A Buddhist Monk as a volunteer: Conflict or not conflict with the Monastic Discipline (Dhammavinaya)

Abstract

The general public often witnessed Buddhist monks engaged in volunteering efforts in times of crisis, like flood, storm attacks, drought and other environmental problems, difficult living conditions, or more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. The voluntary efforts in which those volunteer monks are engaged consist of various activities, such as donating essential household items, and leading in ad hoc projects that assist the affected communities. The practice is viewed by some Buddhist adherents as unbecoming to the spirits of monasticism and contradictory to the Monastic Discipline (Dhammavinaya). On the contrary, the volunteer monks believe that the service is allowed by the Discipline. By taking the Discipline and monks’ practice into consideration, it was found that a monk is allowed to perform such volunteering role and being a volunteer monk is not against the principle. Yet, some forms of practicing it may fall away from good behaviour (Acara-vipatti). Therefore, a volunteer monk with the will to perform volunteering practice without undue criticism and dispute should adhere to two major principles as follows: 1) he strictly abides by the Threefold Training (Trai Sikkha), and 2) he learns further the public’s norms and attitudes towards monkhood.