a more detailed list of each of these places where monastics can potentially go, and what the deal is at each of them. Furthermore, I think the real questions at this point are: What is monastic training? And what should monastic training for western Tibetan Buddhists look like?
What kinds of online resources do you think would be helpful for new and current western monastics? Please be specific.
I’ve organized the various responses to this question into a few different categories below, and combined responses where they overlapped:
Teaching resources and advice
Interviews with masters like HH Gyalwang Karmapa, Tai Situ Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Khandro Rinpoche... etc. Interviews with senior monks and nuns.
Lineage masters directly doing online teaching on this topic
PDF study books
Online courses
Audio teachings and basic texts explaining monastic discipline
Resources that support reflection on the bigger picture
Teachings by highly trained western monastic scholars like Geshema Kelzang Wangmo and Gelong Sean Price
Questions to be answered through online teachings and resources:
Advice on the guru-student relationship.
Advice on dealing with adversities as monastic such as lack of understanding from one’s family, brining together work and practice, etc. ; Teachings and resources addressing challenges monastics face.
Full list of vows and explanations; List of vows along with advice about how to understand and hold them
Practical advice like how to fold your robes properly, and guideposts for how to conduct yourself.; Guidelines for dress and deportment, social media best practices.
Classical explanations of the teachings on monastic conduct.
Recommendations on staying isolated from the world for many years once become a monastic before integrating in any way in society so one’s resolve stays firm.
Teachings for men on approaching long-term celibacy in a healthy way before taking vows.
Advice on how to find funding or support oneself financially.
Forum and discussion with other monastics
Forum or discussion group where monastics can raise questions to a moderator who is well-trained enough to answer and/or where we can discuss with each other and offer support.; Private online forum for discussions on dharma and general monastic in the west issues.
Monastics of greater experience who is available for advice; Place for newer monastics to connect with those who’ve been ordained longer.
A Facebook page
Online study group for the vinaya and/or other topics
Forum for discussion with other monastics about doubts that arise about staying ordained, and how other monastics have developed identity as a Western Buddhist monastic.
Meetings and discussion forums, preferably organized in-person
Lists, facts and links:
Facts: how many western monks and nuns we are, where we are, etc.
Links to worldwide centers where monastic training programs are offered
List of places one can gain sponsorship; How to funding for hermitage and food.
List of places monastics can go to do long or short periods of retreat
Online guide about who is teaching where on what subject
Links to SICGU website, Sravasti Abbey website, Nitartha institute website, etc.
List of the monastic vows
Are there books, articles, websites, blogs, etc. related to monastic life that you have found helpful? We are aiming to create a website where these resources would be listed and linked so your help finding these resources is much appreciated.
Books
Stepping Into Freedom by Thich Nhat Hahn- a guide to the novice vows
Blossoms of Dharma by Thubten Chodron. – reflections on life as a Buddhist nun from 1996 conference in Dharmsala
Preparing for Ordination: Reflections for Westerners Considering Monastic Ordination compiled by Thubten Chodron. Free download and other books linked here: http://thubtenchodron.org/books/vinaya-books/
Lama Mipam's Commentary to Nagarjuna's Stanzas For a Novice Monk by Nagarjuna, Je Tsongkapa, Mipham
Tibetan Vinaya: Guide to Buddhist Conduct by Thrangu Rinpoche
Choosing Simplicity by Venerable Bikshuni Wu Yin
The Buddhist Monastic Code by Thanissaro Bhikku. Free download here: Part I, Part II
Advice for Monks and Nuns by Lama Yeshe (free download)
Treasury of Precious Qualities by Jigme Lingpa
Perfect Conduct: Ascertaining the Three Vows by Ngari Panchen and Pema Wangyi Gyalpo commentary by HH Dudjom Rinpoche
Buddhist Ethics by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye (part of the Treasury of Knowledge Series)
In Tibetan only: “Vimalamitra wrote a two volume commentary on the vows of a Bhikshu which goes into detail on the reasons each vow was established by the Buddha…. A sponsoring of a translation of those volumes, I have always thought would be invaluable and timely.”
