"A Bhikkhu's Journey #2 : One Year as a Bhikkhu"
A continuation of my ongoing series regarding monastic life, this year marking one year as a Bhikkhu, and two years in robes. Sorry for the Sniffling, I had my flu shot a few days before and was having reactions. The added content is below:
As stated at the end of the video, some things I glossed over but wanted to add here. The first was what Bhante Analayo said in response to my question. Firstly was that "we all have our own kammic trajectory", which impacted me and I still remember, and secondly he said it was best for me to be honest, with myself and the people I share dhamma with, and teach to my own abilities, which is a policy i've followed back even when I started doing a little teaching as a lay person.
The other thing I missed was in speaking about the topic of teaching actually greatly enhancing your own practice. About 3-4 months ago I went through a period of about a week where I had multiple sources confirm how much teaching impacted their own practice, including Bhante G and also while listening to a talk by Ajahn Chah during my walks, he said the same thing.
And lasting regarding breaking the rules, yes in the past year I have had ample experience in confessing my faults to my fellow Bhikkhus. I've found that confessing allows the defilements to come out in the open, whereas its much easier for your mind to justify your actions and abide in them if you keep your faults to yourself. This is why I confessed to Bhante G my major coping mechanisms(food, video games etc) before ordination, so he would know and I would be less likely to fall back on them.
Growing up Catholic I saw confession as a chore, and something to avoid, I still have those tendencies in my sometimes, but as I said above, I've found confession to be a freeing experience, and a chance to get feedback from other people, something which I've come to find important, as you don't know when your mind is tricking you(actually I do, pretty much all the time!)
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#1 "A Bhikkhu's Journey" : Four Months as a Bhikkhu
In this first Vlog post full ordination I discuss what it is like living under the monastic discipline and experiences related to being a new monastic.
The plan is to do a new video in the "journey into homelessness"/"a Bhikkhu's Journey" yearly from here on in, unless something is important enough for me to want to make a video in between.
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Jayantha's Upasampada - Son of the Sakyan(Sakyaputta) : Last Words Before Ordination.
Arash catches me and asks me for any final words before my ordination.
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#8 "A Journey Into Homelessness": One Week Till Bhikkhu Ordination
The last video, Pre-Bhikkhu Ordination, on this long journey into homelessness.
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#7 "A Journey Into Homelessness" 8-2016 : 10 Months as Samanera and closing in on Bhikkhu Ordination
Continuing the series with a video log speaking about my experience so far in robes and looking forward to my higher ordination.
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#6 " A Journey into Homelessness" : 9-7-15 : 1 year at Bhavana, approaching novice ordination
I mark my year at Bhavana with a video discussing some events and goings on since becoming Anagarika as well as my preparation for the lower ordination ahead.
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#5 "A Journey Into Homelessness" : 03-12-15 : 6 Months At Bhavana: Anagarika
It's been about four months since I've come to Bhavana. I discuss recent changes and ongoing life here.
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#4 "A Journey Into Homelessness" : 10-26-14 : Two Months At Bhavana
I give an update on my Journey after two months at Bhavana Forest Monastery
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#3 "A Journey Into Homelessness" : 9-5-14 : The Final Days
This is the final video before entering into Bhavana Society in a few days. I plan to continue these videos on a somewhat more regular basis while there.
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#2 "A Journey Into Homelessness" : 3-9-14 : Update
It's been quite a while since I attempted to start this vlog of my journey. Here is an update.
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#1 " A Journey Into Homelessness" - 1/14/2013: Introduction
This is the introduction video for a vlog I've been kicking around for a long time. I plan to use this vlog as a journal of my thoughts and progress towards the goal of renunciation(Becoming a Buddhist Monk).
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Jayantha's Upasampada - The Birth of Bhikkhu Jayasāra
Recording of the Higher ordination of Samanera Jayantha.
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Student of the Path : A Journey into Homelessness: Pabbajja 10-31-15
a recording of my Pabbajja(going forth) from Anagarika to Sāmaṇera (Novice Monk).
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