As far as I know, person becoming a monk should live in celibacy, and it is compulsory. Monastic rules will help the preservation of the Dharma. However, I found in Wikipedia that monks in Japan can marry and possess the temples. Any comments or explanation on this matter? Do the monks have different monastic rules in Japan? Mahendra |
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Evolution of Buddhism
It seems to me that one of the unique characteristics of Buddhism when compared to other organized religious thought, is that from the very beginning with the initial teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, practitioners are encouraged to figure things out on their own.
This notion of free thought and "being an island onto yourself" allows Buddhism to intermingle with the culture it is introduced to and evolve into a sort of hybrid faith of original Buddhist ideas and local traditions and cultures.
In Japan, it appears that modern thinking and local customs lowered the importance of celibacy for the monks. Being celibate also went against the importance of filial life in China, but it seems only in Japan did this antiquated idea become challenged. I wonder if the monks with families earned the same degree of respect as their celibate counterparts, as I am sure there were both? Or was the reason primarily to have any issues with temple ownership resolved so it will not distract the sangha community?
Buddhism in Japan
FROM IBC BUDDHISM IN JAPAN, lecture 10:
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In 1872, the Meiji government decreed
that Buddhist monks and priests (except nuns) should be free to marry if they wish to do so. Soon
"temple families" became commonplace and the administration of temples and monasteries became
family businesses, handed down from generation to generation.
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FWIW
Marriage of "monks"
The practice is a relatively later development in Japanese Buddhism and started with Tendai who preferred Bodhisattva vows over normal celibacy. It is a version of Japanese antinomianism and not in accordance with orthodox tradition. It was enforced by the revival of native Japanese culture as seen during the Meiji Period. The justification about this, therefore has come from the interpretation (misinterpretation?) of the concept of Bodhisattva vows.
Fauer's book "the Red Thread" provides useful info on the subject of sexuality and celibacy (including homosexuality) in Japanese Buddhism.
Japanese buddhism & celibacy
There are wonderful documentaries by French filmmaker Arnaud Desjardins dedicated to Japanese Zen (Zen: ici & maintenant / Zen: partout et toujours). I am not aware they exist in other than the original French. Filmed in the early 1970s (71/72 or so), they offer a bird's view of Zen denominations. At some point, Desjardins presents a married Zen monk and his father, also a religious person, who however couldn't be ordained as monk as it used to be the rule in his times. He makes it look as if marriage had become a widespread phenomenon only in (then) recent times, but doesn't delve into the question to explain how. Desjardins adds such provisions are taken to insure no temple remains unmanned and also that married monks are required to go back to living in common at temples for recurring sessions of intensive meditation.
For what is worth...
Japanese buddhism & celibacy
There are wonderful documentaries by French filmmaker Arnaud Desjardins dedicated to Japanese Zen (Zen: ici & maintenant / Zen: partout et toujours). I am not aware they exist in other than the original French. Filmed in the early 1970s (71/72 or so), they offer a bird's view of Zen denominations. At some point, Desjardins presents a married Zen monk and his father, also a religious person, who however couldn't be ordained as monk as it used to be the rule in his times. He makes it look as if marriage had become a widespread phenomenon only in (then) recent times, but doesn't delve into the question to explain how. Desjardins adds such provisions are taken to insure no temple remains unmanned and also that married monks are required to go back to living in common at temples for recurring sessions of intensive meditation.
For what is worth...
Monastic rules and celibacy in Japanese Buddhism
The marriage of monks in Japan started as early as the Heian period (late 7th century C.E.) and with Shinran, this became more obvious during the Kamakura, Muromachi, to the Edo periods.
Shinran was a monk who founded the True Sect of Pure Land school (Jodo Shinshu). He decided to take a wife with whom he had five children and this symbolised a new era in Japan towards Buddhism. He simply wanted to identify himself with the ordinary people and showed that even the most wicked person like himself, can be received in Pure Land of Amida Budhha. He wanted to prove that there is no difference between a monastic person and a householder and pave the way to relief the sufferings of the lay people. The aboliton of the distinction between the two certainly contributed to the rapid popularity and widespread of this sect which became the largest sect in Japan. His doctrine is simple, that nothing depends on man's power alone. Instead everything depends on the power of the other (Amida Buddha) and one has to have faith and recite on Namu Amida Butsu and always be with Amida in Pure Land.
From the point of marriage, it is a personal choice for each sect of Buddhism and it is the choice of the individual monk. Nowadays in Japan, monks inherited temples from their fathers and they have to manage the temples as this is regarded the property of the family. Their jobs is engaged in carrying out rituals like marriage ceremony, birth of a child, funerals and other Buddhist activities.
Monastic life
Thank you for posting this information. May I ask for clarification? When you say, "From the point of marriage, it is a personal choice for each sect of Buddhism and it is the choice of the individual monk." does that mean that there are some Theravada monks that are married? Or is it only sects in Japan that may chose marriage?
married Japanese Zen monk
An interview with a chief Japanese Buddhist monk. He's originally from Germany and he's married. Even noted SOTO Zen master DESHIMARU, who introduced ZEN in France in 1967, was married.
