Different people will give different definitions to Buddhism. Some people think that Buddhism is a religion, some people think that Buddhism is a philosophy, some people think that Buddhism is a philosophy of life, and some people think that Buddhism is a superstition. However, in the consciousness of Buddhist disciples who believe in Buddhism, Buddhism is education. This kind of education is not ordinary secular education, but the Buddha's education about the reality of life in the universe. The fundamental purpose of Buddhist education is not to bless people to be promoted and rich, to live a long life, to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, to be rich and prosperous, and to have all the best. On the contrary, the purpose of Buddhist education is to make people give up their persistent pursuit of these things.
Buddha realized the reality of life in the universe from "the birth and death of man" and "the existence of all laws (things) is bad". The Buddha believes that nothing in the universe is eternal, and everything is changing. The Buddha called it impermanence. Since everything is impermanent, what is the pursuit of all beings?
If I told you that what you are pursuing will no longer exist and belong to you one day, would you give up everything to pursue it? Few people think so, most people think so: whatever, hold it in your hand first. Because of this idea, people work hard and even do whatever it takes. In this way, trouble arises. It would be better if there were only troubles. The problem is that all actions of body and mind will produce different results, which Buddhism calls "karma". There are several kinds of industries: good, bad and bad. Karma will lead to something called reincarnation, which will take us in and out of the sea of life and death.
Practically speaking, reincarnation can't bring us eternal happiness, so the Buddha is trying to give up reincarnation. After a long period of penance, the Buddha finally found a way to give up reincarnation under the bodhi tree, which we call "enlightenment nirvana". The Buddha passed this method on to all sentient beings who had a relationship with him, and many sentient beings followed this method and reached the same destination (the other side)-"get rid of troubles and escape reincarnation." Later, this educational method produced something called "Buddhism".
Buddha entered nirvana more than 2500 years ago, but his education has been passed down from generation to generation, educating many people. It is these "monks" who undertake the mission of education. It is precisely because of these "monks" that today, more than 2,500 years after the Buddha entered nirvana, we can still hear Buddhism by accident. You can also learn many methods handed down by Buddha. Therefore, we have deep respect for these "monks" and regard them as "treasures". In Han Buddhism, we call it "monk's treasure", and in Tibetan Buddhism, we call it "Rinpoche" (meaning Ruyi treasure or treasure among people).
Different times have different social systems, different value orientations, different world outlook and outlook on life. However, no matter how the world changes, the birth and death of all sentient beings and the evil emptiness of all laws have been staged. Infinite beings are still struggling in the cycle of life and death, and there is no suffering period. These "monks" have been adhering to the Buddhist concept of "no mercy, no mercy", constantly traveling back and forth in this woman's world, bravely saving all beings.
If these teachers (monks) stick to the rules and can't keep pace with the times, how can they educate a large group of "students who keep pace with the times"? In the information age, the development of the Internet provides a vast space and unlimited possibilities for the promotion of Buddhism. Buddhist monk Dade makes full use of Internet technology to write articles on blogs and Weibo to answer questions and enlighten all beings. This fully shows that Buddhism is alive, energetic and lively, not rigid. It is precisely because Buddhism can keep pace with the times that after the Buddha's nirvana for more than 2,500 years, Buddhism can still be full of vitality, so that all living beings have the opportunity to hear Buddhism. This is the living Buddha!
Don't monks suffer hardships and recite scriptures?
When you ask this question, you might as well think for yourself: What is the monk suffering for? What is chanting for?
There are 84,000 methods of practicing Buddhism, which we call "84,000 methods", and this "84,000 methods" is used to treat "84,000 kinds of troubles of sentient beings." In these practices, there is asceticism! The purpose of asceticism is to keep one's mind away from the five disgusting "greed, ignorance and doubt" To stay away from these five kinds of nausea is to stay away from troubles. If you stay away from your troubles, you may see your true colors thoroughly and make yourself aware.
