S:Does a person have to be a monk if he
wants to be a true Buddhist?
U: This is a misconception due to lack of
understanding of the teaching of the Buddha.
The Buddha's teaching is not only for monks in
monasteries, but also for ordinary men and
women living at home with their families. The
vast majority of people in the world can't turn
monk or retire into caves or forests. If you
understand the spirit of Buddhism, you can
surely follow and practice it while living the life
of an ordinary layman.
S: If a man can follow Buddhism while living
the life of an ordinary layman, why was the
Order of monks established by the Buddha?
U: The Order provides opportunity for those
who are willing to devote their lives not only to
their own spiritual and intellectual
development, but also to the service of others.
An ordinary layman with a family can't be
expected to devote his· whole life to the service
of others. A monk, who has no family
responsibilities or any other worldly ties, is in a
position to devote his whole life for the good
and happiness of many. This is how in the
course of his-tory, the Buddhist monastery
became not only a spiritual center, but also a
center of learning and cultural aspect of life.
S: Isn't Buddhism a selfish doctrine, if you'll
excuse my saying so., since it aims at puri-
fication of oneself?
U: Your question sounds as though you consider
that the aim of making oneself perfect must
necessarily be a selfish one. But I don't think
that is quite what you mean.
S: Not exactly. I mean, shouldn't one try to help.
others gain perfection, as well .as striving it for
oneself?
U: There is a twofold answer to that. To begin
with, one who is trying to make oneself perfect
does help others. Not only by example which is
the strongest influence of all but also by
teaching. Buddhist monks have always had it as
one of their functions to teach the Dhamma to
lay people. Secondly, Buddhism does not point
to any external means for attaining salvation! In
the end, we all have to strive individually, and
reach the goal ourselves. Even the Buddha can
only show the way - he can't tread it for us.
Furthermore, one who is himself still sunk in the
mud of ignorance can't lift another person out
of it. So, if we want to render the most effective
aid, it is surely our first task to get out ourselves.
S: I see now. But shouldn't the Sangha
devote itself also to social service?
U: As you know, making oneself perfect is really
a fulltime job. It is not a thing that can be done
in the midst of distractions. No social work can
possibly be undertaken without getting oneself
become distracted and burdened with cares.
That is, if you are thinking of social service in the
conventional sense of hospitals, the Lion's Club,
Association for the Blind, etc. However, in the
broader aspect, teaching is also a social service
and teaching the Dhamma to help reduce
suffering is the highest social service. The
monk's social work consists of teaching the
Dhamma and rendering spiritual services to the
lay people. That is the greatest contribution
anyone can make to the welfare of others. The
monk plays his part in social service by helping
to make others good Buddhists, by showing
them how to live noble, peaceful and happy
lives without harming others.
S: Thank you. You have certainly cleared up my
questions concerning the Dhamma and the role
of monks. I have always felt that if love, service
and virtue can be strengthened in the hearts of
people, it must result in the improvement of
conditions everywhere. I am glad to discover
that Buddhism holds a key to this direction.8