A Right View on Those Who Have Gone Forth

 Right View on the Monastic Life: Seeing Correctly So the Mind Can Be at Peace

Dear followers of the Buddha and all who have the good fortune to encounter the Dhamma,

Along the journey of life, the sight of a bhikkhu silently walking on alms round, or sitting in meditation beneath a tree, is both familiar and deeply sacred. Yet to truly understand the life and aspiration of one who has gone forth, we need Right View (sammā-diṭṭhi)—the ability to see things as they really are. Only then can we cultivate merit wisely and avoid unfortunate misunderstandings.

1. A Great Renunciation, Not an Escape

When someone leaves behind family, possessions, and worldly ambitions to don the robe of liberation, this is not the act of a weak or irresponsible person. On the contrary, it is an extraordinary commitment and a profound act of courage.

They clearly see that all worldly pleasures—wealth, status, and sensual attachment—are governed by impermanence (anicca), contain the seed of suffering (dukkha), and are, in their true nature, not-self (anattā), without any permanent, enduring essence. Seeing this, they no longer wish to chase after what is fleeting and insubstantial.

Rather than escaping from life, they are facing the truth of suffering directly and seeking the path that brings its complete cessation, following in the footsteps of the Blessed One. This is the highest of aspirations: to seek liberation for oneself and to preserve the path of liberation for the benefit of humanity.

2. A Monk Is a Practitioner, Not Necessarily a Noble One

One of the most important truths to remember is this: a monk who has shaved his head and wears the robe is still a human being walking the path of practice. He is a practitioner, striving to cultivate the training in Virtue (Sīla), Concentration (Samādhi), and Wisdom (Paññā).

Do not be too quick to idealize or place anyone on a pedestal. In Buddhism, faith must always be accompanied by wisdom. Rather than judging by reputation or outward appearance, a wise Buddhist should carefully observe:

VIRTUE (Sīla): Does he live a life of purity, with few desires and contentment? Do his speech and actions reflect restraint, mindfulness, and faithfulness to the disciplinary rules established by the Buddha? Virtue is the foundation, the fertile ground from which all wholesome qualities grow. Without Virtue, there can be no Concentration or Wisdom.

CONCENTRATION (Samādhi): Does he display inner calmness and steadiness of mind? Do his teachings arise from a mind established in tranquility, or are they merely borrowed knowledge and superficial understanding?

WISDOM (Paññā): This is the decisive factor. Are his teachings grounded in the original Pāli Tipiṭaka? Do they help us understand more clearly suffering (dukkha), the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path leading to its cessation? Do they guide us to directly see the true characteristics of all conditioned phenomena as impermanent (anicca), suffering (dukkha), and not-self (anattā), so that attachment, craving, clinging, and defilements can gradually be abandoned?

If a teaching does not lead to the fading of greed, hatred, and delusion, and does not help the practitioner lessen suffering here and now, then no matter how eloquent or inspiring it may sound, it is not the True Dhamma.

3. Do Not Turn Yourself into a Machine of Blind Faith

The Buddha taught in the Kālāma Sutta:

"Do not simply believe because something has been repeated, do not simply believe because it is tradition, do not simply believe because it is hearsay..."

He encouraged us to examine for ourselves and to realize the truth through direct experience.

Therefore, never place your faith in anyone blindly merely because they are famous, have many followers, or outwardly resemble a holy person. Listen with an open heart, but always reflect carefully and compare what you hear with the original teachings of the Blessed One. Your own wisdom is the lamp that illuminates the path. To believe without understanding, or to follow without careful examination, is the faith of a machine—not the faith of a practitioner walking toward awakening.

4. The Benefits of Paying Homage to and Supporting a Genuine Practitioner

Once you have recognized a bhikkhu who is sincerely striving to live the holy life and preserve the True Dhamma, paying homage and offering the four requisites—robes, alms food, lodging, and medicines—to such a monk brings immeasurable merit. Why?

Because such practitioners are described by the Buddha as "the unsurpassed field of merit for the world" (anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassa).

Preserving the Living Transmission of the Buddha's Teaching: Our offerings provide the conditions that enable monks to study, practice, and live the Dhamma. In doing so, they preserve and transmit the True Dhamma to future generations. Without the Saṅgha, the Buddha's Dispensation cannot endure.

Planting the Seeds of Wholesomeness: Offering with a joyful and pure heart gradually weakens our own greed and stinginess. The merit generated through such giving becomes valuable spiritual support, both throughout the round of rebirth and along the path to liberation.

Creating the Conditions to Encounter the True Dhamma: By honoring and supporting a genuine practitioner, we create the opportunity to draw near, listen to authentic Dhamma teachings, resolve the confusions within our own minds, and receive inspiration for our own practice.

Conclusion

May we look upon monks with both wisdom and compassion. May we understand the depth of their renunciation, appreciate their sincere efforts in practice, and place our faith with discernment rather than blind devotion.

To support the Saṅgha in accordance with the Dhamma is to help preserve the priceless treasure of the Blessed One's teaching, while at the same time cultivating an abundant field of merit within ourselves.

May all of us develop Right View (sammā-diṭṭhi) to distinguish what is wholesome from what is unwholesome, possess the wisdom to take secure refuge in the Triple Gem, and have the good fortune to walk the path that leads to peace and liberation.

Sādhu! Sādhu! Sādhu!

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