Joe, Yes, that's right. Historically most monks and masters have all been beggars depending on food donated by working people....
Edgar On Dec 10, 2012, at 9:33 PM, Joe wrote: > Merle, > > Historically, those old places lived on the handouts and donations of others, > already!, themselves!, and they had to be very, very careful about who they > let in. In old China, there was even some sanction by the government, and the > monasteries had to be extra scrupulous and truly frugal, and squeeze every > resource to dedicate them for their established students, and for the > best-of-the-best incoming neophyte candidates. They were like sports teams!: > they didn't just recruit every neighborhood waif drifting in, to shoot some > hoops. They knew how to recognize talent. And there was an established way of > proving one's fervor and stamina. If you failed those tests, they sent you > home to your parents. > > This is called true compassion! It resulted in a vibrant teaching system, and > the preservation of the living Dharma, to this day. > > Else, we would not even be typing here! ;-) > > The monasteries were Places of the Way, not way-places (not Inns). > > I prostrate to those old teachers, head-monks, head-nuns, and those > Gate-Keepers. And to the folks who applied and tried, but who were not suited > to that life, and were turned away. > > --Joe > > -> Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > > > compassion doeth not judge. > > > > .if a man needth shelter and food for a thousand nights that is what must > > be done in the name of universal love and compassion. > > > > ..none of us know another man's journey... > >
