FROM HERE TO ENLIGHTENMENT: EDUCATING SENIENT BEINGS

By Thubten Gyatso

During the conference, Lama Zopa Rinpoche said that there are three ways in which the Sangha benefit the world: by living in the practice of pure morality, by giving education, and, even if they are not well educated, by their living example.

In general, and according to individual capacity, the Sangha will follow the entire education program of FPMT. Although the cultivation of lay teachers is encouraged, the Sangha’s role as Dharma teachers and meditation leaders has and always will be the backbone of FPMT education programs.

Our group was asked to discuss the specific things needed to be known by Sangha. These fall into the simple categories of pre- and post-ordination education.

Pre-ordination Someone seeking ordination should have an interview with one or more senior Sangha members who will then advise how to proceed. If necessary, people will be advised to attend a lam-rim course (ideally at Kopan) and to complete a three-month purification or lam-rim retreat.

Other considerations, such as general education, health, finance, legal obligations, family obligations, and so on, will be addressed in a booklet for people thinking of taking ordination. A group of Sangha will help me to produce this booklet as soon as possible.

At the end of the meetings, Lama Zopa Rinpoche took a group of Sangha to visit Ajahn Sumedho’s monastery north of London. The community of monks, nuns and lay people was most inspiring and Rinpoche encouraged us to follow their system of inducting postulants into ordination. Postulants live for at least one year in a Sangha community as lay people, maintaining the five vows as well as celibacy. If they are considered by the senior Sangha to be suitable, they then take novice ordination for at least another year. Then, if considered to be ready, they can take full ordination.

Post-ordination According to Lama Zopa’s instruction, people taking ordination within FPMT should promise to spend several years (four years for nuns and five years for monks) in a situation suitable for protecting their vows – such as in a Sangha community or under the care of a vinaya master.

During this period Sangha should receive instruction on the vinaya, including commentaries on the vows, so-jong, rains retreat, and how to relate to the lay community.

Apart from the general education and retreat program, it is important that Sangha learn chanting and rituals and how to lead others in meditation. Training in counseling is important, as well as teaching and public speaking skills.

(Ven. Neil Huston has the task of putting together a post-ordination education program for Sangha.)