How to Live Like a Buddhist Monk

[bodhigirlsmiles]

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

i’m not a buddhist monk, nor will i ever become one. i do, however, find great inspiration in the way they try to live their lives: the simplicity of their lives, the concentration and mindfulness of every activity, the calm and peace they find in their days.

you probably don’t want to become a monk either, but you can live your life in a more buddhist monk-like manner by following a few simple rules.

why live more like a buddhist monk? (i realize that many of you have religious beliefs, and i am by no means advocating your converting to buddhism! rather, i find some of the ways of buddhist monks to be beneficial to a wide variety of people for diverse backgrounds. if it proves to be of use to you, i am glad. if not, please disregard.) so, why then? because who among us can’t use a little more concentration, tranquility, and mindfulness in our lives? because buddhist monks for hundreds of years have devoted their lives to being present in everything they do, to being dedicated and to serving others. because it serves as an example for our lives, and whether we ever really reach that ideal is not the point.

one of my favorite zen monks, thich nhat hanh, simplified the rules in just a few words:

“Smile, breathe and go slowly.”

it doesn’t get any better than that.

however, for those who would like a little more detail, i thought i’d share some of the things i’ve discovered to work very well in my journey with buddhist living. i am not a buddhist master, however, i’ve found that there are certain principles that can be applied to any life, no matter what your religious beliefs or what your standard of living.

“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” - Shunryu Suzuki

do one thing at a time.

single-task, don’t multi-task. when you’re pouring water, just pour water. when you’re eating, just eat. when you’re bathing, just bathe. don’t try to knock off a few tasks while eating or bathing. zen proverb:

“When walking, walk. When eating, eat.”

do it slowly and deliberately. you can do one task at a time, but also rush that task. instead, take your time, and move slowly. make your actions deliberate, not rushed and random. it takes practice, but it helps you focus on the task.

do it completely.

put your mind completely on the task. don’t move on to the next task until you’re finished. if, for some reason, you have no choice but to move on to something else, try to at least put away the unfinished task and clean up after yourself. if you prepare a sandwich, don’t start eating it until you’ve put away the stuff you used to prepare it, wiped down the counter, and washed the dishes used for preparation. then you’re done with that task, and can focus more completely on the next task.

do less.

a monk doesn’t lead a lazy life: he wakes early and has a day filled with work. however, he doesn’t have an unending task list either — there are certain things he’s going to do today, an no more. if you do less, you can do those things more slowly, more completely and with more concentration. if you fill your day with tasks, you will be rushing from one thing to the next without stopping to think about what you do.

put space between things.

related to the “do less” rule, but it’s a way of managing your schedule so that you always have time to complete each task. don’t schedule things close together — instead, leave room between things on your schedule. that gives you a more relaxed schedule, and leaves space in case one task takes longer than you planned.

develop rituals. buddhist monks have rituals for many things they do, from eating to cleaning to meditation. ritual gives something a sense of importance — if it’s important enough to have a ritual, it’s important enough to be given your entire attention, and to be done slowly and correctly. you don’t have to learn the monk rituals — you can create your own, for the preparation of food, for eating, for cleaning, for what you do before you start your work, for what you do when you wake up and before you go to bed, for what you do just before exercise. anything you want, really.

designate time for certain things.

there are certain times in the day of a monk designated for certain activities. a time for for bathing, a time for work, a time for cleaning, a time for eating. this ensures that those things get done regularly. you can designate time for your own activities, whether that be work or cleaning or exercise or quiet contemplation. if it’s important enough to do regularly, consider designating a time for it.

devote time to sitting.

in the life of a buddhist monk, sitting meditation is one of the most important parts of his day. each day, there is time designated just for sitting. this meditation is really practice for learning to be present. you can devote time for sitting meditation, or do what i do: i use running as a way to practice being in the moment. you could use any activity in the same way, as long as you do it regularly and practice being present.

smile and serve others.

buddhist monks spend part of their day in service to others, whether that be other monks in the monastery or people on the outside world. it teaches them humility, and ensures that their lives are not just selfish, but devoted to others. if you’re a parent, it’s likely you already spend at least some time in service to others in your household, and non-parents may already do this too. similarly, smiling and being kind to others can be a great way to improve the lives of those around you. Also consider volunteering for charity work.

