Monasteries

My most dear, most kind, most precious, wish-fulfilling one,
Thank you for your kind email, I am sorry for the delay.

Regarding ordination, it comes out best for you to still wait a little while, so not to become ordained now, but later, next year or the year after.

Regarding your other question, it comes out to try to develop the place and if possible to slowly start a monastery and for it to be with FPMT. That is best according to my observation. After ordination, for you to be on the property came out best if there is no other monastery in the country you are in.

The most important thing is having a bodhicitta motivation for becoming a monk and also for the place to be useful. [You need] bodhicitta motivation in order to free the numberless sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric suffering and bring them to peerless happiness, buddhahood, therefore you need to achieve buddhahood, so you can do all these activities.

If the property is to be a monastery then it’s very, very important before any building work to do pujas beforehand and bless the ground, asking permission of the landlords, etc. There are things that need to be done properly, so the monastery can succeed well. You need to do things properly so that the monastery is not just active for one or two years and then disappears and is lost, not like that.

To build a monastery, of course one thing is money, but you also need to know how to do it the proper way. That means doing the correct pujas, the different earth and landlord pujas, and to start building the monastery in the right place on the property on the right day. Even details down to the shape of monastery; all these aspects are very important. It’s not just a simple thing like building a square house. Regarding the size, of course, that is according to what you need.

Please make your life most meaningful with the thought of bodhicitta day and night and in every action you do.

With much love and prayers ...

Most dear, most precious, most kind, most wish-fulfilling one,
I wanted to tell you a little bit about the benefits of building a monastery. During Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s there were monasteries and many Sangha living in those monasteries. There were many monasteries during that time, but now they are under the ground and covered by earth, for example at Shravastri, where Shakyamuni Buddha spent most of his time. He spent about twenty years there and five years nearby. Then a village started above the monastery and it has been like that for almost 3,000 years—not exactly, maybe 2,800 years—since then.

Without monasteries, the Sangha would have no place to live together and no place to do practice or to study. They can’t just live just on the bare mountains or in the fields without any shelter, so there have been many monasteries even since that time. Monasteries are normally not in the city, but away from the city, away from distraction. The main purpose of monasteries is to subdue the mind, to keep the mind in peace, in Dharma, to keep away from distractions, which are the causes of attachment, anger and so forth. Therefore, monasteries are built away from cities, in isolated places, away from obstacles. It is like this so that monks and nuns can live in their vows better. Monasteries help them do this.

Of course, in Tibet after the monks studied sutra and tantra in the monasteries, they either practiced in the monastery and became enlightened, or sometimes they taught others, like the great teachers who practiced themselves and became enlightened. After they finished their studies many monks also went away to the caves and hermitages and practiced in more isolation and then achieved enlightenment.

Numberless yogis, monks and nuns, as well as lay male and female practitioners in Tibet and also in ancient times in India and Nepal, lived in many caves on many mountains. Like nests of insects, the caves were full of practitioners. They just built in the earth, they made a hole inside, covered it with earth and then lived there for years and practiced. They are so blessed, so blessed, so blessed. It’s unbelievable. For example, Milarepa became enlightened and practiced in so many caves, where he achieved different realizations.

Those living in the monasteries, the monks, have their own monastery rules and discipline to help the mind, to be away from the distractions and to protect the mind.

Quotation from the Mindfulness Sutra:

Whoever has built well the support [holy objects] and the supporting [place]
And has also arranged the place for Sangha, their rooms, bedding and so forth
[Goes] from virtue to virtue—it always increases.
The virtue never gets wasted, even for ten thousand million eons.

This is saying that those who build the holy objects—[representing] the holy body, holy speech, holy mind—and the temples and the places to abide, the monasteries for an established Sangha assembly, as well as arranging all the needs for the Sangha, such as bedding, rooms and so on, collect a great amount of merit that never gets wasted. It always increases for eons and eons.

In the Mindfulness Sutra, Buddha said that monasteries and gompas where there are holy objects of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha—statues, stupas and scriptures—are called “abiding places” or nä khang in Tibetan. The meditation place is called the abiding place. What is abiding is the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. So an abiding place is a great, great place to subdue the mind, collect extensive merits and achieve enlightenment. Even the name nä khang is incredible.

