The Monk Lifestyle: The Basics of Becoming a Monastic

Buddhism is an ancient religion with a basic philosophy of peace and enlightenment. It's also the fastest-growing religion in the world today. If you're interested in learning more about Buddhism, then this article might be perfect for you. In it, we will go over what exactly it means to become a monastic and what daily life looks like for them. 

Recently, the media has been buzzing about celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston embracing the Buddhist lifestyle with their latest diets and meditation routines. Read on to find out how the monk lifestyle is shaping a new hip trend.

What is the monk lifestyle?

The monk lifestyle is a monastic lifestyle, which means that they spend most of their time living in a monastery and practicing the teachings of Buddha. Monks take vows to follow specific rules and principles, such as living only with what they need and not becoming involved with people who don't share their beliefs. For most monks, this also means they must be celibate.

The basics of becoming a monastic

So, what does it mean to become monastic? First, it is important to know that there are two types of monks, Theravada and Mahayana. Theravada monks live in the southern part of Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar), and Mahayana monks live in the northern part of Asia (China, Nepal).

Theravada Buddhism is based on Buddha's teachings. They wear orange robes and follow strict disciplines, limiting themselves to one meal a day. Mahayana Buddhism is based on Buddha's teachings as well, but they also focus on love and compassion for all beings. Their main goal is the enlightenment for all beings.

Daily life for monks

A typical day for a monk in the monastery starts with waking up at 3:00 am in order to begin meditation. Buddhist monks are not permitted to eat after 12:00 pm, so they only have an hour or so of time when they can eat. They also must meditate for an hour in the early afternoon and again in the evening. The rest of their day is spent doing manual labor, studying, and focusing on community services. In addition, monks usually spend their days helping out with tasks like cleaning, cooking, and serving food to guests.

Monks are very disciplined people who adhere strictly to a routine that consists of prayer rituals combined with work duties. These monks are often revered by society because of their strict adherence to the rules set forth by Buddhism. One important thing to note is that it's not easy for someone to become a monk; you need to be reviewed by several monastery members before you can join them as a full-time member of the monastery.

Why celebrities are adopting the monk lifestyle

The Western world is increasingly interested in Eastern spirituality. In particular, Buddhism has been a popular topic lately because of its emphasis on peace and enlightenment.

Some celebrities have turned to Buddhism as a result. Take Gwyneth Paltrow, for example. She's been following the Buddhist lifestyle for over ten years now and has been vocal about her admiration for it. The actress even went as far as to use spiritual practice to help with her postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter Apple in 2004. In one blog post, Paltrow described how she began practicing meditation and other techniques, such as re-framing how you think about yourself and others around you, to improve her mental health.

Jennifer Aniston has also become a follower of Buddhism in recent years. Just like Paltrow, the actress has found that religion helps her stay grounded amid all the celebrity gossip headlines. In an interview with Vogue magazine from 2011, Aniston said she turns to meditation when she needs "to decompress or reset my system."

Both celebrities have discovered that Buddhism can be a great way to live a more peaceful life due to its emphasis on peace and enlightenment – things we all need throughout our daily lives!

The monk lifestyle in perspective

Becoming a monastic is not something that you can just "do" on a whim. It takes years of training, dedication, and hard work to become one. Becoming a monk means shaving your head, taking on the three vows (no killing, no stealing, no sexual activity), and living in solitude. 

Furthermore, it's important to note that there are two types of monks: bhikkhus or celibates and bhikkhunis or noncelibates. If you want to become a monk but still want to have sex with someone (something forbidden for monks who take the celibate vow), becoming a bhikkhuni might be an option for you.

However, if you want the full experience of being a monk without any distractions, then becoming a celibate monk might be best for your lifestyle.

The life of a Buddhist monk is challenge-filled but fulfilling. Monks wake up at 4:30 am every morning to meditate and practice mindfulness before spending the rest of their day studying sacred texts or teaching others about Buddhism. Monks are also required to follow many rules, which include following the eight precepts outlined by Buddha himself. For example, they can't eat afternoon or sleep in beds without sheets since these items are luxurious and might distract them from their goal of peace and enlightenment.

As a result, some people believe that monks must live in poverty-stricken.

Conclusion

The monk lifestyle has been around for centuries and has been adopted by celebrities and people from all walks of life. The reasons for the popularity of the lifestyle are diverse and oftentimes personal. If you are thinking about adopting a monk lifestyle, know that there are a number of considerations to take into account. This post has given you the basics of becoming a monk and what daily life might be like if you decide to go this route. It also helps to consider what the monk lifestyle means in the greater scheme of things.