make cleaning and cooking become meditation.

aside from the meditation mentioned above, cooking and cleaning are to of the most exalted parts of a monk’s day. they are both great ways to practice mindfulness, and can be great rituals performed each day. if cooking and cleaning seem like boring chores to you, try doing them as a form of meditation. put your entire mind into those tasks, concentrate, and do them slowly and completely. it could change your entire day (as well as leave you with a cleaner house).

think about what is necessary.

there is little in a monk’s life that isn’t necessary. he doesn’t have a closet full of shoes, or the latest in trendy clothes. he doesn’t have a refrigerator and cabinets full of junk food. he doesn’t have the latest gadgets, cars, televisions, or iPod. he has basic clothing, basic shelter, basic utensils, basic tools, and the most basic food (they eat simple, vegetarian meals consisting usually of rice, miso soup, vegetables, and pickled vegetables).

live simply.

the corollary of the last rule is that if something isn’t necessary, you can probably live without it. and so to live simply is to rid your life of as many of the unnecessary and unessential things as you can, to make room for the essential. now, what is essential will be different to each person. for me, my family, my writing, my running and my reading are essential. to others, yoga and spending time with close friends might be essential. for others it will be nursing and volunteering and going to church and collecting comic books. there is no law saying what should be essential for you — but you should consider what is most important to your life, and make room for that by eliminating the other less essential things in your life.

“Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.” - Wu Li

[abqfriend]

Thank you for sharing such wonderful thoughts.

Indeed we get so wrapped up in our "attachments" that we do not live.

Here is a quote by Henry David Thoreau:

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

-Carol

.....the corollary of the last rule is that if something isn’t necessary, you can probably live without it. and so to live simply is to rid your life of as many of the unnecessary and unessential things as you can, to make room for the essential. now, what is essential will be different to each person. for me, my family, my writing, my running and my reading are essential. to others, yoga and spending time with close friends might be essential. for others it will be nursing and volunteering and going to church and collecting comic books. there is no law saying what should be essential for you — but you should consider what is most important to your life, and make room for that by eliminating the other less essential things in your life.

[prisonchaplain]

Just FYI here...one of our most popular religious programs, outside of Catholic and Protestant ones, is the Buddhist program. We typically have about 55 participate--well over 5% of the population. Many of them just find meditation to be helpful and relaxing. My guess is that the majority of participants are not Buddhist.

Another thought--can you imagine Buddhism inspiring terrorism? No? Me neither! :-)

[mightynancy]

My son carries a great deal of anxiety around...he would completely benefit from this. He consented to trying tai chi - we're going to do it tomorrow!

[Moksha]

I have always liked the Buddhist "Big Boat" tradition of seeking to help others on their journey of enlightenment, rather than seeking only for their own enlightenment (or salvation, to extend the metaphor).

Kwai Chang Caine, was a cloistered Shaolin Priest, but look what excellent things he did once unfettered.

[pam]

Thank you. That was an awesome post. So much good advise no matter the religion.

[Rico]

Another thought--can you imagine Buddhism inspiring terrorism? No? Me neither! :-)

Yes I can and I do. Opened the newspapers recently? I lived 7 years in a Buddhist country. Just across from the school I taught at, I witnessed people trampled to death trying to buy amulets. There was a total disregard for the feelings of those trampled on. There is anger among the followers. In Thailand, they have even went to the point of forcing Muslims and Christians to learn Buddhism in schools. Buddhists also are given choice jobs over Muslims in the southern part of Thailand. Buddhist soldiers have went on terroristic missions into Muslim towns and villages, killing people just because of their religion.

If you can't see the full picture of Buddhism, then you really don't know enough to say whether or not it inspires terrorism or not. Islam, Christianity and Judaism no more inspire terrorism than does Buddhism.

I am not here to rag on Buddhism because I know there are some definite good points in the religion and as a underlying value system, it has served the countries where it predominates rather well. I am just a little incredulous to see people talking about a religion that they know very little about, except what a few people have written in books. Me? I volunteered in a Buddhist temple.

