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**liontutuxx** · 09-07-2012, 04:39 PM

It also seems like people might be becoming less inclined to actually seek out teachers and meditation groups if it requires some travel out of their local area, or a weekend away at a centre or monastery.

This is where Ajahn Brahm's view is similar to a return to the Dark Ages, where priests ruled over society. What is sad is the impression of disempowering laity & creating dependence on monks.

What is absurd about AB's view is, in reality, there are very few monks in the Western cities. For example, in Sydney, Australia's largest city, 7 years ago, there were probably two or three Western monks in the whole city.

If the laity in the big cities are not going to consider themselves as Sangha then what will they regard as Sangha? Some monks living in the forest that regard city life is unworthy?

Sangha, in its essense, represents 'practise'. When people come together & sit together in meditation, that is Sangha.

09-07-2012, 04:39 PM	#13
liontutuxx Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 314 Senior Member	It also seems like people might be becoming less inclined to actually seek out teachers and meditation groups if it requires some travel out of their local area, or a weekend away at a centre or monastery. This is where Ajahn Brahm's view is similar to a return to the Dark Ages, where priests ruled over society. What is sad is the impression of disempowering laity & creating dependence on monks. What is absurd about AB's view is, in reality, there are very few monks in the Western cities. For example, in Sydney, Australia's largest city, 7 years ago, there were probably two or three Western monks in the whole city. If the laity in the big cities are not going to consider themselves as Sangha then what will they regard as Sangha? Some monks living in the forest that regard city life is unworthy? Sangha, in its essense, represents 'practise'. When people come together & sit together in meditation, that is Sangha.
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