If we build monasteries, temples and holy objects—the statues, stupas and scriptures that have the Buddha Dharma and Sangha abiding —however many atoms the object has, for that many eons we will become a universal king. There is only one universal king in the world at a time, not two, and when there is a universal king in the world, during that time there is so much good fortune for everyone. People are able to live in the ten virtues and there are other incredible, incredible benefits.

Being born as a universal king is just by the way, because ultimately we will achieve enlightenment. That means we will exhaust all the mistakes and complete all the realizations, and we will free the numberless sentient beings from the oceans of samsaric sufferings and bring them to the peerless happiness, sang-gye, the total cessation of all the obscurations and completion of all the realizations.

The Buddha said that by building shelter and providing bedding for monks, the eons of merit created increases and those merits cannot finish. There is no way to explain. Even for eons you cannot finish explaining the benefits. In the Mindfulness Sutra it says that even for hundreds of eons—I don’t remember the exact number—one cannot even finish explaining the benefits. It is unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable.

In Tibet, the Nyingma, Kagyü and Sakya put in place many monasteries. Then Lama Tsongkhapa came and established Ganden Monastery. His disciples established Sera Je and Me, then Ganden Shartse and Jangtse, and Drepung Loseling and Gomang. These are just the main monasteries, but there are many others in this world. In these monasteries, you can study sutra and tantra in depth, like the Pacific Ocean so, so deep, so vast. Even for Mongolians it was the best place for them to come and study. There were many Mongolians studying in Tibetan monasteries and becoming geshes.  Before communism, Mongolia was full of learned geshes; so many lharampa geshes, so many, so many, so many. They studied all of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings, the whole lamrim, and they knew the great Lamrim Chenmo by heart. Then they went back to Mongolia and created many monasteries there, branches of Sera, Ganden, Drepung and so on, which gave Sangha a place to practice and study, so they didn’t have to live on the fields or on the bare mountains. The benefit was unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable.

Those outside the monasteries were able to collect merit by coming to the monasteries and making offerings. Also by building the monasteries they collected so much merit. In this way lay people collected unbelievable merit by making offerings to the Sangha, requesting or doing practices, offering to holy objects and so on. They also sent many of their children to the monasteries to be educated.

The Buddha came approximately 2800 years ago, and the Buddhadharma still exists. This is because of monasteries and the education they provide. In Tibet, the complete Buddhadharma existed, meaning the Lesser Vehicle teachings as well as  the Mahayana sutra and Mahayana tantra teachings. These were taught by Buddha, came to Tibet from Nalanda, and were completely preserved and disseminated in full.

In Tibet and India these teachings existed for many hundreds of years in the past and the teachings still exist today.  Even after Mao Zedong, Buddhism has developed a little bit, more and more, so you see it is very, very important, it is unbelievably important. If people had become monastics but just stayed in the fields or on bare mountains, like monkeys, then this would not have happened. It is entirely due to monasteries that this happened. It is unbelievable.

There was only one lama, a Kagyü lama called Goesempa, whose practice was that he never had a monastery. He was a great yogi, but he rejected monasteries and groups.

Of course, in Sakya it is the same—in sutra, without talking about tantra—in Sakya there is parting from the four forms of clinging. It has a different name, but it is all the same in the four sects. In Sakya there is parting from clinging to this life, parting from clinging to samsara, parting from cherishing the I, and [parting from] holding the merely labelled real I as not merely labeled. Parting from cherishing the merely labelled I; parting from that, parting from cherishing the I. That is according to Sakya, however, all four sects have the same teaching but it’s called by different names. It is said that if we cling to this life then we are not Dharma practitioners and if we cling to samsara it’s not renunciation. Clinging to the I is not the right view. Cherishing the works for the I is not bodhicitta, and so on.

Therefore, [these are the benefits] of building a monastery. Besides Sera, Ganden and Drepung in India, there are so many other monasteries and branches in India, where the monks live and study and where Buddhism is taught extensively in this world. Recently, according to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes, we also helped to build the Gelugpa monastery and offices that are in Drepung. I went there, as I had some fortune to be able to help a little bit financially.