The ultimate state in Buddhism is absolute nothingness, a total detachment from all feelings, good and bad. As Mother Teresa said, the opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference and that is the the aim of Buddhism.

Oh yeah, and I thought I'd add this one: Most Buddhist monks smoke cigarettes. In fact, I have never met a Buddhist monk who didn't smoke.

[bodhigirlsmiles]

Thank you for sharing such wonderful thoughts.

Indeed we get so wrapped up in our "attachments" that we do not live.

Here is a quote by Henry David Thoreau:

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

-Carol

thank you for your kind words. and thank you for sharing that lovely quote! i am a rather big fan of thoreau! must be the librarian/english teacher in me.

[bodhigirlsmiles]

Just FYI here...one of our most popular religious programs, outside of Catholic and Protestant ones, is the Buddhist program. We typically have about 55 participate--well over 5% of the population. Many of them just find meditation to be helpful and relaxing. My guess is that the majority of participants are not Buddhist.

Another thought--can you imagine Buddhism inspiring terrorism? No? Me neither! :-)

what type of things occur at these meetings? just curious! :)

[bodhigirlsmiles]

My son carries a great deal of anxiety around...he would completely benefit from this. He consented to trying tai chi - we're going to do it tomorrow!

i wish you the very best of luck with your son :)

[bodhigirlsmiles]

Thank you. That was an awesome post. So much good advise no matter the religion.

thank you. i know that much of the information is neither new, nor unique to buddhism, but i think it is a nice reminder for each of us to live in the moment.

[bodhigirlsmiles]

Yes I can and I do. Opened the newspapers recently? I lived 7 years in a Buddhist country. Just across from the school I taught at, I witnessed people trampled to death trying to buy amulets. There was a total disregard for the feelings of those trampled on. There is anger among the followers. In Thailand, they have even went to the point of forcing Muslims and Christians to learn Buddhism in schools. Buddhists also are given choice jobs over Muslims in the southern part of Thailand. Buddhist soldiers have went on terroristic missions into Muslim towns and villages, killing people just because of their religion.

unfortunately, you are absolutely correct. there are many buddhist who act in terrible ways in direct antithesis to the teachings of the buddha. i feel a terrible sense of dispair inside whenever i hear such stories. no, buddhists certainly have no corner on peaceful living.

If you can't see the full picture of Buddhism, then you really don't know enough to say whether or not it inspires terrorism or not. Islam, Christianity and Judaism no more inspire terrorism than does Buddhism.

i think our kind chaplain was simply wishing to point out that buddhism teaches peace as a way of life. this doesn't mean that everyone who espouses buddhism choosed to live this way. perhaps he could have said that he cannot imagine anyone who practices the teaching of the buddha inspiring terrorism. that would be a true statement for buddhists as well as christians, muslims, and a great many other people who follow the teachings of their religion's founder.

I am not here to rag on Buddhism because I know there are some definite good points in the religion and as a underlying value system, it has served the countries where it predominates rather well. I am just a little incredulous to see people talking about a religion that they know very little about, except what a few people have written in books. Me? I volunteered in a Buddhist temple.

i certainly hope you are not typing in reference to me. while i do not claim to be a buddhist scholar by any stretch, i am tibetan and have practiced buddhism for the whole of my life.

The ultimate state in Buddhism is absolute nothingness, a total detachment from all feelings, good and bad. As Mother Teresa said, the opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference and that is the the aim of Buddhism.

while there is some truth to what you say, i think this is a gross simplification of the teachings of buddhist tradition. i do, however, love mother theresa....she was such a remarkable woman and i am glad i had the oportunity to meet her before she was taken from this earth. thank you for bringing a smile to my face by mentioning her. :)

Oh yeah, and I thought I'd add this one: Most Buddhist monks smoke cigarettes. In fact, I have never met a Buddhist monk who didn't smoke.

um....i am not sure what to say about this one. i don't think it would be accurate to say that most buddhist monks smoke. i am sure that there are a great number who do (and that is sad ), but i know a great many who do not. my cousin would be one example and the dalai lama would be another.

having said all that, i think, perhaps, you may have missed the point of my op. my intention was not to disparage christianity, islam, or any other belief system. i also was not suggesting that anyone should become a monk or even buddhist. my intention was to share some of the rules that buddhist monks follow as i felt that they may prove of benefit to some folks in a stressful and crazy world.

