MN 120: why are bhikkhus aspiring for the household life?
"Take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.
"Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu saddhāya samannāgato hoti, sīlena samannāgato hoti, sutena samannāgato hoti, cāgena samannāgato hoti, paññāya samannāgato hoti.
'aho vatāhaṃ kāyassa bhedā paraṃ maraṇā khattiyamahāsālānaṃ sahabyataṃ upapajjeyyan'ti.
They settle on that thought, stabilize it and develop it.
So taṃ cittaṃ dahati, taṃ cittaṃ adhiṭṭhāti, taṃ cittaṃ bhāveti.
Those choices and meditations of theirs, developed and cultivated like this, lead to rebirth there.
What is supposed to be the meaning or message of the above parts of this sutta?
Re: MN 120: why are bhikkhus aspiring for the household life?
I think the kamma of their striving is the main point here; I don't believe that the Lord is commenting that their strivings are necessarily good or bad goals. He is merely pointing out the fact that they will go where they're striving for.
Because many monks are longing for Kamavacara, Rupavacara and Arupavacara state.
Not many monks are there to attain Nibbana.
That is why they disrobe, involve with politics and many wrong livelihoods etc.
Even in this forum, many do not want to realise Nibbana.
If we ask the same question from monks they might give the same answers if they are very honest.
Nibbana is a term only , something one do not know , but to end suffering it seems far more realistic .
but to end suffering it seems far more realistic .
It is easier to understand end suffering, eliminate ignorance etc rather than the word Nibbana.
Unfortunately, as a householder, it is not easy to understand Nibbana but tastes the Nibbana as a Sotapanna etc.
I think I realised the answer to my question. The bhikkhus are aspiring to be "in the company of well-to-do aristocrats, brahmins and householders" so they have good supportive conditions (such as good alms food & other requisites and abide in a relatively civil domain for practise).
I always read this as a warning to monks that the desire to be associated with well-to-do lay followers would at best lead to rebirth in the human or animal realm.
Thanks a lot DC. Sounds very logical to me.
Take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.
I don't think this refers to Buddhist monks.
That whatever "They settle on that thought, stabilize it and develop it" this will be the result. It's hypothetical scenarios that is explaining "If you do this, then this will be the result". He never says that a monk is actually aspiring for such things.
Maybe. But the confusing part of the sutta is when it says: "Take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom".
"Take a mendicant who has faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom"
I think the majority of all asian monks (most of whom ordain temporarily) are aspiring for the [good future] household life .) So, nothing strange in the sutta.