Left Home

By: Lin Ai Wei

One of the most misunderstood methods of cultivation of Buddhism, besides Buddhism itself, is the method of leaving the home life. One who does not understand asks, Why? First of all we must understand what the concept of Home Life means in Buddhism. Home Life means the manner of living in which a person, or animal because animals can leave the wild and cultivate proper Dharma, becomes intertwined with the society and its ways, taking on the myriad conditions of those in school, work, and family, as well as from T.V., radio, movie, and other things of entertainment people seem so willingly to drown themselves in. The conditions of society are very numerous, but we will name a few for the foundation of this article. Eating more than 3 times a day, and consuming more than needed, sleeping up to, or more than, 8hours a day, watching T.V., movies, listening to the radio, going to school and mixing in with other students lifestyle, taking a job which may not be so beneficial and fair to themselves, the next person and or even society, forming relations with another for either to fulfill ones loniless, love, marriage, children, or just for sex. Society we live in places many pressures on people that are not really so proper, but since the pressures, or conditions, have been lived with for a long time, people begin to feel that those conditions are correct, or as the famous saying goes, Just the way it is. When one mixes into the ideas of society, they not only take on that overall pressure, but also from a young child, take on the ideas of the parents and the family, which are an exaggerated expression of society, only more personal. With this, we get to realize that all of our views may not actually be of our own acceptance. We just acquire views of the world around us because there is isnt another manner we can look at that is not opposed by society at large. What is opposed by societyreally? Its very simple to answer. Society opposes anything that is not materialistic and egotistical as a lifestyle. Fashion, sports/competition, material objects such as toys, cars, TV, radios, clothing, housing, perfumes and colognes, cell phones, and even views of life are all what makes a society move, in todays world idea. So that which is not this, is opposed by society. When one chooses to leave the home life, or even cultivate Buddhism, they choose to leave all of this, or some of this, behind for something deeper, and

meaningful. That which we crave then buy is only the means to our downfall. A person who leaves the home life puts down a great majority of material and competitive views. They solely seek methods to personally cultivate and attain results of wisdom, patience and compassion, at least they should. In turn, they return to the society and teach others how to go about their daily lives in the midst of all of what society imposes, and stay centered. A monk; which includes nun, lives in an environment where every place they turn is a tool directing the mind to turn inwards to itself. This results in an awakening, a seeing of ones original nature. What does this original nature look like? Cultivate and see for yourself. In the Buddhist school, a person who leaves the home life takes on a whole entirely different set of pressures. People who do not understand Buddhism assume that a monk simply cuts himself off from the rest of society, and immerses themselves in tranquility, selfishly. On the contrary, a monk becomes a monk in order to attain wisdom that is not attainable without certain guidelines. In society, there is so much noise and so many distractions, be they radio, TV, movies, family, relationships, exaggerated emotions, sicknessthe list can go on. W ithout a proper foundation in which the mind can focus on, these things will drive one crazy, sick with cancer, confused for their entire lifetime, happiness that is dependent upon outer things; material objects and people/relationships/emotions. In the temple the only distractions one has, are that of his mind. Memories of people, situations, music, emotions, they also carry with them the views of society which are still running through their mind. It is not easy being a monk. A monk takes the whole society with them when left alone, and dissects it, tries to put it down, and detach from it personally so as to reveal a more pure virtue, wisdom. Sometimes they may be unable to put it all down, and return to society without any attainment, as a lay person, and carry with them only frustration and depression. A monk would not retreat from their left home cultivation unless he/she felt it very necessary to return to teach what they have learned, to be out in the world, in the manner of a lay cultivator; which means one who is not a monk and cultivates Buddha Dharma. The reasons for one to return to the home life/lay life are numerous, and are pointless to get into in this article. For a monk, education is learned from diligent cultivation of teachings which result in revealing true and proper wisdom. This wisdom is different from what people consider knowledge and worldly experience and education. It doesnt come from going to a formal university, or any kind of high school, primary school. Buddhist cultivation points directly to the mind and results in revealing ones inherent wisdom. Watching TV doesnt do that, neither does listening to the radio, watching a movie, or going to formal schooling. Unless you are one who cultivates