Not all monks can take over the business of Tathagata, spread Buddhism and benefit students as soon as they shave their hair and put on monk's clothes. Although from the perspective of justice, all monks are the same, and they are all "monk treasures"; But from the perspective of secular truth, there are two kinds of monks: ordinary monks and Taoist monks. Ordinary monks are the same as all beings before they see the Tao (before enlightenment). They also have desires and troubles, bound by life and death, and will also be reincarnated. But once you see the Tao (enlightenment), you become what we often call a "monk".
In Mahayana Buddhism, when you meet a Taoist priest, you should have never back down's "compassion and joy" and make a vow to save all suffering beings flowing in the sea of reincarnation. Can you imagine a group of monks willing to do this without touching the world of mortals? They only care about chanting behind closed doors, and they are still obsessed with saving all beings? Therefore, don't unilaterally think that monks should "endure hardships and recite scriptures", and other things have nothing to do with monks.
Why do monks still need to go to college now? Need a diploma, need status?
A person is determined to become a monk and has a great wish to save all beings, but he still has to learn from bit by bit. The earliest education system in the world was established by the Buddha. Today, there are principals, education directors, subject teachers and professional teachers in the school. The teaching of Buddhist college is also from primary to intermediate and then to advanced. In Ma Ning Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, after more than 20 years of hard study and practice, monks finally got the academic title of "Kampo" through the examination. Kampo is equivalent to a Buddhist professor. In the Gelug Sect, after more than 20 years of study and practice, one must obtain "Gexi" (doctor of Buddhism). The process of examination is the same as that of doctoral thesis defense now, but we should know that this teaching and examination method of Buddhism has existed for thousands of years. At present, these educational methods we use are only more than 200 years at the farthest.
In Buddhism, monks can be said to have spent their whole lives studying and practicing, truly achieving "never too old to learn, never too old to learn". Unlike today's students, they return their knowledge to their teachers when they leave school. The diploma in Buddhism is not mixed, but obtained through years of hard study and thinking. Without such learning attitude and spirit, how can you become a tutor? How to undertake the Tathagata family business?
Nowadays, many people pray to God to worship Buddha and donate money to temples. Seriously, isn't it insulting to give money to Buddha? It turns out that the current Buddha nature can be calculated by money? According to the Buddhist system, Buddhist temples themselves should not engage in production activities. The task of a monk is to study, practice and educate all beings. Temples and Buddhist colleges are actually like normal schools, and this is where teachers are trained. Providing family support to family members has been a system since the Buddha's time. Monks have no income and economic resources, and their lives are entirely supported by believers. When the Buddha was alive, did he have to beg for food and accept public support every day?
Many people who come to the monastery today don't know why they want to support the monastery. Many people think that giving money to monasteries and monks will bring them peace, wealth, wealth and high officials. These are all great misunderstandings about Buddhism. This misunderstanding has both historical reasons (such as the destruction of Buddhism by the Cultural Revolution) and people's greedy mentality.
Many people go to temples with the mentality of doing business with buddhas and bodhisattvas. I'll burn incense for you, and you have to bless me with peace, promotion, wealth, high school, children ... these ideas are really stupid. Buddha doesn't need us to burn incense for him. The Buddha has realized perfect wisdom and cut off all troubles. How can he "compete for that fragrance"? This is really to judge the wisdom of the Buddha with common knowledge.
Buddhist practice pays attention to both blessing and wisdom. We should cultivate both happiness and wisdom. Wisdom comes from keeping precepts, from meditation, from diligent listening and thinking. Wealth comes from giving and from enduring humiliation. Buddhists call it six degrees paramita, that is, six ways to reach the other side, and all three are indispensable. Providing for monks in monasteries is a way of giving. You often raise your own Fukuda and accumulate spiritual resources for yourself. If you support yourself with the mentality of making a deal, such support has only moderate merits and cannot be transformed into food for becoming a Buddha.
Speaking of Buddha nature, briefly explain it. Buddha nature is also called Tathagata and enlightenment. That is, the nature of Buddha also refers to the possibility of becoming a Buddha, karma, seeds, and the original nature of Bodhi of Buddha. The Buddha believes that all sentient beings have Buddha nature, and they can't know their true colors because of five disgusting "greed, delusion and doubt", so they have been wandering in the sea of reincarnation and can't escape from life and death. What a pity!