Edited November 15, 2008 by bodhigirlsmiles

[prisonchaplain]

Yes I can and I do. Opened the newspapers recently? I lived 7 years in a Buddhist country. Just across from the school I taught at, I witnessed people trampled to death trying to buy amulets. There was a total disregard for the feelings of those trampled on.

The problem here is not inherently Buddhist--at least not from the way you describe it. Rather, it is the problem of large #s of people crowded together trying to get a limited supply of something. I see nothing particular to Buddhism in what you describe above.

There is anger among the followers. In Thailand, they have even went to the point of forcing Muslims and Christians to learn Buddhism in schools. Buddhists also are given choice jobs over Muslims in the southern part of Thailand. Buddhist soldiers have went on terroristic missions into Muslim towns and villages, killing people just because of their religion.

Again, nothing inherent in Buddhism here. This has more to do with politics, perceived cultural/religious invasion, and power/control.

If you can't see the full picture of Buddhism, then you really don't know enough to say whether or not it inspires terrorism or not. Islam, Christianity and Judaism no more inspire terrorism than does Buddhism.

On a deeper level I agree with you. But, on a superficial level, we at least see more wicked people using Christian or Muslim rhetoric to inspire violence.

Oh yeah, and I thought I'd add this one: Most Buddhist monks smoke cigarettes. In fact, I have never met a Buddhist monk who didn't smoke.

Total non sequitar, imho.

[prisonchaplain]

what type of things occur at these meetings? just curious! :)

The priest is Zen. He uses an altar with a Buddha statue, candles, incense, bells. The first half of the session is what he calls ritual. We have many Vietnamese inmates who are Buddhist, but who do not have the patience or desire for deeper meditation. So, after the ritual, those who wish to finish, are allowed to leave. The rest learn meditation, perhaps with some teaching as well.

Due to our environment, the priest uses the teacher you mentioned in the original post. He also uses Bo Lozoff, who wrote We're all Doing Time. And, he has his own book, Sitting on the Inside.

[hiram]

Yes I can and I do. Opened the newspapers recently? I lived 7 years in a Buddhist country. Just across from the school I taught at, I witnessed people trampled to death trying to buy amulets. There was a total disregard for the feelings of those trampled on. There is anger among the followers. In Thailand, they have even went to the point of forcing Muslims and Christians to learn Buddhism in schools. Buddhists also are given choice jobs over Muslims in the southern part of Thailand. Buddhist soldiers have went on terroristic missions into Muslim towns and villages, killing people just because of their religion.

If you can't see the full picture of Buddhism, then you really don't know enough to say whether or not it inspires terrorism or not. Islam, Christianity and Judaism no more inspire terrorism than does Buddhism.

I am not here to rag on Buddhism because I know there are some definite good points in the religion and as a underlying value system, it has served the countries where it predominates rather well. I am just a little incredulous to see people talking about a religion that they know very little about, except what a few people have written in books. Me? I volunteered in a Buddhist temple.

The ultimate state in Buddhism is absolute nothingness, a total detachment from all feelings, good and bad. As Mother Teresa said, the opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference and that is the the aim of Buddhism.

Oh yeah, and I thought I'd add this one: Most Buddhist monks smoke cigarettes. In fact, I have never met a Buddhist monk who didn't smoke.

There's a song by Eric Clapton called It's in the Way that You Use It. I think that applies to about any religion. One thing, though, I think Mahayana focus more on loving-kindness where as Hinyana puts less emphasis on that. At any rate, they seem to manifest themselves in different ways. One thing I like about Buddhism is that the texts do not advocate violence or such things as can be found in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. If one follows the teachings of Christ, he'll be a great person. If one follows the teachings of Buddha, he will be a great person. Seems that superstition, ignorance and poverty play a big part in the problem you described too. Thanks for the enlightening post though! Many forget that we like to imagine the "grass is greener on the other side" when it's probably a lot about how you look at things...