Posted by: Dhammañāṇa
« on: July 28, 2019, 07:19:27 AM »[Q&A] How to know who is a good monk?
Once answered in this way:
It's not really easy possible to get even fast known if a monk is a good one (meaning directed to Nibbana) even for monks not to speak of lay people. Two suttas come to mind which are relevant here:
It's - to "react" a little on given answers here - not so that:
An indice for a "good monk" (spoken of eally worthy of gifts so to gain much benefit from it).
As we all might know, it's not the biggest problem to keep rules (laws) while or even for being very corrupt, when just following the letter.
An it's in no way a garanty, even it is a broad believe in modern world, that a "good monk" is a person much engaged in formal meditation. Such can easy be actually outsider. (See: To Nandiya
).
A general dhammic message is to look first of all on ones own mind set and if directed to the Noble Sangha and possible approaching someone who can provide one enough imagination for such is in regard of what lies in ones sphere and ability for sure to best way, better as to believe that oneself not perfect will meet easily perfect ones.
You, as a layperson, are not asked for being a specialist in regard of what is not really your "business" but mainly, if liking to make this direction secure, those things:
More useful on this not easy matter (which is not required to make ones own business) can be found:
Once answered in this way:
It's not really easy possible to get even fast known if a monk is a good one (meaning directed to Nibbana) even for monks not to speak of lay people. Two suttas come to mind which are relevant here:
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
"Monks, could a person of no integrity know of a person of no integrity: 'This is a person of no integrity'?"
"No, lord."
"Good, monks. It's impossible, there's no way, that a person of no integrity would know of a person of no integrity: 'This is a person of no integrity.'
"Could a person of no integrity know of a person of integrity: 'This is a person of integrity'?"
"No, lord."
"Good, monks. It's impossible, there's no way, that a person of no integrity would know of a person of integrity: 'This is a person of integrity.'"...
"Now, monks, could a person of integrity know of a person of no integrity: 'This is a person of no integrity'?"
"Yes, lord."
"Good, monks. It is possible that a person of integrity would know of a person of no integrity: 'This is a person of no integrity.'
"Could a person of integrity know of a person of integrity: 'This is a person of integrity'?"
"Yes, lord."
Quote from: MN 110
- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa -
"Great king, as a layman enjoying sensual pleasures; living confined with children; using Kāsī fabrics & sandalwood; wearing garlands, scents, & creams; handling gold & silver, it's hard for you to know whether these are arahants or on the path to arahantship.
Ud 6.2
"'It's through living together that a person's virtue/purity/endurance/discernment may be known, and then only after a long period, not a short period; by one who is attentive, not by one who is inattentive; by one who is discerning, not by one who is not discerning': Thus it was said. And in reference to what was it said?
AN 4.192
It's - to "react" a little on given answers here - not so that:
- a monk keeping outwardly good Vinaya, or
- a meditating monk is
An indice for a "good monk" (spoken of eally worthy of gifts so to gain much benefit from it).
As we all might know, it's not the biggest problem to keep rules (laws) while or even for being very corrupt, when just following the letter.
An it's in no way a garanty, even it is a broad believe in modern world, that a "good monk" is a person much engaged in formal meditation. Such can easy be actually outsider. (See: To Nandiya
).A general dhammic message is to look first of all on ones own mind set and if directed to the Noble Sangha and possible approaching someone who can provide one enough imagination for such is in regard of what lies in ones sphere and ability for sure to best way, better as to believe that oneself not perfect will meet easily perfect ones.
You, as a layperson, are not asked for being a specialist in regard of what is not really your "business" but mainly, if liking to make this direction secure, those things:
- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa -
Layperson's Vinaya
(i) by lovable deeds,
(ii) by lovable words,
(iii) by lovable thoughts,
(iv) by keeping open house to them,
(v) by supplying their material needs.
More useful on this not easy matter (which is not required to make ones own business) can be found: