Isn’t it better to work to make society a better place than to leave it in order to become a monk or nun?
The monastic order is linked to society at large by a complex web of relationships. It might better be considered as one special part of society rather than a body outside of it altogether. Becoming a monastic does not entail cutting off all ties with the world, but of adopting a new relationship to it. Monastics uphold the integrity of the Buddha’s teachings, preventing them from becoming diluted or distorted. They put the teachings into practice and through their lives seek to prove the value of doing so. Monastics transmit the teachings to lay Buddhist. They undertake a training that, if sincerely pursued, helps them to model qualities of peace, compassion and wisdom. In performing these functions it is believed that monastics are helping to uphold and disseminate the values that must underpin any attempts to make positive changes in society.
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Source:
- Without and Within – Ajahn Jayasaro
Ryokan Says
One of the definitions of the word society is “human beings thought of as a group and viewed as members of a community”, which undoubtedly has a complex net of interpersonal relationships that directs and support that group. Sometimes, when talking about this “net” in the modern societies there is the tendency of committing the omission of the spiritual aspect and the active influence within those.
The most characteristic feature of the spiritual pillar is the inner force of influence (conscience in the value of virtues, development of love toward oneself and others, awareness), that flows towards the outer force of influence (the ethical and restrained actions). While other social systems, like the laws, have an external force of influence (e.g. the execution of the laws) that flows toward the inner force of influence (e.g. fear of punishment or bad social reputation). In comparison the spiritual pillar has a more positive and consistent effect within the individual, it is not conditioned to external circumstances; whereas the non-spiritual thoughtless unthinking (not moral) individuals, when not conditioned by the coercion of external factors (e.g. political impunity), fell into actions that harms the social well-being (e.g. corruption).
I had always said: “the problem of human societies it is not about the social systems that this adopts, it is about the tainted heart of men”.
Luang Por Khemadhammo represents one good example of the many meritable actions in the society by a monastic senior monk. L. P. Khemadhammo has been recognized with an honorary title in “The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” for his service of teaching in the United Kingdom prisons. Ajahn Bhram is well-known too for giving dharma talks to prisoners in his home country, Australia.
Luang Por Khemadhammo