This is also similar for all the centers in the West and in different places. Centers where there are resident teachers and translators, where people come to listen to the Dharma, to study Dharma, to meditate, to collect merit, to purify defilements, to take refuge, to generate bodhicitta and to dedicate the practice for all sentient beings, also have all these unbelievable benefits.

At the centers we can learn compassion and bodhicitta. Each time we practice there, we help the six realms’ sentient beings by dedicating, without leaving out even one. Not one ant or one maggot or even one slug is left out; all our practices are dedicated for them. We practice Dharma for them. Therefore, the centers and monasteries are places to develop Dharma wisdom and compassion for all sentient beings. We can also develop the whole graduated path to enlightenment; we can learn the essence, the middle and the elaborate teachings, according to our intelligence. 

Of course, there are Sangha who have a place to do practice in the monasteries. By having a monastery they are able to do practice.

This [explanation] is just a drop, not much, just a drop of the benefits. It’s like the BBC news or CNN news of the benefits of monasteries. 

Thank you.

quotes on the benefits of building temples and monasteries

King Salgyal in India asked the Buddha and the Buddha explained this:

Any human being building a temple of the Victorious One (the Buddha)
Even while still wandering in the samsara of the transmigratory beings
Will achieve happiness all the time
And will abide in a holy place, like the radiating palace of the king of the devas. 

Also from the Sutra of the Compassionate Eye Looking One:

For the guide, the savior of the world
If we build a house related to that
Then we don’t become like a surrounding servant (the karma)
But we will become a wealthy king in future lives.

This is not just for one life, but for many lifetimes, maybe hundreds or thousands of lifetimes.

From a life story of the Buddha:

Abiding in the house there will be happiness
And one will have contemplation
And great insight and so forth
By offering monasteries and temples to ordained Sangha
And this is admired by the buddhas.

However many atoms there are in a house that is built as a temple or monastery, for that many lifetimes we will be king, and maybe also a universal king. I did mention this quote before.

It is said by Pandit Nagkye Rinchen:

No question if we build a holy statue of The Gone to Bliss One (the Buddha)
And thre sangkang (I need to translate this word) or a temple or bedroom for Sangha,
Even if we walk seven steps
In order to build a small house for the servants (of the temple and so forth)
We won’t go to the lower realm, just by that, and we will achieve a deva’s body.

If we make temples for the Three Precious Sublime Ones
And even if we make food for [Sangha],
During that time, creatures that are accidently killed under our feet won’t be reborn in the lower realms.
It’s the same thing when building a temple—
Any creature that is accidently killed under the stones
Doesn’t get reborn in the lower realms

It is mentioned in the text of the Buddha, the Small Quotation Sutra [Tib: Lung ten tseg]:

It is possible for the moon and stars to fall to the earth
For mountains and forests to rise up into the sky
And for the water of the great oceans to completely dry up
But it is impossible for the great sage (the Buddha) to tell a lie.

With much love and prayers...

• Recite the Sutra of Golden Light five times.
• Recite the Arya Sanghata Sutra one thousand times.
• Namtose Protector Puja. This needs to be recited five times by Geshe Jampa Gyatso’s khang-tsen.

In the Sutra on the Foundations of Mindfulness (Do drenpa nyershak), it says that having established the temple and the holy objects inside, as well as the rooms and bedding needed by the Sangha, from life to life your virtues will increase, and for ten billion eons your merit will never be lost.

It is said that virtues created with bodhicitta are never lost and increase all the time, so, similarly, the merit from building a temple where the Guru, Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—the holy objects—abide, will continuously increase from life to life while you are working, eating, sleeping, whatever you are doing.

However many atoms the building has, you create that much merit to be born as a wheel-turning king, deva, or human being. For many eons you will enjoy the results of that merit—temporal happiness and, of course, ultimate happiness, enlightenment.

Many lineage lamas of the lamrim built monasteries. I understand that business people who are not Buddhist may not understand the benefits of building monasteries, but if you are saying it has no meaning to build a monastery, then all those lineage lamas, Buddha himself, the Kadampa masters, those who actualized the path, including Lama Tsongkhapa's disciples, who established monasteries, made big mistakes.

