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Dr. Alok Pandey
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AT THE FEET OF THE MOTHER
Ask Alok da

Alok da, in one of the training videos of new buddhist monks, I saw that they were made to clean toilets with their bare hands. The idea is to cultivate humility and to learn selflessness, to think of others by leaving the toilet clean for others. The idea is also to pare down one’s ego and obey the elders and their spiritual teachings with necessary obedience. I was shocked to see toilets cleaned with bare hands. Is it required to teach spiritual values? Also, is my shock a result of sheer ignorance of buddhist monastic practices? The monks seem to be changing their character for good though🤔.

I am not sure whether one needs to do that or whether it is this that helps them become good, if at all. If the practice is so important then sweepers should be realised human beings. As to ego it can conceal itself behind any mask including God’s service, monkhood, sweeping the toilets and all the rest.

Yes some are helped not so much because of what they are doing or the outer practice they are following but because they have a genuine inner aspiration and seeking for Truth and God. These people will progress anywhere regardless of what they do or do not do. The key is aspiration and neither monkhood or toilet cleaning.

Affectionately,

Alok Da

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