Monk lifeWhy Do Some Monks Have Multicolor Robes?
Why the Different Colors? Why is it that some monks have robes made out of many different colors, while most monks seem to have a …
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Monk life
Monk lifeVassa Actually Starts the Day After the Full Moon
Did You Know? Did you know that the rainy season, which is also called vassa, actually starts the day after the full moon, rather …
Monk lifeWhy Are Vassa (Rainy Season) and Vesak Late Sometimes?
Updated: April 30, 2026: Original article in 2020. This year is 2026, which is a leap year, and Vassa starts on July 30th (plus or …
TeachingAre Vinaya Monks Easy to Support?
Summary Easy to support does not mean that the monk can take care of himself. Easy to support means that the monk is content with …
TeachingWhat is Killing? The First Precept
Summary: In Buddhism, “Killing” is defined by the technical mechanics of the mind, not by social laws. The unwholesome …
VinayaMonks and Taxes: Are Donations Taxable Income?
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal or tax advice. Individual situations vary; …
Monk lifeWhere to Ordain?
Picture of pabbajja novice ordination in Pa Auk (8th April 2014) Updated January 1, 2026 Summary: If you are looking to ordain at …
TeachingHow to Invite and Support a Monk: Vinaya Rules Explained
Key Points A monk may only ask for his needs if he receives pavāraṇā (invitation). Clear invitations—especially phrases like “any …
VinayaMystery Pātimokkha Purity?
Introduction Quite a few people believe that there is a special purification process that happens during the Pātimokkha recitation …
VinayaAre Monks Allowed To Use Uber, And Gift Cards?
Monks Using Uber and Gift Cards: Allowable as a Kappiya Arrangement Summary Are Theravāda monks allowed to use Uber, PickMe, or …
Monk lifeWhy I Left The International Institute of Theravāda
Introduction On January 2nd, 2025, I left The International Institute of Theravāda (IIT) . It was something I had planned since …
Vinayamy-ordination-brother-visits
This is Ven Indavimala. During my re-ordination in 2007, the ones who were previously ordained got to go first by previous …
Monk lifeMemorizing The Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha
Palm leaf photo link wellcomecollection:1 Today I finished memorizing the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha in Pāḷi (the 311 Theravāda nun’s …
Monk lifeTheravāda Buddhist Monk Head Shaving: Traditions, Stories, and Techniques
When it comes to shaving heads, Theravāda Buddhist Monks might be the authority on this issue. It is second nature for monks to …
VinayaAre Monks Allowed To Perform Marriage Ceremonies?
Although Buddhist lay people might be interested in having a monk perform their marriage ceremony, it is not allowed and doing so …
Monk lifeWhat Is The Bhikkhu Patimokkha or Buddhist Monk Rules?
Pa Auk Monastery in 2014, Photo by Klaus The Pātimokkha is a set of 227 rules for the bhikkhus belonging to the Theravāda sect …
Monk lifeThe Buddhist Monk's Bowl
Bowl with bowl stand (maybe Pa-Auk) There are certain characteristics of the Theravada Buddhist monk’s bowl that might be …
Monk lifeAre Buddhist Monks Allowed To Use Money?
A Money tree in Laos cc-by-attrib-sa https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddhist_money_tree_with_toilet_paper.webp Are …
MoralityStay Away From the Fools and Associate with the Wise
Sattigumba and Pupphaka Asevanā ca bālānaṃ, paṇḍitānañca sevanā; Pūjā ca pūjaneyyānaṃ etaṃ maṅgalamuttamaṃ. Avoid the Fools and …
Monk lifeCan Homosexuals Ordain as Buddhist Monks?
Originally Published: April 21, 20241 Summary: Yes, it is possible, but it is difficult to recommended because it can be very …
Monk lifePatheos Interview On Robes
A couple of months ago, I was contacted by a professor of World Religions in the College of Religious Education at BYU named, …
Monk lifePatimokkha Chant Feb 15, 2022
Yesterday, I recited the 227 rules of the Pātimokkha for 110 bhikkhus at Pa-Auk Meditation Center in Pyin Oo Lwin. When a monk …
VinayaShould Bhikkhunis Be Sent To Probation Monasteries?
Copyright notice.. picture by Kim Traynor cc-by-sa Note: This post is not for everyone. Those who claim to be bhikkhunis and …
Monk lifeMonk Towels and Soap
Very few people from the West know about what the monks use for their bath towels and their bathing soap. Monks use items that are …
Monk lifeWhat is an Overturned Bowl?
Pa-Auk Bowl Blackening Foundry (not a political picture) We have seen many Facebook selfies of politically active monks with …
Interesting thingsHow Long Do Monk's Robes Last?