A monastery means two things: One is having holy objects for people to purify the mind, collect extensive merit, and have realizations of the path to enlightenment. Second is especially for monks and nuns to live there in their vows, in retreat away from the city and the distractions to their vows, so they can live a celibate life. The main focus is that.

When you build a temple or monastery, however many atoms it contains, that many times you are reborn as a king with wealth, power, and everything. This way you can benefit others from life to life and bring them to enlightenment.

It is important to have a place for monks and nuns to live in the practice, in the vows. Monasteries and nunneries are to help make conditions to protect their life. That's why they are away from cities. The main thing is so they can continue their celibate life. 

Dear one,
Building a monastery collects incredible, vast amounts of merit, because it is a holy place containing Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The number of atoms making up the monastery’s temple is the same number of lifetimes that you will be born as a king in the deva or human realm, with all wealth and power. The merits increase all the time, for eons.

It is said in the text by the great Indian master Chandragomin: When the temple is built, even the workers who are building the temple and who killed worms and insects under their feet while working have their negative karma purified, they are not born in the lower realms. Any being touched by the smoke coming from the fire cooking food for the workers has their negative karma purified, and they receive a higher rebirth. This shows how building a monastery/temple is a very powerful way to benefit others. It is such a powerful way to purify karma and collect vast amounts of merit for sentient beings. It is so powerful that all your wishes for the people who are helping to build the temple are fulfilled. People who are helping to build the temple/monastery, who offer donations and time, even the people who are doing the work, all receive incredible purification, collect so much merit every day, and have all their wishes fulfilled.

Furthermore, Buddha said in the Mindfulness Sutra: Whoever has built the support [statue] and supporting [temple] well and arranged a place and for the needs of the Sangha will always have more and more happiness and virtue. The virtue can never be wasted or lost, even for millions of eons. One who has built the holy body of Buddha (statue), the holy speech of Buddha (scripture), the holy mind of Buddha (stupa), the kungarawa (temple or shelf for Dharma texts), and establishes the monastery (Sangha), gains very extensive merit, which is never lost and always increases.

The Great Son of the Victorious One, Shantideva, said, “The only medicine to heal the suffering of the transmigrator beings, and the originator of all happiness is the teaching of the Buddha. That depends only on the existence of the Sangha, who correctly preserve Dharma.” Therefore, one can see how important and essential is establishing a monastery and its existence. Also, Khedrub Gelek Palsang, Lama Tsongkhapa’s heart disciple, said every single panacea and happiness of all the embodied ones came from the teaching of the Victorious One. The foundation for increasing the ocean of the teaching of Buddha—the Sangha—is the great treasure of the water.

The great yogi Kembhala checked with his clairvoyance to see what could benefit the teachings of Buddha. He analyzed and discovered there is no greater merit then establishing a monastery. He intentionally reincarnated as a king and built the temple of Shri Kamalashila.

Lama Atisha, following the Arya being Namtrol Day, managed many monasteries in India, then went to Tibet and advised Dromtönpa Rinpoche: There is no greater merit then building a monastery for Sangha. Then, Dromtönpa built Reting Monastery. Among Atisha’s followers, the Kadampa geshes, Chengawa, and so forth lived externally in the conduct of the hearers and listeners. Inwardly their holy minds were enriched with bodhicitta, the essence of the Mahayana path, and secretly their holy minds were enriched with high tantric realization. They also built many temples and kungarawa for the same purpose: vast merits and incredible benefit for sentient beings and the teachings of Buddha.

It is the same with merits performed with bodhicitta: the merits are never lost; they increase all the time, while you are walking, working, eating, sleeping, sitting, doing any activities. The merits continuously, unceasingly increase. The merits of building a monastery are similar to this.

The teaching of the Buddha is the only thing able to heal the entire suffering of sentient beings, because it’s the only thing that can heal the cause of suffering: delusion and karma.

Normally, if there is a monastery or group of monks holding the lineage of the pratimoksha vows in a place, then it can be said that the teaching of the Buddha is present in that place. By building a monastery, the Sangha has the opportunity to practice the vinaya and preserve and spread the Dharma. So, it offers an incredible blessing and benefit to the world, the country, and to the area.