Websites
http://shambhalatimes.org/2014/05/12/the-shambhala-monastic-order-2/ - Interview with Ani Pema Chodron about monastic life
https://chronicleproject.com/stories_35.html - Another interview with Pema Chodron about her experiences as a monastic
http://ibd-buddhist.blogspot.com - Institute for Buddhist Dialectical Studies, Tibetan Philosophy classes taught by Geshe Kelsang Wangmo
http://leksheyling.net Karma Lekshe Ling Shedra in Nepal
Are there specific examples of monastic life that inspire you (people or communities)? What is it about the example that inspires you?
I’ve loosely categorized the responses to this question into different groups, and also combined or eliminated duplicate responses from multiple people (for example, several people mentioned Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo as an inspiration).
People
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo “remains a great inspiration of developing oneself rigorously & developing what is useful for other monastics in need.” “Ani Tenzin Palmo's life is a supreme example for Westerners.”
Pema Chodron
Thubten Chodron
Ven. Matthieu Ricard has been one of the western monastics that inspired me, because despite his level of learning and realization he has no airs about him.
Lama Tsongkapa
HH Dalai Lama “His dedication to ordained life, showing its value and giving example with everything he says or does.”
Western monks and nuns who were among the first to be ordained and kept their ordination until now (Geshe Jampa Kunchog, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, Ayya Tathaaloka Theri). All of them are dedicated to transmit their knowledge and experiences to the future generations of Western monks and nuns.
Khenpo David [Karma Choepel] is my role model and provides guidance to me from time to time even though he is crazy busy
Monasteries/ Nunneries/ Yogi(ni) communities
“Monastic life is a communal life. It’s living in harmony with others that fosters a strong practice.”
Nunnery in Khumbu (near Everest) and Nagi Gompa. “In both cases the nuns life is simple, …but they really practice and apply the teachings to daily life.”
Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery [Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s nunnery in India]
Shasta Abbey “for their strong monastic training & developing through leadership shifts.” [a Zen monastery in California https://shastaabbey.org]
Sravasti Abbey “with it's successful development of ordained sangha and lay support & outreach.”
Plum Village “with it's joy, faith, training and trust in the monastic sangha.” [Thich Nhat Hanh’s community in France https://plumvillage.org]
nuns of Gebchak Gompa, nuns living in the Himalayas [http://gebchakgonpa.org]
“The cave nun community in Tso Pema” [Note: I tried to find out more about this and found this story online, not sure if it’s the same nuns. http://erik-pema-kunsang-a-live-biography.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-caves-at-lotus-lake.html]
The Karme Ling Retreat Center by Delhi, NY. There are monks and nuns, most of whom have completed at least 1- 3 year retreat. They live in individual cabins in a wooded area. They assist Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche with the running of the retreat, programs at KTD. They are mostly Lamas and Rinpoche spends much of his time there. [https://kagyu.org/karme-ling/]
Most of the Sanghas residing in various monasteries in India and Nepal such as Thrangu Rinpoche's Vajra Vidya in Sarnath and Namo Buddha in Nepal. They have many highly qualified khenpos and gelongs who provide excellent examples through their conduct.
Plum village and theravada monasteries in the west are inspiring, because there is racial equality and westerners also become abbots and abbesses.
Forest monks of the Theravada tradition
Benedictine and Franciscan were my 1st introduction to monastic rule & life the definitely left a profound impact on what I understand to be monastic life
I think of all the communities, Tergar Nepal is the best monastery I have lived in because of the Khenpo & the sense of community that exists among the monks. Community is one of the eye qualities of monastic life.
A community of women praying for others
The Drukpa Kagyu Tashi Jong Togden Retreat Center
Larung Gar (Khenpo Jigpun's encampment) which is focused on study in a retreatish environment, Yachen Gar (Lama Acho Rinpoche's encampment) which is focused on practice, and Togden Shakya Shri's practice encampment.
Other inspirations and thoughts
“Taiwanese nuns inspire me the most as they serve society with great bodhichitta, and have dignity in their community, and monasteries well supported.”
