Rules for Ordination in the Mahayana Dharmagupta

How do you tell who is a Buddhist monk or nun?  You need to understand the process, here is the normal qualifications for both bhikshuni/bhikkhuni and bhikshu/bhikkhu.  Women only follow the women's rules for Sangha, from the the bhikshuni lineage still extent to this day unbroken.

In the unbroken Dharmagupta lineage of the Vinaya precepts in the Mahayana traditions that have 2-part Vinaya Sangha:

Bhikshuni ordination is by application to an ordination committee. Bhikshuni are siksamana after 2 years living as a sramaneri (novice) with a qualified bhikshuni of acceptable years (Bhikshuni of rains age at minimum 5 but preferred is after 10 rains) before they are able to apply for full ordination. They must be resident Sangha in an acceptable monastic community before they apply for full ordination. Independent women living without training or preceptor both residing in the same temple are not accepted. Women who have lack of 2 years as siksamana are not accepted. Girls are not accepted, the full ordination age starts at 20 years old. Precepts are conferred in formal public way by first a bhikshuni ordination Sangha then a Bhikshu ordination Sangha. Both are usually 20 years into their own full precepts rains age. Bhikshuni and Bhikshu rains age begins on the day they become ordained, no matter how many years in robes before that, counts as age 0.

The Bhikshuni qualification for participation in giving ordination to siksamana is 12 rains age, the Bhikshu qualification to giving ordination is 10 rains age. The ordination group is usually very aged in rains and most committees are formed of at least 20 rains age for both and the age for the instructions is better after 20 rains because of the merit and virtue of being in purity so long is prized and seen as worthy accomplishment. There are monks and nuns who specialize in Vinaya and demonstrated they are capable instructors of new monks and nuns. This committee is made up of the present highly qualified bhikshuni and Bhikshu who self-directed their studies in the Vinaya and have practical experience in teaching newly arrived monks and nuns advancing their practice and keeping their purity as they age in rain years (rain years are the years spent in purity after you become a Bhikshuni or Bhikshu).
Countries with active Sangha: China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, USA, England, the many South American countries, many European countries. Famous Buddhist countries with only Bhikshu Sangha: Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Tibet.

MABA has success

http://www.maba-usa.org/AboutUs.html

I know this group of monk and nuns, they have just built a monks house and offer English and Chinese instruction in Buddha dharma.  Here is an excerpt from their website.



MABA's Goals

1. To promote Buddhism in America, specifically the mid-west.

2. To promote Buddhism through beneficial spiritual and social activities.

3. To support Buddhist and academic organizations in the study of Buddhism.

4. To provide an environment for the practice and study of Buddhism.

5. To support the Sangha in its commitment to the Dharma.

Largest USA Buddhist monasteries are closed communities

I've included some links to some of the largest monasteries in the USA:

Hsi Lai Temple the headquarters in the USA for Fo Guang Shan which was founded by Ven. Master Hsing Yun, who promotes traditional Vinaya Sangha and new school called Humanistic Buddhism, it's a very large group that has temples everywhere in the USA.  Very good group and well-trained. Great at large crowds and attracts large crowds, lovely tea houses, active well educated and nice Sangha largely bhikshuni and some bhikshu.  This is a closed community to outside Sangha, however, if you choose to pursue residency be warned you more often are asked to return to lay life and apply to them for monastic training.

Bhikshuni be warned in the Chinese Buddhist Bhikshuni Sangha it is not normal to return to lay life and expect that you will be accepted again even if you are told to do this, just don't.  Many women are treated harshly by resident bhikshuni who try this, most if not all fail and only achieve novice status.
I strongly recommend no Bhikshuni in good standing even attempt in doing this at all.  This is offered but not viable if you want to keep your bhikshuni precepts, bhikshus are the only group of Sangha allowed to disrobe and return up to 7 times; and even then it's not without some retribution from the 2-part Sangha. YES, it is unfair, but that is the way it really is .... still. Maybe our generation can change this practice to include bhikshuni as well.

I am hoping one day that tolerance for outside traditions and recognition of full ordination of monastics who want to reside within a new Sangha will be allowed, so they serve the USA and all it's citizens, not just their own ex-patriots.  Sangha outside their  system may visit for very, very short stays, you will find them friendly and very nice. I count them as my long time friends and ally's and they have stayed on my nice list. Amituofo!

I've also included the Sagely City of 10,000 Buddhas a totally friendly group of orthodox 2-part Sangha which observes additional teachings of wearing the work robe (5 strip) and the strict segregation of genders on their very large monastery grounds.Everyone there speaks English and it's known for tolerance of both Theravada and Mahayana schools in residence.  This is a closed community.  Ven. Master Hsua Hua donated the land for the Theravada monks of the Abhayagiri Monastery to be built and reside.  Limits for the outside Sangha residence are to short, very short stays.  One day they hope to have enough housing for visiting Sangha who wish to apply for long term stays. I guess they just are open to the monks, even outside their original Chan tradition.  I hope it's soon to change. Amituofo!  Deepest respects to the Elders there whom I have had the privilege of sitting near and eating with.

