To practice as a layperson is more difficult.
To practice as a layperson is more difficult.

And to be a monk, practicing among other monks
And to be a monk, practicing among other monks

is so easy. [laughter]
is so easy. [laughter]

And if you inquire about it, you will know
And if you inquire about it, you will know

what to do in order to be accepted as an aspirant
what to do in order to be accepted as an aspirant

and how long it would take to be ordained
and how long it would take to be ordained

as a novice. And how much effort you should make in order
as a novice. And how much effort you should make in order

to be ordained as a bhikku/bhikshu, a fully ordained monk.
to be ordained as a bhikku/bhikshu, a fully ordained monk.

And as a monastic, we have a lot of chances to serve people.
And as a monastic, we have a lot of chances to serve people.

And serving people, helping them to suffer less, brings us a lot of joy.
And serving people, helping them to suffer less, brings us a lot of joy.

You know that we are in shortage of monks and nuns. In Europe, every country in
You know that we are in shortage of monks and nuns. In Europe, every country in

Europe, wants to have one retreat a year. And the number of monks and nuns and dharma
Europe, wants to have one retreat a year. And the number of monks and nuns and dharma

teachers are very limited - we cannot afford to offer every country in Europe
teachers are very limited - we cannot afford to offer every country in Europe

one retreat per year. There's only a few countries that get a
one retreat per year. There's only a few countries that get a

yearly retreat, that is France, and Germany, and the Netherlands.
yearly retreat, that is France, and Germany, and the Netherlands.

Italy and other countries every two years. And there are many countries in Asia
Italy and other countries every two years. And there are many countries in Asia

and North America, and that's why if you don't have anything exciting to do
and North America, and that's why if you don't have anything exciting to do

outside, [laughter] join us!
outside, [laughter] join us!

And as soon as you become a monastic, you can begin to serve already. By the way of
And as soon as you become a monastic, you can begin to serve already. By the way of

walking, breathing, smiling, you can already help people. Because you train as
walking, breathing, smiling, you can already help people. Because you train as

a monk in order to do that. To live in peace, in joy, and to express peace and
a monk in order to do that. To live in peace, in joy, and to express peace and

joy with every step, with every breath. And you don't have to graduate in order
joy with every step, with every breath. And you don't have to graduate in order

to serve. You continue to study Buddhism and train in the practice and every year
to serve. You continue to study Buddhism and train in the practice and every year

you have a Winter Retreat, 90 days, to deepen your practice. You continue to
you have a Winter Retreat, 90 days, to deepen your practice. You continue to

learn every day and you have the chance to help your elder brothers and sisters in
learn every day and you have the chance to help your elder brothers and sisters in

the monastic community, to organize days of mindfulness, retreats on mindfulness
the monastic community, to organize days of mindfulness, retreats on mindfulness

and you can learn a lot from your big brothers and sisters in doing so, and
and you can learn a lot from your big brothers and sisters in doing so, and

you become a teacher.
you become a teacher.

We have recently opened another door, a 5 year programme
We have recently opened another door, a 5 year programme

of monastic training and service.
of monastic training and service.

If you are 35 or younger, you can sign up for that programme
If you are 35 or younger, you can sign up for that programme

and become a monastic for five years.
and become a monastic for five years.

Three years as a novice, and two years as a fully ordained monk.
Three years as a novice, and two years as a fully ordained monk.

And if you like it, you continue for all your life.
And if you like it, you continue for all your life.

And you can also return to lay life and continue to practice. And one or two years
And you can also return to lay life and continue to practice. And one or two years

after, you can become a lay dharma teacher
after, you can become a lay dharma teacher

and work together with the monastic dharma teachers.
and work together with the monastic dharma teachers.

We need thousands of monastics more, in order to offer retreats and days of
We need thousands of monastics more, in order to offer retreats and days of

mindfulness to many countries.
mindfulness to many countries.

Young people from Asian countries, becoming monastic they have to learn
Young people from Asian countries, becoming monastic they have to learn

English, because if you become a dharma teacher you should be able to
English, because if you become a dharma teacher you should be able to

conduct a retreat everywhere in the world.
conduct a retreat everywhere in the world.

But here, you don't have to learn English. [laughter]
But here, you don't have to learn English. [laughter]

So it's a very big advantage.
So it's a very big advantage.

So please, those of you who
So please, those of you who

think that monastic life can bring you a lot of joy, and happiness,
think that monastic life can bring you a lot of joy, and happiness,

you lead a very meaningful life, please reflect on it.
you lead a very meaningful life, please reflect on it.

Subtitles by the Amara.org community
Subtitles by the Amara.org community