user3613: I thought bhikkhus were to not to be involved with entertainment. Thank you in advance.

user7278: My experience is that there are two types of using social networks in a monastery.
One is a collective use made by the whole community of monks and nuns, and this can be very wholesome, for giving teachings, reaching people and connecting with those who otherwise could not be in contact with the monastery.
The second one is the individual use made by individual monks and nuns who have access to Internet, and this is up to the single person and his practice on how to use it. In some monasteries  there are not strict limitations and monastics could use social networks as a lay person would do. If a monastic is truly dedicated to her practice, then she will use the social network in a wholesome way.
If one monk, for example, uses social networks for entertainment, he should recognize it, observe his mind, see that it is not beneficial and so he can make an effort to stop doing it. I think the same can be said also for lay people.

user3551: I don't think their intention is to entertain but to to teach.Social Networking Sites can be used as a form for communication.Especially in this day and age.It's likened to them writing a letter or giving a dhamma talk.Since i don't attend any Buddhist monastery or retreats or groups,I have benefited from monks teaching the Dharma on Youtube or contacting a monastic via facebook when i had any questions etc.It is also a way for the monastic to keep in touch with the lay people.So intention plays a big role in why monastics use social networking sites.

3613: <p>I thought bhikkhus were to not to be involved with entertainment. Thank you in advance.</p>
 7278: <p>My experience is that there are two types of using social networks in a monastery.</p>
<p>One is a collective use made by the whole community of monks and nuns, and this can be very wholesome, for giving teachings, reaching people and connecting with those who otherwise could not be in contact with the monastery.</p>
<p>The second one is the individual use made by individual monks and nuns who have access to Internet, and this is up to the single person and his practice on how to use it. In some monasteries  there are not strict limitations and monastics could use social networks as a lay person would do. If a monastic is truly dedicated to her practice, then she will use the social network in a wholesome way.</p>
<p>If one monk, for example, uses social networks for entertainment, he should recognize it, observe his mind, see that it is not beneficial and so he can make an effort to stop doing it. I think the same can be said also for lay people.</p>
 3551: <p>I don't think their <strong>intention</strong> is to entertain but to to <strong>teach</strong>.Social Networking Sites can be used as a form for communication.Especially in this day and age.It's likened to them writing a letter or giving a dhamma talk.Since i don't attend any Buddhist monastery or retreats or groups,I have benefited from monks teaching the Dharma on Youtube or contacting a monastic via facebook when i had any questions etc.It is also a way for the monastic to keep in touch with the lay people.So intention plays a big role in why monastics use social networking sites.</p>
