Theravada Buddhism

Why do monks in Thailand receive offerings from women on a piece of cloth rather than directly from their hands?

Why do monks in Thailand receive offerings from women on a piece of cloth rather than directly from their hands? This practice was not laid down by the Buddha, and is not followed by monks in other Theravada countries. It is a convention (possibly copied from Khmer court ritual) that was adopted by the Thai Sangha some hundreds of years ago in order to maintain the formality of relations between monks and laywomen. Giving, by its nature, creates a certain sense of intimacy between the one who gives and the one who receives. By accepting offering on a cloth, the […]

Isn’t it better to work to make society a better place than to leave it in order to become a monk or nun?

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 […]