hasunoha

Do I need a driver's license, computer operation, or anything else to become a monk?

My name is Harusora and I want to become a monk in the future.

It goes without saying that devotion to and learning about Buddhism is essential for becoming a monk, but are there any other skills (or are better) required?

It seems that a car is necessary for traveling at memorial services, funerals, and the equinox, and it seems that computer operation skills are also required in the information society.

It's better to have calligraphy skills to write goshuin and post announcements.

I would like to learn as much as possible while living a normal social life, but after becoming a monk, I can also wear it as needed, so what?

Thank you for your support, Professor.

4 Zen Responses

Being a monk isn't a job, so I don't think it has much to do with it. There are monks with bicycles, and there are also monks with handwriting.

The more things you can do, the more possibilities there are.

Nice to meet you, Harusora.

As you said, it's better to operate a computer, have a driver's license for a car or motorcycle, and have calligraphy skills.
Skills such as English conversation, accounting, do-it-yourself, design, and programming are also good.
Education, good manners, a cheerful voice, and a smooth tongue are important when speaking the Dharma or proselytizing.

Of course, the more things you can do, the more possibilities there are.
Of course, you can learn what you think is necessary after becoming a monk.
If you take off the colored glasses called selfishness, nothing is wasted in the world.
If you have the right mindset, the knowledge you have acquired will always be useful.

But I think what really matters is why you want to be a monk and what you want to do as a monk.
(Faith and learning are major assumptions, so I'll omit them)

Kozenshi has also been mentioned, but monks and monks are a way of life, not an occupation.

The occupations of people called monks are religious activists, religious corporation representative officers, and religious corporation employees.
On the other hand, there are many people who can live as monks while doing other jobs, such as being a school teacher or working for a company.

What kind of monk would you like to be?
I'm sure there is an answer in your heart.
Also, I think you'll be able to see the path that will naturally advance and what needs to be done.

Please do your best. I'm rooting for you.

As an aside, if you wish to work as a monk at each head temple (large temple at the center of each sect) or at a larger temple in each region, an ordinary driver's license is almost essential.
If you have a small motorcycle or medium motorcycle license and calligraphy, language, or other qualifications and special skills, you will be given preferential treatment and employment on favorable terms. FYI...

Gassho (^ people ^)

No matter what kind of life you live, it's about working hard on the life and relationships that are right in front of you.
That life experience later became my personality as a monk.

Monks also have various specialties

Among the monks, if you happen to be the chief priest of a temple that you often see, those who first became monks when they were in elementary school or middle school. Of course, there are also people who say they are in college.
Therefore, I think there are many people who did not become monks after gaining the necessary skills; rather, they became monks and developed skills according to the path they should take.
Also, there are monks who are not involved in memorial services or funerals even if they become monks. They specialize in ceremonial gagaku performances, they specialize in teaching and research, they specialize in going to various temples etc. as lecturers during evangelism, or they become sectarian employees and do the same accounting and general affairs work as companies. There are also monks who learn local languages such as Portuguese and are assigned to overseas temples in addition to English, such as overseas pioneers.
There are monks who are lawyers, monks who are doctors, and monks who are tax accountants.
It's OK to have hopes and images of what you want to be in the future, but I think it's better to think carefully about both getting information on the activities of the actual monk world and living in this shabha world.
Being a monk is basically not a job, so at least it's better to know that there are many part-time monks who have other jobs as a source of livelihood