International Buddhist College

[kebo]

Hello;

I'm interested in becomeing a member or a Buddhist monastic community, and I'm considering going to IBC in south Thailand.

Does anyone here have any experience with it?

I am an Army veteran, and I have 10 months left of VA benefits. Soon, I'll go back to the community college and finish my AA. Then, I will have to work for a year to save money, at which point I might go to IBC and get my BA there... or instead get a BA here in religious studies... and then go to IBC for the masters.

Im wondering if this is the best approach. Should I just go live in a monastery right away, or study Buddhism in college like I mentioned?

Edited October 28, 2008 by kebo

[khaowong1]

Where are you now? In Thailand or back in the U.S.?

[khaowong1]

I just looked at the IBC website. Very interesting. My guess is, you would be the only American at this college and would probably be asked to help teach an English class, maybe they would lower your tuition some for it.

[khaowong1]

As far as whether you should go live in a temple right away or not, I think if you had the money, spend a year at this college. You will learn a lot more there than you would at a temple. Believe me. I spent 3 months ordained at a temple North of Bangkok and didn't learn anything while I was there, at least about the Buddhist religion. It looks to me like there are a lot of monks going to this college and you would really learn a lot from the school and these monk students.

[kebo]

Thanks. I just got back from the Philippines, studied there for two years, but did not get the degree. I'm still split on whether to get my BA at the Uhiversity oif Oregon, or go directly to Thailand. Thailand will be cheaper, but if I enroll in the U orf O, I'll have junior standing, plus whatever transfers from the Philippines. I've been to Thailand once... my impression was that the country is much less poor than Bangladesh or the Philippines. I have a love affair with South East Asia in general.

I hear Thai is very difficult to learn because it's tonal.

[Brucenkhamen]

Hello;

I'm interested in becomeing a member or a Buddhist monastic community, and I'm considering going to IBC in south Thailand.

Does anyone here have any experience with it?

I am an Army veteran, and I have 10 months left of VA benefits. Soon, I'll go back to the community college and finish my AA. Then, I will have to work for a year to save money, at which point I might go to IBC and get my BA there... or instead get a BA here in religious studies... and then go to IBC for the masters.

Im wondering if this is the best approach. Should I just go live in a monastery right away, or study Buddhism in college like I mentioned?

If you want to become a member or a Buddhist monastic community then just do that. I'm not sure what IBC is and why you think it might be an interim step.

[kebo]

i'm not sure, but don't you have to be educated in Buddhism to be ordained?

Although, this isn't Thai... I was looking into going to this seminary in south Africa:

http://www.nanhua.co.za/fgsabs/index.htm

It is three years of study, living like a monk.. it is not accredited, but it is all basically free (housing and food and everything is free). What's more, I qualify: I'm a single, non-attached male between 18 and 35, with no dependants, no debt. And I don't drink or smoke and I'm healthy. Americans are allowed, also.

Wha's more, there is no obligation.. you are free to leave the program if you want, and after the 3 years, there is a choise to stay with their monastic program, and be a monk.. or leave and do whatever you want.

It sounds like a good deal to me, although I have no money to get the necissary visa and fly there. It is Chinese Buddhism. I read something disturbing.. that they will hit and yell in their instruction.

[Brucenkhamen]

i'm not sure, but don't you have to be educated in Buddhism to be ordained?

No, you ordain to be educated in Buddhism, if by educated you mean actually practice it rather than learn about it.

Some of the practice oriented teaching traditions would discourage too much book learning when you are a monk let alone before you ordain.

[kebo]

appologies, the SA seminary is in the Ch'an (Zen) tradition.

for about 4 year, I had a friend (a middle aged man from Texas, who was a zen master (or so he said).,.. we were just internet friends, and shared lots of ideas... but I abandoned him because he turned into a judgemental, negative, racist, He boasts about being half Cherokee/ half Irish.. but at the same time he doesn't believe in mixed marriage.. and he thinks Filipinos are genetically defective.

Edited October 29, 2008 by kebo

[khaowong1]

i'm not sure, but don't you have to be educated in Buddhism to be ordained?

No, you ordain to be educated in Buddhism, if by educated you mean actually practice it rather than learn about it.

Some of the practice oriented teaching traditions would discourage too much book learning when you are a monk let alone before you ordain.

Yes, I believe that Ajahn Chah was famous for saying, put down the books and instead practice meditation.

[LFJ]

anyone know if the international buddhist college (ibc) is accredited?

i'm interested in going there, but only if a degree from them will be recognized, particularly in the u.s.

thanks!