cave - in a
umbrella - under a
tropics + UK - in
UK - in the
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Buddhism points to understanding
the mind as a key to liberation. Understanding the mind
is commonly the work of meditation and this work is best undertaken
in silence and solitude. With this thought, monastic dwellings are
often found as small, free standing huts in the countryside or in
forests. They are usually quite small - about 3m x 2.5m - and tend
not to have any services (bathroom, kitchen); although this will vary
according to the climate - a significant factor when considering construction.
• In
the tropics a variety of simple arrangements is possible.
One solution is to find a natural cave. This is not always easy as
they can often be damp and those that aren't are also attractive to
other beings - least not the bats who have a nasty habit of pooing
on your head just as you are about to get enlightened. Spoils all
the fun. A common alternative is the umbrella and insect net of the
wandering monk. The umbrella is quite large - nearly 2m diameter -
with a hook at the top of the handle so it is easily hung off the
branch of a tree. The handle is often in two parts so the lower portion
can be unscrewed to make more room underneath. The net is basically
a tube which hangs off the umbrella but fancier models have a floor
sewn in with a zipped entrance (snakes and other crawlies can also
be occasional curious visitors!). Monasteries will often have a few
'diengs' - short legged, rectangular tables used as a 'floor' under
the umbrella on which to sit/sleep. Although harder than the ground
these have an advantage in that the legs can sit in a dish of oil
which deters the ants and other wrigglers. Umbrellas also double as
a rain and sun shade. Built huts can vary from simple bamboo structures
to brick and tile. They are often built on stilts to increase the
air flow for coolness. Services will vary from a hole in the ground
for a loo and a nearby river or water hole for bathing to full ensuite.
• In
the West it is not so much insects that are the problem
but the weather - cold and rain. Because of this, structures need
to be more substantial and this can mean difficulty getting council
permission. It is also a lot more expensive to build a well insulated
hut. Buddhism is still relatively new in the West and it is not clear
yet how the various traditions will evolve but there are several experiments
in progress and the opportunity for silence and solitude is available
- although the degree of each is often relative. Several monasteries
of the Thai forest tradition have been established worldwide and these
offer a range of accommodation from rooms [§]
to freestanding huts in a forest (see thumbnails). In shifting from
one to the other it is interesting to notice the attachment - either
to solitude or company.
• On the whole Western centres
have been developed from existing structures
with various spaces being remodeled to suit a specific, religious
purpose. This has been the case with Amaravati Monastery in Hertfordshire,
UK where an old, prefabricated school complex was bought and over
the years classrooms and halls have been adapted to suit monastic
needs. [Make a virtual visit here]
It has really only been the recent construction of the main Temple
that has brought this site together as a whole.
• It is surprising how
little space is needed for one human being to live in.
Here is an interior photo of a small hut I lived in quite comfortably
for nearly a year (I used the shower and toilet of my nearby hosts).
[§]
• Most accommodation situations
would have a shrine of some kind. This could be as simple as a single
Buddha image or picture to quite ornate arrangements. In the absence
of anything to make a shrine the alms bowl can be used well as a symbol
of the holy life. [See: ACTIVITIES - CRAFT - SHRINES]
• There are many rules
in the vinaya determining how and where monks might build.
They consider the cost of materials and the potential burden on a
sponsor, the repair and maintenance of existing buildings, the destruction
of vegetation in clearing an area to build. Many of these rules make
it clear that building requires 'obtaining the approval of the monastic
community' - this helps protect all parties involved.
• The traditional reflection
on lodgings:
| "Properly considering my dwelling place
I will use it simply to ward of cold and heat, to offer protection
from insects, the sun, the wind and rains so that I might continue
to live in seclusion." |
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