Not six, not Korean, but Buddhist monks – and we all need them
I was surprised to read today of the six Korean Buddhist monks who were secretly filmed gambling, drinking and smoking. Not that they did it, but that it made the news at all. Its not the first time that monks have deviated from their straight and narrow path of self-denial; and it can’t be the first time that a few of them have done it together.
What seems to be different in this case is that they were filmed, the videotape was shared, and its always disturbing to learn of high-minded people who drift from their path. And with a 20% Buddhist population in Korea it was deemed alarming enough to set the faithful talking.
I don’t know what the culture is like in Korea – although I know someone I can ask – but if its anything like Thailand, then Buddhist monks are highly respected. They are treated with great respect, given food, and even free transport. At times, just the sight of saffron is enough to have people bowing in reverence.
It takes a great effort for a man or a woman to dedicate themselves to a certain level of spiritual commitment. They need, and deserve, the support of the public in order to safely reach the heights they set themselves. In turn, the public need monks and nuns because they remind the rest of us of the other side of life; that someone, somewhere is experiencing a param dristva – a higher taste – and that therefore, by their very life witness, there is a higher plane of experience.
But if those monks and nuns fail in their vows – more than once or twice – they need a period of rigorous introspection, some time with a more experienced practitioner who can again inspire them to re-dedication, and a change in their circle of friends so they can pass beyond the temptation through which they succumbed the last time.
They need our support, we need their existence, and this symbiotic relationship is healthy for the planet. Undoubtedly difficult at times, but essential in the greater scheme of things.
Well said. We expect perfection and then are stunned or angered when our leaders let us down. It is the same in Catholicism, I observed growing up. As long as they don’t claim divinity for themselves then we should give them slack to make mistakes but like you said they need our support and we need their existence, and I think that is so that we might one day get on to the path with as much vigor as they display. The problem as I see it is that those who have not been touched by divinity tend to react with joy when they see those who have, fallen. Because they don’t believe that the Divinity they aspire to could possibly be true, and the fallen just go to prove they are right.
I think you’ve nailed it there treadmarkz. Even attempting to break free from the deep-rooted attractions of the world is a noble effort. Anyone who has a go at getting out of the matrix of maya is a freedom fighter and deserves our support.
To break free one must at least have the initial faith that (a) there is a higher reality (b) experience of that reality can provide a superior enjoyment and lasting satisfaction. Without that, one can’t even begin.
Its a strange thing, but many folks would like to believe both (a) and (b) to be true, but because their initial faith is weak, they take comfort from seeing others fail in their spiritual efforts. In a perverted way, its even reassuring for them because it means that they too won’t have to make a similar effort to go any higher. Relaxation at the first sign of difficulty is a great trap for the spiritualist. Religion can be bad for the soul when this happens. A person reaches a certain plateau of comfort due to a particular religious culture then refuses to make the effort to go higher. And he then surrounds himself with others who make it easy for him to stay in his comfort zone. When presented with opportunities to make further progress – or the company of others who can help him – he can even become aggressive and critical of anyone who has surpassed him.
We can have faith in spiritual leadership, but not to the point where we expect them to make all the efforts for us. That’s our job.
Can you explain the phrase ‘param dristva’ more?
A quick google search resulted in this:
‘Bhagavad-gita (2.59), param dristva nivartate: “Once having directly experienced the Supreme, one will not return to material pleasures.”’ http://www.radhakunda.com/shastra/index.html
Could you direct me to readings that would help me understand?
Thanks Chris. Yes, this is a section in the Bhagavad-gita which focuses on how the yogi – or spiritually progressive person – is able to control the urgings of the senses and become situated in peaceful meditation. In 2.59 Srila Prabhupada renders this phrase as ‘by experiencing far superior things.’ This means that by experiencing something more pleasurable, the tendency to reach out to mundane sense objects will diminish. Otherwise, the senses cause ceaseless agitation to the mind of the aspirant meditator because they are pramathini or ‘causing agitation.’ (2.60)
In 2.61 the sthita prajna, or one who has attained equanimity of mind through controlling mental wanderings, is described. Then by contrast the chain of thoughts and actions of one who does not control the mind is described in 2.62-63.
The main ideas are that the mind is always restless because the senses are always disturbed by their corresponding objects. Controlling the mind through sadhana, or practice, results in one becoming a sthita prajna. But the best way to do this is if one has a genuine experience of Vishnu, or God. This can flood the senses and mind so that all hankering ceases.