the Buddha Dharma and has the eyes to see methods of cultivation in everything you encounter, you may be stuck in confusion from experiencing the world around you. The precepts a monk holds, takes and agrees to cultivate, are guidelines for cultivation not commandments. Buddhism is nothing like Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, and Islamic belief in terms of laws and commandments and such. But it is similar, in a manner, in that it teaches methods of peace, patience, wisdom and compassion. Buddhist sutras, texts, are not Bibles, or anything like the Bible. This is a great misconception of the western mind. When a monk studies a Buddhist sutra, they are learning about the causes and conditions of the mind, and not in general, but very direct, personal, and literal as well. Buddhist sutras are teachings of cultivation, not made up stories to have one mindlessly believe in another as one thinks they should a god and such. The teachings are guidelines that aid in cultivation of the mind to result in revealing inherent wisdom. It is not mysterious, just misunderstood by a great majority. Studying, cultivating, these various teachings, a monk can transform their mind from a muddled, confused mess, to an ultimately stable, pure, refined brightness. We say bright because when someone is confused, and ignorant, it isnt a very bright mind. It is expected by the lay community of Buddhist cultivators that the monk will return to society, still as a monk, to teach their attained wisdom and lead them to the way and teach them how to cultivate their mind, to see the world not from a muddled, confused mess, but with pure bright wisdom. All of the precepts a monk cultivates, all of the rituals they perform are all methods of respect and cultivation. Respect is directed to the Buddha of this world, Shakyamuni Buddha, and the numerous other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions. A Bodhisattva is an enlightened sentient being. This means they have become enlightened, but choose not to enter nirvana for the sake of teaching other sentient beings how to cultivate the Great Way, attain great wisdom, virtue, moral and realize the result of proper cultivation of that which is called Buddhism. These precepts keep the mind on a strict set of rules. These rules are cultivated to maintain diligence in cultivation, so as not to become lazy, and retreat from practice. Through constant diligent cultivation, the monk will eventually attain great wisdom, and realize that all things are of the mind, as well as the mind itself. With this, the monk will see things as empty, and full, and neither empty nor full. This teaching alone is profound, and cannot be fully explained in one short article. Many of the precepts are viewed as unnecessary to those of and not of the Buddhist school. That is perfectly fine, but when saying they are unnecessary make sure it is with wise understanding of the functions of the precepts first. Otherwise, it is just ignorant and egotistical speech, and gets one further in the hells of their own

making. Not every being who becomes a monk attains great wisdom and proper conduct, great virtue. Why, because the conditions within their mind, their defilements may be heavier, more influential, than other monks. Cultivation is all according to ones own mind, and ones attainment is dependent on the capacity to awaken. Some awaken gradually, others suddenly, but the Buddha Dharma is neither gradual nor sudden. It only is perceived that way by those who view it as such. A great misunderstanding of leaving the home life is that it is to worship Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The manner of worship in the Buddhist school is not the same as the worship in other religions. Buddhism is, in a small percent, a religion, in another percent, a philosophy, another, spirituality. It is all of this and yet only one of them and none of them according to the cultivator. Buddhism is only what can be accepted by living beings. It is by no means limited in its entirety, but it is limited because of the minds of living beings. As a monk goes through life cultivating according to strict precepts and diligent adherence to them, the strictness becomes freedom. It does so because understanding the function of the method leads one to understand its importance for cultivation. This leads to the next manner of Buddhism being an education. A left home being will become educated, not brainwashed. This education begins by laying down the foundation of precepts, and the cultivation of virtue and moral. This leads to the cultivation and result of great patience, compassion and wisdom. None of them are separate from each other, but hold characteristics that are recognizable as wisdom, compassion and patience. This wisdom attained is not book knowledge, but inherent, intuitive wisdom. This means that because there is no real separation between all things, all knowledge of all things is present constantly. It can never be held onto, but it can be utilized when it is called on to be expressed. The studies come from the sutras and commentaries, but the real work is when one diligently contemplates, reflects and cultivates them. The sutras are by no means fixed, but may be viewed as fixed teachings by one who has a fixed mind. The teachings within the sutras are timeless, and are applicable in the past, present and in the future. A monk cultivates to awaken to the way, and to become enlightened, which means not ignorant and not intellectually cultivated in worldly book knowledge. Though the sutras are of this world, its teachings are universal, and thus cannot be limited to just our present Earth. It is only language which it is expressed in, yet the wisdom within the teachings is not separate from any living being. This is why meditation is crucial for awakening, and or also the method of recitation of a Buddhas name, or mantra. Either way, there must be meditation, or the ability of concentration will not flower properly.