Chuang Yen Monastery, accepts the visiting monastics only.  This place has provisions for allowable with permission for a 2 week stay at the longest which is unfortunately very, very short.  But historically this has served it's purpose as a wandering monastics way place. Very nice area, remote but they have active amount of laity and very good Sangha in residence.

Being a closed community is not a always a bad thing.  It helps to preserve the integrity and support the training of the resident Sangha.  Staying in one spot helps one's cultivation over time.  Everyone knows and teaches the same thing in the same way creating a style or a school that is recognizable.

Fine line in Cult Status risk in the USA.  Here in the USA we are not favorable to restricted living that denies our basic freedoms granted in our constitution.  We look with suspicion justified on any organization that tries to do that.  The 20s to now in our history has given us disastrous cults leading to deaths and great financial losses. Anytime someone says to you "you can't... go out our walls, manage or keep your own money, must rely on us for your lifestyle, give up your own identity to live with us..."  well alarm bells do go off.  Being exclusionary it has it's risks, even possibly perverting the Sangha making the temple rules above the Vinaya, common sense, and local laws; as well creating a cult which is very harmful to themselves and society. It also risks the good teachings and intent of the founders being lost with time on their own carefully cultivated resident generations.

Advice for closed communities in the USA.  You can't keep outside influences out of any community here in the USA, signs of progress are still influential as well as the prevailing host society around you.  It is better to be known to outside Sangha (Westerners, travelling, solitary) as an open friendly community in the USA so that all kinds of exchanges can happen and we get to learn from each other and contribute to the local area's towns.  If there are any communities that have open doors to outside Sangha then let us know, it will be shouted from the rooftops (not literally but we will post links or information).  If you take a moment to think a bit about why your community came here, it is to spread the Buddha dharma to the masses.  If you don't have the masses coming inside your walls, then you better rethink why you are here in the USA at all.  If you allow long term residence of properly ordained, in good standing visiting Sangha then let us know and I will update this post.  I would rather be corrected now than influence other's by what was past policy.

Avoid upsetting your Western members or the tourists. I can't tell you how many times people have been directing me towards Hsi Lai Temple as a residence because they were seeing me as fit there and are members of the temple.  And they get very upset to learn that the doors are not open as a travelling monastic not part of their order to be a resident there.  We are fair and open in our nonprofits and it should include diversity in religious orders in Buddhism as well.  That is our view in the USA about freedom and fairness   We have cults galore just like Jim Jones, Warren Jeffs, David Koresh, Michael Roach, so many more than these.  People are quick to judge especially here in the USA giving all the scandals we had and still have in Buddhism here in the USA.  When you got "cult" taped to your temple name then you got problems with credibility here in the USA.  Personally it pains me to see that, I'd rather more clarity on this matter be discussed.

Living in Harmony-the Six Rules of Sangha Harmony

The Six harmony rules are universally accepted by all Sangha ordained in the Dharmagupta lineage.  In the USA the Chinese Sangha has set forth the standards by their very numbers and years.

Guided by the Dharma, the Sangha community practices the “Six Points of Reverent Harmony” in communal living.  They are: 
(1) doctrinal unity in views and explanations to ensure common views and understanding; 
(2) moral unity in observing the precepts to achieve equality for all under the rules, 
(3) economic unity in community of goods to effect fair distribution of economic interests, 
(4) mental unity in belief to provide mutual support in spiritual cultivation, 
(5) oral unity in speech to nurture com-passion and love, 
(6) bodily unity in behavior to assure nonviolence and harmonious living. 

There is a very nicely written article from where this exact wording came from, and it reflects nicely how a Chinese Buddhist monastery is managed. I wish I had this booklet when I was training as a novice. It would have been handy.

http://www.blia.org/english/publications/booklet/pages/35.htm

Welcome to USA Sangha

USA Sangha is a newly created for Buddhist monastics in the USA. Living in the USA has generated some special concerns for those keeping the precepts in the Vinaya and non Vinaya traditions.  It does not replace any existing Sangha body nor does it act at this time for regulating Sangha in any form except to make clear matters on Vinaya and the special problems of being Sangha in the USA.

Survival is the number one concern overshadowing practice on a daily basis for many Sangha in the USA.  Many are forced by cultural and language barriers to live in solitude whether in a community or alone.  For those that are alone, regardless of what kind of tradition you belong it, please reach out to Sangha here or in email or on Facebook. Having another Sangha member that you can communicate with directly to guide you is invaluable in your survival.  Please do not hesitate to contact a bhikshu if you are bhikshu or a bhikshuni if you are bhikshuni; a novice may contact any bhikshu or bhikshuni regardless of their residence.

