[Q&A] Can someone explain about children monks? How to regard young Samaneras?Can someone explain about children monks?
I've seen pictures online of young children dressed in monks robes in Buddhist countries. Does someone make the decision on behalf of the child that they will become a monk? Do they eat only one meal a day as adult monks do? Are very young monks also called Venerable Sir? Thanks for helping a western mind to understand this matter.
Venerable members of the Sangha,
walking in front Fellows in leading the holly life.
Venerable fellows,
In Respect of the Triple Gems, Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, in Respect of the Elders of the community
, my person to share a question and investigate it. Please, may all knowledgeable Venerables and Dhammika, out of compassion, correct my person, if something is not correct and fill also graps, if something is missing.
Valued Upasaka, Upasika, Aramika(inis),
dear Readers and Visitors,
Householder Konrad, interested,
- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa - "Thanks for helping a western mind to understand this matter. is a good approach,"
Sadhu.
Thousands of gifted young people have anew ordained the last days in traditional countries and will enter their first Vassa, rains, tomorrow, dwelling good time near the tradition of the Noble Ones, take on follow the Arahats.
Today, sort entering a near monastery, my person was approached by a young Venerable who did many years as lay attendance service for the Venerable there, young and old, now himself most joyfull and proudly monk,
here still as Upasaka, guiding to Venerables to the remote cave.
user:johann:gallery:archiv2018:20180625_209-640x481.jpgDoes someone make the decision on behalf of the child that they will become a monk?A young person, "child", may develope such desire for himself and ask his parents for allowing leaving home and join the near of the Sangha.
Parents may encourage their children to live a life in the near of the Sangha and renounce. How ever, althoght not always the way, the child himself, at least formal verbal, has to ask a Bhikkhu for going forth under the Tripple Gems.
The cases of allowance by the Buddha to accept younger are often related to devoted followers children, also cases where those became orphans and tended to seek refuge under their parents near monastic teacher.
There have been also cases, at the Buddhas time, today as well, where parents seeked for a pleasing, secure life for their children and such use, for just educational purpose and later good conditions for lay-life are often the reason why children are send to train as novices. Some also dedicate one child for the religion, some take it as way out of poorness. There are as many ways and reasons as there a Novices.
In traditional countries, at least till some years ago, it was usus to get a while ordained as monk in the youth, at least to prevent the tradition and gain good behaviour in speech and body, learn the broad ways of good respect and conduct.
Some origin stories related to ordain younger people, children, from the Mahavagga:
Do they eat only one meal a day as adult monks do?Technical they could eat from sun-rise till noon. Meal in the morning and short before noon are usual provided and prepeared. There are such as "medicine" allowed nourishments and it would not be of disadvantage bodily in most cases.
Are very young monks also called Venerable Sir?Yes! Venerable Sir, Bhante,... One sould be clear that such even young person could be a holy men, even an Arahat. Even parents, family, friends... would never be dare to not, at least by speech and body gesture, regard the young as sublime and worthy of reverance person. Even the King would sit lower and bow down (of course if not just behaviour like village children). Other monks would adress them as well proper and diverent to lay people.
Only the meditation focusing branch within the Mahanikaya Bhikkhus (incl. the western famous Ajahn Chah groups), those not well informed in Vinaya, tradition and dangers, would not highly regard homeless under the Tripple Gems, just regard them as kind of slaves, good branches of the Mahavihara branch as well as the Dhammayut branch act very careful and Dhamma-Vinaya regarding. For lay-people there is no difference in regarding at all, and even in the times of the Buddha lay people criticized those Bhikkhus not looking after their "sons" in proper ways, not to speak about the Buddhas rebukes toward them.
from the Dahara Sutta: Young
..."There are these four things, great king, that shouldn't be despised & disparaged for being young. Which four? A noble warrior, great king, shouldn't be despised & disparaged for being young. A snake... A fire... And a monk shouldn't be despised & disparaged for being young. These are the four things that shouldn't be despised & disparaged for being young."
That is what the Blessed One said. Having said that, the One Well-Gone, the Teacher, said further:
You shouldn't look down on
— for being young —
a noble warrior of consummate birth,
a high-born prince of great status.
A person shouldn't disparage him.
For it's possible
that this lord of human beings,
this noble warrior,
will gain the throne
and, angered at that disparagement,
come down harshly
with his royal might.
So, guarding your life,
avoid him.
You shouldn't look down on
— for being young —
a serpent you meet
in village or wilderness:
A person shouldn't disparage it.
As that potent snake slithers along
with vibrant colors,
it may someday burn the fool,
whether woman or man.
So, guarding your life,
avoid it.
You shouldn't look down on
— for being young —
a blaze that feeds on many things,
a flame with its blackened trail:
A person shouldn't disparage it.
For if it gains sustenance,
becoming a great mass of flame,
it may someday burn the fool,
whether woman or man.
So, guarding your life,
avoid it.
When a fire burns down a forest
— that flame with its blackened trail —
the shoots there
take birth once more
with the passage of days & nights.
But if a monk,
his virtue consummate,
burns you with his potency,[1]
you won't acquire sons or cattle
nor will your heirs enjoy wealth.
They become barren,
heir-less,
like palm tree stumps.
So a person who's wise,
out of regard for his own good,
should always show due respect
for a serpent,
a fire,
a noble warrior with high status,
& a monk, his virtue consummate.
At least a inspiring, living, Khmer folk tale "
The story of Bhikkhu Sok "
Some stories possible inspire rejoicing with merits:
Maha Mangala Sutta - មង្គលសូត្រ khmer Rezitation , blessing for you from Ven. fellows, for their ancestors dwelling in modern world in the internet (2014).
...9. "Patience, obedience, meeting the Samanas (holy men), and timely discussions on the Dhamma — this is the highest blessing....
Anumodana!