Complete Guide: Easy Steps on How To Become A Monk In 2023

Monks have been known to spend the most of their days meditating in order to achieve a Zen frame of mind.

Most individuals want to be monks and achieve a higher level of calm, but they don’t know how.

As a result, in this post, we will present you with expert advice on how to become a monk.

A monk, according to Wikipedia, is a person who practices religious asceticism by living monastically, either alone or in community with other monks.

A monk is someone who decides to devote his life to serving all living beings, or an ascetic who chooses to forsake mainstream society and pursue a life of meditation and contemplation.

Must Read: Easy Steps on How to Become A Buddhist Monk

So, in order to properly comprehend the journey required in becoming a monk, I sat with a monk.

We chatted about the path to “monk ship” for several hours.

Why Should You Become a Monk?

People become monks primarily to serve a higher power. It is to serve Buddha for Buddhist monks, and God and the nation for Catholic monks.

To do so, one must control one’s desires and interests. This is necessary to prevent distractions from worldly attachments and affairs.

Monks will rather forego earthly possessions in order to connect with their inner man. Letting rid of things that are so important to most people nowadays is tremendously liberating to a Monk.

What Exactly Is A Monk?

A monk is someone who withdraws from society in order to focus on religious service.

Monastic practices are found in several major religions, the most common of which are Christian and Buddhist.

It takes a life of study, devotion, and years of practice.

To become a monk, one must be willing to give up many things.

The following are the steps you must take to become a monk:

1. Make a religious commitment.

Being a monk entails living a life of spiritual, physical, and philosophical dedication to one’s beliefs.

You begin your route to monastic life by making a strong commitment to your spiritual growth and development.

This will entail daily study and prayer sessions numerous times a day. Strive to live out your religion in all aspects of your life.

2. Investigate several monastic orders.

Although the basic process of becoming a monk is similar in all orders, there are considerable variances.

Monks in contemplative orders spend the majority of their time meditating within the monastery’s walls, whilst monks in active orders leave the sanctuary to assist others.

Some active orders send monks to labor outside of a monastery.

Monks in communal orders spend time with one another, working, praying, and dining together.

Monks in eremitic orders do not communicate with one another and spend the majority of their days in their cells.

Make a commitment to a life of celibacy.

Celibacy is practiced by practically every monastic community, regardless of religion or order. Begin your monastic journey by making a personal vow of chastity.

This practice will help you determine whether this is a realistic and practicable objective. When you approach a monastery to enroll, having successfully committed to celibacy will demonstrate the depth of your dedication.

3. Engage in communal living.

Another feature of most monastic orders is that they live in close community with others. This includes sharing meals, quarters, and, in certain circumstances, all worldly belongings.

You can start experimenting with this lifestyle by living in a community.

4. Let Go Of Your Worldly Possessions.

Monks of all faiths, in addition to living in fellowship with others, give up ownership of material belongings.

Monks may offer everything they own to the church or temple in some instances.

You can acquire a taste of this life and go closer to monkhood by giving away some of your possessions and beginning to live a humble life.

It is expected that you have not been in a committed relationship for at least five years if you seek to become a monk.

It’s because the monastery doesn’t want to absolve you only to have problems bring you back.

The Monastery, on the other hand, does not advocate divorce.

A person having children may be denied admission as a monk or nun. This is because children are strong bonds that would be tough to break.

Monks have no upper age limit. The final determination about one’s age, however, is at the discretion of temples and abbeys.

Becoming a Christian Monk

The following are ways of becoming a monk

1. Pay a visit to a monastery.

One of the first stages in becoming a monk is to visit a monastery.

Potential devotees are welcome to visit monasteries. Some places will let you remain for a few days at a time.

You will learn about the monastery’s daily routine and what is expected of monks during these trips. This is to give you a taste of monastic life and let you decide if it is for you.

2. Become A Novice.

After visiting a monastery and deciding that this is the life for you, you can become a novice and move into the sanctuary.

This discipline, sometimes known as “observership,” is the first stage in becoming a Christian monk.

As a novice, you will be exposed to all aspects of monastic life.

The monks will also observe you as part of this practice to see if your personality is fit for monastic life.

There may be more than one level of novice hood depending on the order. This might take up to a year.

You should not sell all you own while you are still a beginner, such as your house(s) or automobile (s).

This is due to the fact that some people decide not to continue after experiencing what it is like to be a monk.

3. Turn into a Postulate.

You may be asked to become a postulant or destined monk after passing your novice hood.

At this point, you may be assigned additional responsibilities at the monastery.

This portion of the training gives you a more in-depth experience that will help you determine if this is the right vocation for you and allows you to demonstrate your abilities to the monks.

4. Take Temporary Vows.

As a postulate, you will be asked to take “temporary vows,” which commit you to the monastic lifestyle and beliefs for the duration of your stay at the monastery.

These vows will differ based on the sequence.

These will almost likely feature a strong devotion to God, a celibacy lifestyle, and a renunciation of material possessions.

Make Your Final Monastic Commitment.

After your time as a postulate, you will be invited to enter the monastery permanently.

