Lay Buddhists Monks Students often make the mistake
Lay Buddhists & Monks &
Students often make the mistake of thinking that all Buddhists have shaved heads and wear orange robes. In fact, a very small percentage of Buddhists in the world do this. Most Buddhists are people who live ordinary lives and have jobs and families. Only monks shave their heads, wear robes and don’t have jobs. Not all Buddhists look like this
This is a wedding between two Buddhists. It’s taking place at Samye Ling monastery. Lay Buddhists Monk
Why You Need to Know the Difference This distinction is important as you might be asked a question about the difference between the two in following the 8 Fold Path. You should be able to describe and give examples of each of the 4 steps on the path that we have focused on. It is also very important as Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists have different beliefs about who can achieve Nibbana. Do you remember what the difference is?
Right Intention There are three kinds of right intention. 1. The intention of resist desire 2. The intention to show goodwill 3. The intention to act on that goodwill
Right Speech There are four features of right speech You stupid *&^%£ idiot. Why don’t you just @? ~ %$!* and die 1. To avoid false speech 2. To avoid using words as weapons 3. To avoid hurtful words
Right Action There are three categories of right action 1. To avoid harming living things 2. To avoid taking what is not given 3. Avoid sexual misconduct Do these remind you of anything?
Right Livelihood These are some of the areas you need to avoid to have right livelihood. 1. Avoid working in weapons 2. Avoid buying and selling living things 3. Avoid working in the meat industry
example of an answer Do Monks find it easier to follow the step of Right Speech? 4 Marks Monks would find it easier to follow this step as they spend a lot of their time meditating which gives them the ability to control themselves. Also they spend their time in the Sangha and so will have less opportunity to get annoyed. Lay Buddhists will find it harder to follow this step as they might be driving and someone ‘cuts them up’ and they start swearing at the other driver. Or they might have a family and one of their children misbehaves but because the parent is tired they overreact and shout at the child. Click to see where marks are given
Use a whole page (landscaped) and copy out the table. Fill in each section with an example of how following the 8 Fold path is easier for monks and harder for Lay Buddhists Monks R i g h t Lay Action Speech Intention Livelihood Time: 15 Minutes In pairs
- Slides: 10