For what is worth.
Monastic life
This applies to the Buddhist sects in Japan only. (I have added the 'word' Japanese before the word Buddhism, to avoid confusion).
Infact, after the Meiji modernisation, there is an edit to say that a monk is free to marry, eat meat and not shave his head if he wishes to do so.
If a Theravada monks wishes to marry, he has to disrobe otherwise he committed parajika and faced expulsion from the Order. In the Vinaya rules, total celibacy is the first rule among the most severe in the degree of violation for the monks and nuns.
The other three parajikas are stealing/robbery, killing, and lying (especially claiming to be enlightened or an arahant).
Monk or priest?
So is it really correct to call Japanese monks 'monks'? Or is it better to call them 'priests'. The English word 'monk' seems to be analogous to the word bhikshu/bhikkhu, but the Japanese people we are talking about here are not bhikkhus. Is it not a better translation then, to refer to those Japanese as priests, since this does not necessarily imply celibacy as the word 'monk' does?
Name is just name
It is not important what you called a person but the essence of the nature is to be conveyed.In Daode Jing said, Dao ke dao,fei chang dao; min ke min, fei chang min. It means the name can be given but may not tell you the exact meaning.
Definition of MONK and PRIEST
While the name may not give the exact meaning, surely the purpose of a name is to best approximate the meaning.
Looking at the online Oxford dictionary, 'monk' = "A member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience."
Those ordained in Japan often own cars, houses and so on. So they are not under vows of poverty. And they often are not celibate. So clearly this definition cannot fit the ordained Japanese.
Also the etymology of the word 'monk' is as follows: Old English munuc, based on Greek monakhos 'solitary', from monos 'alone'.
Bhikkhus were originally alone in the sense of being away from society, so as to practice meditation in the quiet forests and so on. Even now, bhikkhus live in monastery, so are apart from society and in that sense 'alone', though with their fellow contemplatives. Japanese ordained people however are not necessarily in monasteries, often living in family homes, and so living with lay people. In this respect perhaps they even ARE lay people, from the perspective of the bhikkhu. So again this makes 'monk' seem an inappropriate term. Don't you think so?
In the same dictionary, 'priest' = "An ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church, authorized to perform certain rites and administer certain sacraments" or, "A person who performs religious ceremonies and duties in a non-Christian religion".
Does this not fit much better? They are indeed ordained, and can perform certain rites. It seems to be a very important function for them that they carry out ceremonies whether in peoples houses or in the temples such as funerals. And it makes no claim for celibacy or poverty. Is this then not the most appropriate word?
If anyone thinks this reasoning is incorrect, I would be very happy to hear about it and to learn more on this topic.
Good defination.
It is very well defined in the context of academy. As i wrote before name just a name, what it is exactly nobody know if it out of box. That is why we refer to dictionary, wiki..... Today when you says "tablet", we need to think twice which you refer to. People in my age never expect traditional usage of words can change so fast until we lost track. My son gave an IQ question: Who is USA younger brother? The answer is USB. Ha Ha
terminology
An opportune observation.
Also, "priest" may imply a "priest of"...priest of Ammon; priest of Shiva.
In common parlance, monks are more busy with study and meditation (beside celibacy), whereas priests may be more concerned with running temples, counselling devotees and tending to sacred spaces.
In Buddhism the two intermingle, however.
FWIW
Priests in Thailand?
I must first confess my ignorance, I am only aware of the titles used for Monks in Thailand. Are Buddhist monks in the surrounding countries of Southeast Asia, ie, Burma, Lao PDR, and Cambodia referred to as Priests? I have never heard of a Buddhist Monk in Thailand referred to as anything other than Monk. Thanks for any clarification.
Lay Buddhist Teacher
Those who ordained in proper buddhist tradition there are formal term to call them. In today english the most common will be monk and at the same time 'bhikksu' if you want.In chinese we have "Chu Jia Ren" means who leave the House;"He Shang" is the most common term in Chinese; "Bi Qiu" means bhikksu in Chinese."Shi Fu" means master also commonly refer to monk; we have "Fa Shi" means teacher in Dharma also another term commonly use.These terms are common usage for Chinese buddhism. For lay buddhist who help in dharma teaching, we may just call them teacher in today's context. Like in Chinese "Fo Guang San", they call lay buddhist teacher who is train in giving dharma talk as "Tan Jiang Shi" means 'teacher who talk on the stage'. In other institution we just call them "Ju Shi" which mean lay buddhist in chinese. This word is the tranlation of upasaka. As I said name is just name. You can call them any term once it recognize by common people. I don't know about Thailand tradition in this aspect.I belive there will be terms commonly use among Thais when refer to buddhist monks. If your word " priest" means "person who propagate that particular religion", then monk can be use as buddhist priest if you want. As you wrote "buddhist" monk that means there will be others "monk" present.In different languages we have our common law in that language. Today, English is the main language use to communicate among different buddhist traditions, on and off we will encouter this situation to define words. Hope slowly we can come to a common ground to define word in English. Hope this can clarify your doubt.