On Renunciation
https://soundcloud.com/fabien-todescato/2014-07-07-dhammaruwan-holding-the-dhamma#t=45:03
I can tell you something, about... Many years ago, I used to travel a lot and come home only for about... travel for about two three months abroad, and come home, partly practicing meditation, and learning, with my teacher and then I come home for some time. And my son, he was about..., now he is sixteen, but at that time he was about eight years old. So I come home after some time and he comes and hangs around me and I'm working with my computer, so he comes and he looks at me and looks at the computer, and looks at me and then he says, (this time I became a monk, I took temporary ordination and I came home), so, he says,
'Dad, why did you become a monk ?'
then I said 'Well, that's part of my training, and being a monk is a great thing for you are a full time meditator, you don't do any as the other layman, when you meditate a little and then you forget. That's full time practice. So I want to do that.'
'Does that mean you will become a permanent monk ?'
Then I said 'Yes, I might become a permanent monk also.'
And then he said 'Does that mean that you have to leave me ? Can I come with you ?'
'No, you can't come. I go alone, and that' s something that you do not.'
And each time I said that he became sadder and sadder, and I did notice that, and I felt so sorry, because he was now asking :
'If you become a monk, does that mean you leave me, you leave my sister, and you leave mama, everybody ?'
And I said 'Yes, I mean you can't take everybody to become a monk....'
And now I am feeling so sorry, and I am also feeling sad, and he is also feeling sad, and finally I said :
'Son, don't worry... I will not become a monk... Right ? I won't become a monk.'
And when I said that he looked even more sad, and he then turned to me and he said :
'Daddy it's Okay, if you want to become a monk you become a monk. If that's wha you like...'
Then I said after some back and forth I said 'Okay then I'll become a monk.'
Then he said 'Are you sure ?'
I said 'Yes I am sure...'
...then he said 'Then, if you become a monk, can I have your laptop ?'
Picture The Buddha and his son Rahula
https://soundcloud.com/fabien-todescato/2014-07-07-dhammaruwan-holding-the-dhamma#t=45:03
I can tell you something, about... Many years ago, I used to travel a lot and come home only for about... travel for about two three months abroad, and come home, partly practicing meditation, and learning, with my teacher and then I come home for some time. And my son, he was about..., now he is sixteen, but at that time he was about eight years old. So I come home after some time and he comes and hangs around me and I'm working with my computer, so he comes and he looks at me and looks at the computer, and looks at me and then he says, (this time I became a monk, I took temporary ordination and I came home), so, he says,
'Dad, why did you become a monk ?'
then I said 'Well, that's part of my training, and being a monk is a great thing for you are a full time meditator, you don't do any as the other layman, when you meditate a little and then you forget. That's full time practice. So I want to do that.'
'Does that mean you will become a permanent monk ?'
Then I said 'Yes, I might become a permanent monk also.'
And then he said 'Does that mean that you have to leave me ? Can I come with you ?'
'No, you can't come. I go alone, and that' s something that you do not.'
And each time I said that he became sadder and sadder, and I did notice that, and I felt so sorry, because he was now asking :
'If you become a monk, does that mean you leave me, you leave my sister, and you leave mama, everybody ?'
And I said 'Yes, I mean you can't take everybody to become a monk....'
And now I am feeling so sorry, and I am also feeling sad, and he is also feeling sad, and finally I said :
'Son, don't worry... I will not become a monk... Right ? I won't become a monk.'
And when I said that he looked even more sad, and he then turned to me and he said :
'Daddy it's Okay, if you want to become a monk you become a monk. If that's wha you like...'
Then I said after some back and forth I said 'Okay then I'll become a monk.'
Then he said 'Are you sure ?'
I said 'Yes I am sure...'
...then he said 'Then, if you become a monk, can I have your laptop ?'
Picture The Buddha and his son Rahula
a and his son Rahula