“I have heard that in Scotland they have worked in the community to help the homeless and mentally ill long-term”
“I am inspired mostly by the yogi lifestyle, retreat lifestyle, and took ordination more for the blessing than anything else. I also wanted to simplify my life for a life of practice and service to the Karma Kagyu Lineage.”
“The Karmapa and his commitment to fostering the monastic traditions are inspiring, especially as he motivates many people to take these traditions more seriously.”
Many western Theravaden monastics for their deep understanding and application of the suttas, followed by teaching/outreach.
My main inspiration are Tibetan monastic communities in India, because by spending time with them I learnt how to find the balance between following the discipline very strictly when necessary and being relaxed at other times. They have been very kind in teaching me how to do things properly without judgment when I made mistakes.
“I think westerners reify Tibetan culture too much and it makes us doubt ourselves. We are very conditioned by patriarchy and racism to doubt other westerners (especially women) and we are divided, instead of understanding that Tibetans have no interest in supporting us and uniting to create a legacy for well trained western teachers and funding for monastics. The thing is until we have actual financial support and autonomous monasteries run by and funding western monastics, having some articles to read whilst we work in a lay job and hand over our resources to a Tibetan Lama who supports the 'real' Tibetan practitioners in India is not going to address the heartbreaking isolation, poverty and homelessness western monastics suffer”
Any stories of monastic communities where the monks or nun are very close and loving. The Tashi Lhunpo monks are like this, I feel. [http://www.tashilhunpo.org]
“Cave retreat inspires me.”
“Retreatant life in the Tibetan Tradition.”
“Some inspire with their dignity and the way you can see and feel their mind is trained in the Vinaya. Others or the same with their untired work for the Dharma and the benefit of others without limiting to country, familiy or friends but really offering service in a vast extend. Others with their deep studies and commitment to share the authentic Dharma. And much more.... I think what all have in common is a deep commitment for the Dharma- a simplicity in how to set priorities in life and a natural joy of living in virtue.”
“Monasteries don’t inspire me because of the requirement for dedication to a particular abbot. “
“SICGU: The courage and dedication of starting such project; decades of study of its teachers; a constant reminder to take care of the Western monks and nuns and bring them the same conditions for study and living as Tibetan monks and nuns have.”
If anything were possible, what kind of training would you like to see available to western monastics in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition who are living in the west?
Below are the responses received in the survey, loosely categorized by subject.
Vinaya training and academic study
Vinaya study and discussion of related monastic issues exclusively for monks and nuns.
To train and, more importantly, study the Vinaya etc in a Tibetan monastery for as long as possible. I don't think it's possibly to establish proper communities of the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition in the West without people actually knowing i.e studying their traditions properly.
We could request to HH Gyalwang Karmapa to facilitate training for western monastics at the annual Kagyu Monlam in Bodhgaya or as a part of Kagyu Monlams in the West.
I think it would be great to start courses or kinds of retreats for three weeks or a month for monastics, in which we receive teachings on the vows and discuss them, share experiences, do practice together and have groups of discussion on certain topics that are specifically relevant for the western monastics in 21 Century.
Westerm shedra, three year retreat and individual long- and short-term retreat and ongoing study seminars. maybe check Tsongkapa Inst. as example
Full shedra trainings in Tibetan and English
I would like to see the same training available to westerners as what’s available in the east. Same vinaya after all.
I would like to see a western designed training in discipline and community living and a comparable educational program to the shedras available to all westerners with a minimum standard of training required for all monastics.
Other forms of training/education
regular training on Pujas, Vinaya
A better overview of Buddhism and monasticism
Required Training in all areas of a monastery life for a specific period of time in a monastery. I would like to see these on line teachings for Monastic training: 1 Kagyu History & Linage; 2 customs , norms, discipline & expectations of Buddhist monastics; 3 Training in Liturgy practice: Chant, use of musical instruments. 100 more things come to mind.
Training in performing ritual supporting ritual specially training in helping when dying.
Non-secular monastic training
Guidelines for monastics living in the community at large, rather than in a monastery or retreat.