You will be ordained as a Christian monk and will make perpetual monastic vows.

5. Becoming A Buddhist Monk

Buddhism is a religion that dates back over 2,000 years.

It provides a technique for overcoming the fundamental misery of being. Buddhist monks spend their entire lives to achieving this aim.

It is not difficult to become a monk.

You must have a rudimentary understanding of Buddhism (which, if you intend to ordain, you will likely have).

Otherwise, a true desire to pursue Buddhist teachings is all that is required.

6. Learn Buddhist Teachings.

Before approaching a teacher to become a monk, you must be very well-versed in the Buddhist tradition, Buddhist teachings, and Buddhist thought.

Begin your path to monastic life by immersing yourself in Buddhist studies.

Participate in a Buddhist temple, or sangha.

The Buddhist religion is widespread, with temples in practically every country.

Being a lay Buddhist will give you vital insight into what it’s like to be part of a Buddhist community, which is essential for becoming a monk.

Before becoming a monk, you’ll want to be a regular member of the community for months, if not years.

7. Find A Spiritual Guide Or Mentor.

Learning from a mentor is an essential part of becoming a monk. One-on-one education allows you to delve deeper into Buddhist teachings and gain a better understanding of what is required of you as a monk.

Start by collaborating with someone who can teach you what you need to know.

Ask people in your Buddhist community for recommendations to locate a mentor.

Often, a temple may invite Buddhist authorities to speak to the gathering, providing you the opportunity to meet potential mentors.

8. Getting Ready for Monastic Life

Make time to meditate. To become a Buddhist monk, daily meditation and a conscious effort to modify how the mind operates are required.

When you live in an abbey, you will spend a large portion of your day in meditation.

To that end, you should begin by meditating for five minutes a few times a day, and then gradually expand the time.

This will help you perfect the technique of meditation, which is what a monk would do.

9. Prepare To Support Yourself For Two To Three Years.

Being a Buddhist monk necessitates giving up your regular career. As a result, you should make plans to support yourself throughout the first few years.

Monks follow the Vinaya, a code of conduct that prohibits them from working outside the monastery.

While some temples may be able to provide for you through the services they provide to the public, others may not.

This is why you are supposed to have enough to live on.

10. Prepare to give up your material possessions.

Monks live as mendicants, with nothing more than what is necessary for a comfortable way of life.

Clothing, toiletries, and other necessities will be provided on a daily basis.

Electronic equipment, expensive clothing or shoes, and anything considered a luxury item, on the other hand, are prohibited.

Monks are not permitted to own goods that could arouse emotions such as greed, envy, or possessiveness.

Consider your Buddhist community to be your new family.

Your life will be devoted to your Buddhist community once you join a monastery.

Your days will be devoted in service to others, and your attention will be drawn to people in need.

You will have limited interaction with your family and are encouraged to consider your Buddhist community to be your new family.

Before pursuing ordination, you should consult with your family and inform them of your plans.

Several monasteries refuse candidates who are married or have other close relationships.

Because they are not distracted by other pressures, single persons are better equipped to devote themselves to the teachings of Buddhism.

11. Prepare to make a chastity vow.

Monks do not indulge in any form of sexual conduct.

This is why some temples do not allow their nuns to interact with male monks unless it is for temple business.

It’s a good idea to practice chastity before becoming ordained to see if you’re cut out for a chaste life.

The concept is that the energy you would normally devote to sex is diverted to matters more important than yourself.

12. Choose the type of commitment you want to make.

In certain traditions, ordination is viewed as a lifetime commitment.

But, in other traditions, pursuing ordination for a limited amount of months or years is lovely.

Many males in Tibet, for example, undergo two or three-month ordinations to establish their spiritual identities before marrying or pursuing employment.

Check to see if the monastery you want to join gives the level of commitment you desire.

If you’re unsure, you can complete a two- or three-month ordination and then pursue a longer-term ordination later.

13. Begin Your Training at an Abbey.

If you decide to become a monk, you will be ordained at a specific abbey.

To be ordained in the monastery, you must complete the standards given by the abbey.

In some situations, an elder must give an offer to become ordained after determining that you are an excellent fit for monastic life.

14. Take Part in an Ordination Ceremony.

Only an ordained monk can execute the ceremony, which marks your decision to become a Buddhist.

At this ceremony, the monk will pass on to you the three Jewels and the Five Precepts.

You will also be assigned a Buddhist name.

If you practice Shin Buddhism, you will have an affirmation ceremony instead of an ordination ceremony.

The objective of the affirmation ceremony is the same as that of ordination.

15. Follow Your Teacher’s Directions.

If you took part in an ordination ceremony, your teacher would normally be the ordained monk who presided over the process.

You will be given special guidelines for the monastery you are joining.

16. Take the vows of a Bodhisattva.

A Bodhisattva is someone who dedicate their lives to the Buddhist way of life.

The vows emphasize doing loving deeds, endeavoring to serve all people, and pursuing enlightenment.

The vows allow you to embody your deepest objectives. Words bind you to a life of selfless devotion, and you will repeat them often.

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