When is the best time for ordination?

Question

When exactly is it worth considering to ordain as a monk? Is it something that happens automatically during the path, that is, (a) special experience(s) or insight into the three characteristics?

Is strong uncomfort experienced when living the monastic life?

Thanks

I think that in some countries everyone (or every man) ordains but (for most of them) only temporarily. — ChrisW, Oct 05 '18 at 11:37
As far I know, in some countries people ordain due to societal custom et cetera, but even in ordination intention is key. If it's some external force that is moving you, it is not necessarily a bad thing and can definitely encourage one to become a monk for life, but usually this is not the case. — Val, Oct 05 '18 at 12:39
I assumed it was a stage of people's education, and a good opportunity to stay if they choose to. — ChrisW, Oct 05 '18 at 13:56
When you are already observing the precepts there will be no uncomfort living the monastic life. — OyaMist, Oct 05 '18 at 17:16
in thailand a man ordains for 3 months to make merit for this mother's reincarnation and prepare himself for marriage for a wife. Its for the purpose of two women: wife and mother — Dhamma Dhatu, Oct 07 '18 at 03:47
While this is not necessarily a bad motivation to ordain DD, I think ordination should preferably always be done because of one's own sake. One has realised that the Dhamma is the way to live by. If one does not enjoy it, or does it merely for the sake of others, it's all shaky. It is never certain that other people will approve of one's deeds (mother and wife in your example) — Val, Oct 07 '18 at 08:42

Sankha Kulathantille · Answer 1 · 2018-10-06T07:23:35.233

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When you become dispassionate in continuing the lay life or when you get enough confidence that you can successfully fend off the temptations of lay life, it is worth considering ordination. I would suggest staying in a monastery or a meditation center first, continuously for about 6 months while keeping to the 8 precepts to see if you can handle it well.

edited Oct 06 '18 at 07:23

answered Oct 06 '18 at 06:50

Sankha Kulathantille

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 07 '18 at 00:04

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The Pali suttas have the following stock phrase about the best time being when you become dispassionate in continuing the lay life:

Now, there is the case where a Tathāgata appears in the world, worthy and rightly self-awakened. He teaches the Dhamma admirable in its beginning, admirable in its middle, admirable in its end. He proclaims the holy life both in its particulars and in its essence, entirely perfect, surpassingly pure.

He [the person discussed above], hearing the Dhamma, gains conviction in the Tathāgata and reflects: 'Household life is confining, a dusty path. Life gone forth is the open air. It isn't easy, living at home, to practice the holy life totally perfect, totally pure, a polished shell. What if I, having shaved off my hair & beard and putting on the ochre robe, were to go forth from the household life into homelessness?'

So after some time he abandons his mass of wealth, large or small; leaves his circle of relatives, large or small; shaves off his hair and beard, puts on the ochre robes, and goes forth from the household life into homelessness.

MN 38

Some men still delight in sex but become monks because they think jhana will give them a better type of orgasmic pleasure. It is doubtful these men can succeed.

answered Oct 07 '18 at 00:04

Dhamma Dhatu

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Why are you bringing up sex now? It wasn't even mentioned in my question. – Val Oct 07 '18 at 08:31
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Imo it is very important to feel pleasant feelings during the path. Whether this is due to Jhana or from somewhere else, positive feelings give rise to conviction in the teaching. It ia very hard to quit sensual pleasures and, at the same time, be in a vacuum, that is, having no alternative pleasure at hand. – Val Oct 07 '18 at 08:34
Not for me. I gave up sex for 18 months because discovering buddhism and meditation. regards – Dhamma Dhatu Oct 07 '18 at 10:01
@Val One reason for bringing it up now might be that ordained monks are supposed to be strictly celibate. – ChrisW Oct 07 '18 at 11:32
Yes DD, but during your discovery in dhamma & meditation you had other spiritual pleasures, didn't you? – Val Oct 07 '18 at 13:36
@ChrisW, I am aware of celibacy, however, DD was referring to men delighting in sex, who then become monks because they BELIEVE (key word here) that jhana will outpass sex in terms of pleasure. I'm not disputing this, but experiencing Jhana is one thing, talking about it intellectually and building a belief system is another (in this case those mentioned monks that blindly believe in Jhana this and that). I humbly admit that I haven't experienced it, and personally see a connection between positive spiritual feelings and continuation on the path/ordination. – Val Oct 07 '18 at 13:44
If the path is painful it's doubtful thar one will continue in it. Similarly, if one gives up sense pleasures and has no spiritual pleasures as an alternative one will probably burn out. Please correct me if I am wrong. – Val Oct 07 '18 at 13:44
@Val I see the "purpose" (of the dhamma) as being the "cessation of suffering" (rather than the "arising of pleasure"); and the "method" as being "renunciation and letting go" rather than "pursuit and re-acquisition". Other activity/state/absorption (other than sex) can be experienced as pleasant, however turning around and pursuing such pleasure might be something of a mistake (a mistake analogous to trying to breathe by holding your breath). I'm not saying you're wrong though, perhaps our descriptions are different parts or views (different scales/magnifications) of some similar elephants. – ChrisW Oct 07 '18 at 15:12
As for "burning out" I imagine that the great thing about ordaining is the support of, the social contact with the sangha: "Half the holy life" and so on. – ChrisW Oct 07 '18 at 15:14

Bonn · Answer 3 · 2018-10-07T11:09:54.213

If you have already gotten the qualified teacher, and your trust is strong enough to do everything follow to that teacher. You should ordinate as soon as you can.

If you don't know how to prove your teacher, see the qualification of buddhist teacher here.

If you choose the right monastery where is most of their monks try to do follow to tipitaka-pali, such as no use money, your ordination will be very easy, then you just have to patient to stop your unwholesome mind and try to attain jhāna and magga.