The 2 year, 4-unit, supervised training for chaplaincy and "pastoral identity formation" based on a small group studying and intensively sharing experience (exposing and encountering oneself in relation to others) in a pastoral (hospital) work environment is an excellent model in lieu of the living in community model at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center (SMZC) [https://www.smzc.org] or the abbeys.
Advice on how to live in the world, buying food, rent
How to put on a chogu (just kidding, I never know how to put mine on!). Training about how to create a loving sharing space as a sangha.
Education that working in the West (or anywhere) is NOT compatible with being a monastic, and that the whole purpose of the vows is to dedicate all of one's time towards enlightenment, whether it be Buddhist study or practice in retreat.
Also, if there could be something stating the obvious: "monastics cannot be married!!!" I know of one nun and one monk living in America who are married, live with their spouse and think that that doesn't conflict with their vows as long as they don't have sex. They still live together and have a marriage certificate. Could there please be some education out there as to the pre requisites to ordination, no matter how obvious they may seem. :-) The lay sangha and non Buddhists have a lot of wrong views when seeing such behavior and that is the very reason that the Buddha made most of the vows.
I believe that the Western monks and nuns deserve the same training as Tibetan monks had for centuries. Now we have just a fragment of it. SICGU projects aim towards it and I can tell from personal experience that Tibetans are happy to support us - the Western monastics - to obtain this goal. Together we can bring whole tradition of Tibetan Buddhism to the West.
A month long boot camp intensive on basics of monastic life and responsibilities in and out of the shrine hall
Discernment training
Trainings like the Dalai Lama’s Pre-Ordination Course, to have a general overview of the monastic ethical code
It might be good to let people considering taking vows what they are about to enter. I know very few westerner monastics who actually live in a monastery or nunnery. It is also important to stress the bond between the monastic, the preceptor, the monastic's Lama.
A clear step-wise process of discernment, and process toward full ordination
Community / Monastery Training
Forum/ group meeting on how to set up monastic communities
Monastic training in a monastery
I would like to see something like the cave-dwelling communities, where monastics live in retreat but also have a sense of community
A network of local groups where individual monastics can take sojong once a month, for example.
A mentor system so that monastics can email or skype with other monastics from time to time to answer questions that arise.
A chance for westerners to live in monastic communities and actually follow the traditions that are laid out in the vinaya.
Studying and living in communities. And if possible doing a three year retreat
It would be very helpful to have short gatherings with teachings for monastics at the KTD monastery once a year.
It is impossible to maintain the Vinaya and to live in the world. Most monks need to work to support themselves and need advice and support on how to proceed in this environment skillfully and with integrity.
A monastery where one could come for longer or shorter periods. Many of us have to work as we are not supported by society, and therefore it would be very useful if there were some monasteries where one could also come to train for shorter periods.
While community is wonderful, the purpose of the vows is to support the path to enlightenment and getting all hung up in the romantic idea of being in some idyllic monastic community is to lose the point. In Tibet, monasticism became cultural and the Gonpas lost the essence of monastic communities during the time of the Buddha where everyone meditated and gained some level of deep insight or progress. This needs to be addressed in the founding of monasticism in the West. Centers like Togden Shakya Shri's where everyone was in retreat for 8 months a year and got together for teachings and pujas the other 4 months seem like a realistic model of monasticism on the practice side with the opposite for those who wish to study, 9 months study and 3 months retreat.
Practice/retreat opportunities
I am 75 years old, so for me personally I am not so much interested in ritual or intensive study, more in practice, meditation and deity sadhana, six yogas, Dzogchen
Opportunities for monastics to do short- and long-term retreats
Other thoughts/ideas
I think we need to not be afraid to look at more egalitarian leaderships structures, more meaningful ways of absorbing the traditional texts. I’m not learning Tibetan and debate but questioning, writing papers and studying in our own language and creating communities run by westerners for westerners, whilst still remaining true to the texts and practices. We can't not evolve just because Tibetan Lamas wish to preserve their culture and change nothing. The patriarchal feudal system and the democratic, gender equal egalitarian system have to take separate roads eventually. This is how the original sangha was - democratic with all monks having a vote (whilst still respecting seniority).
Compassionate service to all, not sure Buddhists and their teachers