Sangha and unwholesome situations.  If you are in an unwholesome situation let somebody know.  If you can leave it, do so.  If you cannot find a community then alternative living is your only choice; however, that need not be without proper Vinaya observance.  It is absolutely shameful that the larger communities do not have an outreach program for nonresident Sangha that are in the USA and afloat of their communities.  I hope the elders in those communities read this blog and remedy this problem.  Action is needed on this matter immediately. Any organization that is providing or wants to provide outreach to nonmembers that are Sangha in full proper ordination who want help please notify me directly.  Find me on Facebook:  Ven Hong Yang Shi

Masters in the Chinese Buddhist traditions have been in the USA for well over 150 years now.  This group of elders has established the foundation for the the rest of the arriving and new sangha to follow.  For this reason, we will form this group based upon the traditions set forth in the Mahayana Chinese Buddhist practices.

For the reason of the Chinese Buddhists establishing a solid foundation in Buddhist practice and communities in Americas and the rest of the European countries outside Asia has already begun here in the USA we choose to honor our history in the USA by acknowledging this significant contribution to history in the USA.

It is very well known that Chinese came over and were encouraged to come over by our Railroad companies. It is due to their personal sacrifices and our benefit as a country that we have such advanced transportation systems beyond the railroads and including the railroads.

Very much because of the Chinese immigrants we have a strong country and a diversified one.  Much angst has be unnecessarily caused to their memory and their descendants by politically minded and the ambitious in the blaming of the present form of Chinese government a country they may not have ever traveled to in their lifetime being born and raised in the United States.  They have been in our country as citizens for over 160 years already, show more common sense and less bias towards an entire race when actually complaining about a form of government overseas.  It's shameful to hear Americans blame the Chinese for all kinds of our politicians mistakes and our own shortfalls.  It's worse to hear it from so-called religious in robes, and even ghastly when it comes from Buddhist monks and nuns who scream it, burn themselves to death and horrifically cause harm in the name of politics or justification in revenge.

Please note that only the pure bhikshu and bhikshuni may join this organization.  It is open to bhikkhus in the Theravada tradition as it has already been a part of Chinese Buddhism for a long time already.  It is open to Tibetan bhikshus but their council is not approving of bhikshuni lineage being established, so bhikshunis in the Tibetan tradition must be ordained in the Dharmagupta lineage by Taiwan, Korea or when it occurs in the USA (rarely open to outside women).  Therefore bhikshunis here in the USA have a burden, they must be declared as Dharmagupta lineage holders properly in a 2-part Sangha, this means going to Taiwan to receive the full ordination.

Due to questionable sudden ordinations in the bhikkhuni group who is trying to re-establish the Theravada lineage as recently as 2009 to 2012, there may be limited membership for bhikkhunis who do not have the Dharmagupta lineage from a full 2-part Sangha as set forth in the Vinaya.  The bhikshuni lineage universally accepted by all Buddhist councils is Dharmagupta not any other, there is still unfortunately rejection by the Thai Sangha Council against bhikkhuni ordination and the risk to women who defy that is just too great including being arrested and jailed in Thailand and Burma.  There are enough qualified bhikshunis who are world recognized as senior to be capable of granting full ordination already.  There are full ordinations for qualified siksamanas to join in the USA, Taiwan, Korea, and China.


Violence by Sangha:  Anyone who is actively supporting politics, like the freetibet movement will not be approved for membership.  Encouraging suicide for any reason is a Parajika offense.  That means if you joined in protest for, defended the re-posts of Tibetans suicides, Tibetan monks who suicided or support suicide then you are in direct violation of Parajika of "Do Not Kill".  This includes re-posting material in favor of suicides by self-immolation in social media like Facebook or online.  If you posted and re-posted in favor of freetibet then you are in direct violation of Parajika "do not kill" for reason of public statement in support of suicide. Those Sangha of either Theravada or Mahayana that participate by re-posting on social media in favor of:  coercion or by direct action in the following:  supporting violence, destruction of human life, infringement on others rights to practice other religions, protest in political groups or events that have publicly advocated violence of body, life government national and state laws broken and property are not in good standing.

Sangha in good standing: Those spreading the knowledge of horrific events like self-immolation providing no commentary for the support of suicides such as freetibet or the attacks upon Sangha or their Sangha properties, abuses of Sangha in politics or economics, crimes of Sangha members; only sharing knowledge are not in violation of parajika.  Those who denounced suicide and violent actions by Sangha are in good standing as they should be doing according to the Vinaya instructions.

Those that are declared Parajika learners must be residing in Sangha communities. If they are indeed abandoned and live away from their community; it is the community who abandoned them to be blamed and publicly noticed as  poor community indeed.

Independent Sangha who are residing on their own, are in good standing as long as they are known to other Sangha members who are pure and in good standing.  Due to the vastness of the Americas and the lack of community that are open to outside Sangha as residents then this is unavoidable fact of life outside of a Buddhist country.  Take comfort in the satisfaction of your precepts observed fully, take comfort to the noble fact that you are indeed an mendicant residing here as a valid part of the tradition in which you ordained.  Hermits, hermitages, wandering, solitary existence is to be treasured, as once you reside in community of Sangha you do not have the same luxury of a self-directed life.  You when living in community live in harmony, observing the harmony rules set forth by common vote of that community.