New Recruits to the DDM Monastic Family

September 2, 2003

Sedulous devotion to the society - An Alternative in Life's Career

August 27 nearly 500 people arrived at the Buddha Hall of DDM's Nung Chan Monastery in Taipei early morning to witness the tonsure rites of 20 postulants -by far the greatest number in the history of DDM's tonsure ceremonies. Among the 20 young adults, 17 were women and 3 were men. 

In his address to the people present, Master Sheng Yen said, "To leave home and take up monastic life is neither a form of escape nor an abandonment of responsibilities. It is in fact an expansion into a new frontier, opening up towards an expansive and assiduous future. Furthermore, leaving behind the secular world is not an act that merely requires prestige and power, but one that requires fortitude, determination and courage in a person. For, the pursuits of a monastic will no longer be for personal gains in fame, wealth, power and status, instead a monastic's pursuits will be for self-purification and advancement through espousing Buddhist practice; to progress with resolution and courage in the wholesome and to eliminate the unwholesome. In the company of the rich and powerful, a monastic neither experiences empowerment nor prestige. Conversely, in the company of the poor and destitute, a monastic neither experiences a sense of shame nor embarrassment. A monastic, resilient and versatile, is a determined and intrepid practitioner who offers himself selflessly to the society."

The Master further pointed out that throughout history, there are people who offered and sacrificed their lives for the survival of their nations, and the continuation of their race. Today, the best way to save the world's human race and put an end to its calamities would be to leave home because a monastic is not held back nor constrained by personal worldly worries or troubles. Unfazed by hardships or danger, working diligently, a monastic goes wherever there is danger or calamity to help alleviate people's sufferings through the teachings and practice of the Dharma. A monastic's duties and dedication is not limited towards an individual nation or society, it is towards all sentient beings of the world. Therefore, DDM chooses to hold its annual tonsure ceremony on the birthday of Ksitigarbharaja Bodhisattva (30 July of the Lunar Calendar) to tonsure postulants who vowed to take up monastic life and precepts, thus epitomizing their aspiration to emulate the spirit of Ksitigarbharaja Bodhisattva, who vowed to not attain Buddhahood until "all the Hells are empty," and free from worldly fame or power, to dedicate themselves selflessly to the society. 

To leave home, one is required to relinquish oneself of arrogance, anger, ignorance, greed, and desire. By offering their beloved children to the world and to the Three Jewels, these postulants' parents, albeit difficulty in letting go of them, manifested great benevolence. To express their gratitude for their parents' love and support, and to bid them farewell, the 20 postulants bowed and postulated to their parents after Master Sheng Yen's address. Eyes welling up with tears, these parents displayed serene and loving smiles on their faces to show their support. It was a tender scene. 

Following the farewell prostrations, the 20 postulants knelt down with their palms joined as they were tonsured by Master Sheng Yen and the Acaryas (teachers). The shaving of the head symbolizes the severing of worldly bounds and limitations by fame, power, greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and vexations. From now on, the tonsured novices vowed to progress and cultivate in the wholesome and eliminate the unwholesome, to continuously progress under the guidance and practice of the Dharma, and to be of service to the world's sentient beings. 

Each of the 20 novices has been introduced to the Dharma, and came to Dharma Drum Mountain through different causes and conditions. Through their practice and understanding of the Dharma and their experiences at DDM, they have come to the realization that peace and freedom of their minds could not be satiated by worldly fame, power, accomplishment, joy, and sentiments and relationships; and that these were not the values they wanted to pursue in life. They feel they are richly merited to realize and recognize their ultimate goal and direction in the early stages of their life, and to follow and learn from an eminent scholar and monastic such as Master Sheng Yen. 

These postulants' choice in taking up monastic life is not an act of pessimism to live incognito, rather, it is an active choice to uplift themselves for the benefit of all sentient beings.