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Buddhist monks follow the principles laid down by Lord Buddha. Buddha laid down the principles of Pancheel where he guided the lives of monks. The monks are supposed to be vegetarians. but one incident in the life of Buddha changed that. While traveling one of his disciples came and asked why it was wrong to eat meat of a cow which was already dead and the body lying on their path. It would be a waste of lot of food as we will resort to killing a live plant or animal if we let the flesh go to waste. Buddha responded that the disciple was right and that slipped in Buddhism. Now Buddhists have a found an excuse to eat meat stating that when they get it it was already dead from the slaughterhouse or from the donor's house without realizing that the Buddha's intent was not to kill even a plant if it could have been saved by consuming a dead animal. Buddha was nearly at the same time Mahavira was and both were in close zones. Buddha as per many Jain journals started as a Jain monk and started Buddhism because of the severity of fasting in Jainism.
Jain Monks: Jain monks preach non violence to the utmost point. In Jainism I have read literature in Jainism which considers all of living beings as a group of souls which includes plants and all forms of life. The main principle of a jain monk is to protect all forms of lives under all circumstances. Eating anything will cause pain to other living beings and so they avoid eating and resort to fasts. But given the fact that they need to eat something to stay alive (many do stop eating till the end of their lives but it is very hard for everyone) so they resort to things that are least sinful. Like eating grains is considered to be least offensive. The reason id take an example of wheat. The wheat plant is dry and dead when the farmers harvest the wheat. So the Jain monks use the same logic as Buddha's to prefer grains which are already dried and dead before they are harvested but not for meat or eggs or animal products. Buddha had the same intention but his short sightedness of extrapolating the future made the Buddhist monks non vegetarians. (I still know a lot of Buddhist monks who do not eat meat as they realize the intent of Buddha.)
Jain monks cannot possess anything, grow anything, cook anything. They have to resort to begging and have strict rules even in that. Lord Mahavira had made an unannounced condition of accepting alms from a person with tears in eyes, hands tied, head shaved and eating Cows food (mixture of Jowar, Bajra grains boiled). He moved for 6 months without food as these conditions were not met. After 6 months he finally meets Chandanbala and accepts alms from her. Jain monks live for their souls....for them their body is meant to burn their karmas and take the pains of their past sins. Reach the ultimate goal of all meditation and penance.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoI think the difference is that a lay follower doesn't have to give up almost everything that they own and that they aren't as strict about the eating times and meditating times like a monk is
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Can Buddhists eat past noon?
Lay Buddhists can eat whenever they want. Buddhist Monks and Nuns typically do not eat after noon.
What do women buddhist wear?
First off Buddhists include both lay people and Monks and Nuns. It is very similar to the Catholic Church in that manner. Buddhists Monks and Nuns dedicated their life to attaining enlightenment and service to others whereas lay people have jobs and families while practicing Buddhism. Therefore, when it comes to lay Buddhists, we were whatever we want as appropriate to the situation (work versus play, etc). Monks and Nuns typically wear robes.
What are the dress rules of Buddhism?
For lay Buddhists, like myself, I wear normal everyday clothes. Buddhists Monks and Nuns wear robes that are traditional to the lineage they belong to.
Where do Buddhists worship in?
Buddhists do not worship any god, deity or person; not even the Buddha. We revere the Buddha for bringing us his wisdom and teachings. Buddhists Temples are places were monks and nuns live and study the Buddha's teachings. They also hold lessons and meditation practice for lay Buddhists.
What is a community of monks?
Any group of Buddhists (Monks/Nuns or lay people) who study and practice together is called a Sangha. If they lived together in a monastic setting then the building is called a monastery.
Where do devout Buddhists live?
I am not sure whether you mean where in the world or where in their communities, so I will answer both. Buddhists can be found on all continents except Antarctica (unless, of course one happens to be visiting there). Buddhist populations are the highest in East Asia. Buddhists, like Catholic Christians, can be divided into two groups, Lay People and Monks & Nuns. Lay people live in their own houses or apartments in most communities throughout a country. Monks and Nuns ussully live in a monastery.
Are there white people who are Buddhists by religion When i say white i mean European or European-descended. Are there regular white people who are Buddhists by religion either monks or lay Buddhist?
Yes, there are Buddhist of white European descent. Mostly they're recent converts.
Why can Buddhists not eat after midday?
Lay Buddhists can eat at any time. Monks and Nuns can not eat after mid-day.The reason for this is that food should be to only nourish the body and not for a source of pleasure. Also Monks and Nuns work to satisfy themselves with only minimal things, food included. Lastly eating at night makes the mind sluggish for meditation.
Do you have to become a monk to be a Buddhist?
No. Buddhists can be either Monks/Nuns or Lay people; just like in Roman Catholicism. Monks & Nuns take vows of poverty and chastity and dedicate their lives to attaining enlightenment. Lay people, like myself, work, get married, have children while also practicing Buddhism trying to also reach enlightenment.
What kind of church does Buddhists have?
Buddhists have monasteries, shrines and temples, not churches. In these places we hold teachings and train monks, nuns and lay people in the teachings of the Buddha. There is no worship at these places or any other Buddhist holy places because we believe in no gods, not even the Buddha (he was just a man).
Can a Buddhist be a journalist?
Yes, since not all Buddhists are monastics. Lay Buddhists can be journalists.
What are the religous practices of buddhism?
For Monks - Teaching the Dhamma, Meditating, Chanting, helping the community, taking refuge in the teachings.For Lay Buddhists - Meditating, taking refuge in the teachings of the Buddha, giving to the poor and giving to the monks, living morally by the five precepts, living mindfully by the noble eightfold path.
