World Religion Buddhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World Religion Buddhism - Essay Example Turning into a Buddhist monk can be a difficult job. This is great precedence as it sets a pattern for the followers. The individual has to satisfy many percepts laid out for them. According to the Dalai Lama, three practices have to be fulfilled by the individual which allows them the status of a Buddhist monk. The first is to finish any attachment one might have to their material lives. The second is to remove any form of desire and instead replace it with complete devotion to the idea of reincarnation: Samsara. The third and last is to eliminate any ideas of cherishing the self. These are an important part of Buddhist religion not because of the lessening of attachment it provides towards the material world but because these essentials were completed by the Buddha himself. A visit to a Buddhist monastery was vital to truly understand the true meanings set behind understanding the work done by a Buddhist monk. As a gathering of followers, it has to be designed and controlled in a way that attracts and encourages Buddhist followers. It was for this reason that I visited Ram Bahadur, an old monk working in a monastery for around twenty years. While the monastery itself was beautifully decorated with huge pillars and carpeted floors, the residence of the monk was simple and clean. The two diversely different settings presented one clear message: the gathering place must reign in the beauty with which it attracts followers while the followers themselves must shun this outward beauty. The first thing vital to all Buddhist monks is a clear and vivid knowledge of the faith itself. This includes the idea of the four noble truths, the eight-fold path and the path towards enlightenment. It is for this reason that all monks believe in the idea of karma which is passed down from their actions (Harvey).