Thinking about become a Monk or Nun in the Tibetan Gelug-pa Tradition?

For those considering ordination, Nalanda Monastery offers the possibility to stay here for free by doing voluntary work, or, alternatively, to do a retreat.

With this in mind it’s good for aspiring monks to visit the monastery and meet the community. For those who have decided to ordain in the near future, we offer a special financial arrangement so that they can live here for a time as aspiring monks, and be part of the community. Because in our tradition becoming a monk is a choice made for the rest of our life, it is important to be well prepared for this undertaking. On these pages you’ll find advice on preparing for ordination, inspiring stories, and you can discover more about the motivation you should ideally have, and what the benefits of ordination are. You will also find further reading suggestions. Geshe Jamphel gives further advice, which can be seen on Video in the media section.

IMI has developed resources on ordination for the student to review which are available online at www.imisangha.org

Lama Zopa Rinpoche emphasises the primary consideration in any request for ordination is the relationship of the student with the teacher. The student-teacher relationship is not only important in determining the suitability of the candidate for ordination at the time of the request but also as the student integrates into the monastic community after taking vows.

"Because the main objective for a monk is to do the training and study the teachings, engage in study, it is still good to rely on volunteers to help us with the many physical tasks that need to be done here in the monastery. So, it would be good to continue to invite volunteers to stay here to help us with all this work, and by doing so we are also offering an opportunity for the volunteers to accumulate great masses of virtue. Therefore, bringing about the conditions for the volunteers, the lay people, is also an activity which is benefiting others. Those monks who are able to engage in serious study should put great effort into their studies in order to do this amazing work [well] and accomplish intensive study. If there are monks who do not have the capacity or wish to study and feel that they would rather work in the monastery, they should follow this wish and put themselves completely to the task of working for the monastery and do this in a very excellent manner. Thus, someone who is a monk and on top of this either engaging in study or working for the monastery is doing something that is very intensive and meritorious".
-Geshe Jamphal (December 23, 2006)

While the teacher has the responsibility of deciding the suitability of the student requesting ordination, the decision to ordain is made by the student him (her) self. Prior to requesting ordination, it is understood that the student will:

• Have a foundation in the lamrim (Stages on the Path to Enlightenment)
• Have a firmly established relationship with a spiritual teacher,
• Have cultivated an understanding of renunciation in undertaking the life of a monk or nun, and
• Have developed the wish to devote their life to service and practice as part of a monastic community.

Students considering ordination should also:

• Have had Buddhist refuge for at least five years,
• Have lived with lay vows for at least three years,
• NOT be a Shugden practitioner,
• Be at least 20 years of age,
• Ideally, have permission from their family,
• Be free of any encumbering relationships; if married, the candidate will have permission from their partner and be living separately,
• Be free of any encumbering financial obligations,
• Not be returning to their ordinary work situation; working in a Dharma center is permissible,
• Have held the getsul ordination for at least three years if requesting gelong ordination.

Prior to requesting ordination, the student is encouraged to discuss their interest with an IMI senior Sangha member or SPC who can facilitate the process and provide guidance.