As stated before, leaving the home life does not cut one off from society, it only puts society in an understandable perspective, and allows one to break down each and every view of the world society teaches living beings to cultivate. Lay people are supposed to support the left home cultivators. It is this way in Buddhism, but it isnt fixed to be that way. Lay Buddhist cultivators should support the Sangha, community of monks, so the monks they depend on for teachings can continue cultivating diligently. Temples are only places of cultivation, but because of diligent cultivation, great Buddhas and Bodhisattvas appear there as monks to teach those who see monks important. They also appear outside the temple in various forms according to the minds of living beings. If someone loves dogs and holds close dogs, yet they have a problem with patience, then a Buddha or Bodhisattva will appear as a dog in order to teach one how to be patient. Buddhism is very deep in its expedients, and still, no expedient is necessary to teach beings. As it was stated earlier, expedients are made because a living beings mind can be endlessly deluded, muddled, ignorant, greedy and angry. Because of this, expedients to recognize these delusions and understand its causes and outcomes are created. A well cultivated monk will be able to point to the teachings necessary, and assist a lay cultivator, or another monk, towards realizing the fruits of their proper cultivation. Keep in mind that monks can still be subject to mental defilements. They are still human and can do improper things. One improper monk does not speak for the Buddha Dharma, but that one improper monk may cause dysfunction in the Sangha and be the means to the end of a virtuous society of left home Buddhist cultivators. It is such that in this age we are in, lay cultivators and monks alike are facing similar deluded minds within themselves. Not all, but a large majority. Many people find that if they leave the home life, they will live a life free from bills, and worldly cares. This is not so. If there is a monk who does lie his way into the Sangha, and misinforms the lay community of proper Buddhist teachings, they face a great and horrible outcome too vast to speak of in a short article as this. The same with a lay person who causes disharmony within the Sangha. Such outcomes of deeds as this are too horrible to write. Those that are of improper cultivation are more in the forefront of Buddhism by their own selfish means, and those who are of proper cultivation are less popular due to their great virtue and selfless acts. But it is the selfless acts without thought of anything in return which makes all living beings rejoice in pure happiness. It is such a way of life that even in the dark mist of improper cultivators, those of high and great virtue will be looked to for guidance and wisdom.

With such a call for proper cultivation, we should all diligently uphold vows that we make personally to ourselves in order to live a wise and patient, compassionate life. Vows that we make and uphold are there for our mind. To control our behavior and treat others with great and foremost respect is very important for a world of actual peace. It is such that peace is within, but since there is no without, it shows that many are not peaceful within in this world. How so? Simply look at our society, our environment and world. Such wars, and tragedies, starvation and earthquakes all mirror our minds. Every one speaks of a free and peaceful world, but who is willing to give their arms for it, leg for it, and life for it? Though it isnt necessary to give a life to gain peace, living beings find it difficult just being patient with one another. If living beings do not see the path to proper wisdom and cultivate it, we are all sure to see more suffering on this planet. In closing, the best advice one can give in this age is to directly seek the path to enlightenment, directly and diligently cultivate the teachings which specifically result in enlightenment. There is no other way to gain wisdom than to cut off ignorance. If one feels they have no fate in meeting the Buddha Dharma, here is a method to begin watering, and or planting the seeds for it; simply recite three times and bow for each time: NaMo All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions. You are sure to get a response.