Various items for Kaṭhina It is quite common in Myanmar to offer robes at the end of the Rainy Season (vassa) in a ceremony …
Dhamma talksThe Monastery Murder Massacre
Artistic digital recreation of Migalaṇḍika (an ascetic who looked like a monk) The Monastery Murder Massacre that happened in …
Monk lifeAre Theravada Bhikkhuni Ordinations Valid?
cc0 picture https://pxhere.com/en/photo/489726 There is not much written in English explaining why bhikkhuni ordinations are …
Monk lifeWhen Does Rainy Season Start?
Recently, I got a nice message from a monk friend telling me he was taking vassa (3 month Rainy Season Retreat) on July 23rd (the …
Interesting thingsThe Buddha's Intermittent Fasting
Did the Buddha do intermittent fasting? The answer is: Yes. When I first became a monk, people were shocked about how I gave up …
TeachingCan Monks Get Married?
cc0 picture Recently, there have been some instances in the news of monks who have been accused of rape or consensual sex. One …
Monk lifeThanks and Giving
Of course I’m happy! On November 24, I helped make a nice breakfast and lunch for Pa-Auk Forest Monastery, Pyin Oo Lwin. I …
Interesting thingsChicago Lao Monastery
Recently, I had a chance to go to a Lao Monastery in Elgin, Chicago, IL, USA for 12 days. I usually avoid American Theravada …
Monk lifeWhy I Ordained Twice
Many people who have learned that I have re-ordained and actually know what that means have asked me why I did it. It is a long …
KauaiFighting Anger With Loving-Kindness and No Money
Recently, I ran into a very angry man who came out of his house yelling at me and coming closer and closer. Eventually, I won the …
VinayaVinaya Comparison of Monastery Allowances
Below is a chart comparing special allowances by tradition which is useful for making a decision on where to ordain. If you need …
Monk lifeWhy Are Monk Bowls Black?
Monk bowls are black because they are fired with sesame oil 5 times to protect it from rusting. There are two types of bowls …
TeachingWhy do monks have one shoulder exposed sometimes and both shoulders covered other times?
Why do monks have one shoulder exposed sometimes and both shoulders covered other times? There is a very small rule about having …
Monk lifeBuddhist Monks' Robes Information
Sewing pattern from BMC 1 (creative-commons, Thanissaro Bhikkhu) Robe Information Few people realize that the Theravāda monk’s …
KauaiIs Collecting Alms (Piṇḍapāta) Legal?
That is me going for alms on Aalona Street Kilauea. Collecting alms, also known as piṇḍapāta by Theravāda Buddhists, is a legal …
Monk lifeShould We Be Nice To Muslims?
Muslim Imam giving dana. The short answer is, “Yes.” Of course we should be nice to Muslims, Christians, Atheist, …
TeachingVegetarianism and Theravada Buddhism
Vegetarianism and Theravāda Buddhism I have been asked to write a little something on vegetarianism and Theravāda Buddhism. I am …
Monk lifeInspire Means To Leave Facebook
Inspire Means To Leave Facebook Much of what I write about is related to stories that happen to me that would charge me up and …
KauaiTraveling Without a Helper
When Ven. Devananda and I traveled to Kauai in 2015, we did not have a Kappiya (helper) to buy us food or even pay for our …
Interesting thingsHow to Make a Monk Filter in 3 Minutes
Here is a quick tip on how to make a filter in just a few minutes. Maybe as fast as one minute. This is useful for monks who want …
Interesting thingsI Finally Did It!
I Finally Did It! This Rainy Season (Vassa) I was able to learn the Pātimokkha (227 Rules) by heart. It is the first round and it …
Monk lifeDonation to Sangha or Individuals?
When should you give to Saṅgha? When should you give to individual monks? This is a question that is not addressed very often and …
Interesting thingsMaking A Foot-Rug From Old Robes
Here is an instructional video on how to make a foot-rug from old and discarded monk’s robes. If you are a monk, perhaps you …
ItbmuWhy Are Most Monasteries Not Allowable?
Why are most monasteries not allowable for vinaya monks? Today, I was Skyping my parents which is something we do once or twice a …
ItbmuSinging With My Bowl
“Singing With My Bowl” Today, after I Skyped my parents to say hello, I was doing my usual weekend schedule after: Go …
Monk lifeShining The Inner Core
To receive this by email, sign up at https://americanmonk.org/subscribe/ Last year, this picture (without the writing) went …
ItbmuInspiration, move me brightly
Alms Inspiration is like a bright star that shines among the dim. In Monastic life, there are few monasteries or monks that …
Interesting things5, 8 and 10 Precepts
Here is a comparison of 5, 8 and 10 precepts. The Buddhist who follows five precepts is known as a regular lay Buddhist. The …
MoralityBuddhism and Abortion
What do Theravada Buddhists believe in terms of abortion? Much of what has been written are liberal beliefs and overturning what …
Interesting thingsLucky-Draw and Devas
Calculation of odds. Do you believe in devas? Devas are the Buddhist equivalent to angels. Ok .. Here is the story. I was on alms …