Buddhist tradition has it that monastic living people beg for their food with the lay people. They go around with an alms bowl and appreciate everything that is given freely. They will never ask for anything specific. They will never take more then necessary to sustain life.
For monastic living people this begging for their food and taking good care of their bowl, was and still is daily practice. For the lay people providing the alms this Buddhist tradition is an opportunity to support and keep alive Buddhism. And as they are not able to choose a traditional monastic life themselves or to go on a pelgrimage and the like, this offering to the monastic company is in a way offering to the Buddha.
Hi. My name is FuShin (不真,
I'm currently studying and training in the Rinzai Zen Buddhist tradition. And I'm preparing for a year residency at a Zen Monastery. There is a lot to do. And one of the things to do is to raise enough fundings to finance my stay.
So this is my alms bowl. And here I am, begging you to support my stay in any way you see fit and are able to afford. I will be humbly grateful for any support.
| full name | B.K. de Zoete |
|---|---|
| bank account | 56.67.69.549 |
| residency | Gouda, The Netherlands |
| IBAN | NL74ABNA0566769549 |
| BIC | ABNANL2A |
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Ultimately I will need some €10.000 (which currently is a little over $14,400) to pay for a year residency at a Zen Monastery. This will pay for travels, clothing, health insurance and small things like toothpaste too.
First I will use the money I raise for paying all dues regarding a year residency at the Zen Monastery of my and my teachers choice.
Second I will use the money for travelling to the monastery and back home a year later.
Third I will use the money to buy the simple things I need for my monastic life, such as robes, working clothes, eating bowls, zafu and zabuton, and other study and training materials.
What ever money is left will be given away to the monastery that gives me residency. I won't keep any of it, because it is not mine to keep.
What ever money is raised, I will keep proper record and report back what is given to me and how I've put it to use.
I'm afraid it is really necessary to raise money, yes. To be able to live at a monastery for a year, means I need to 'unplug' myself from my current life. So I will leave my house, I will leave my job. No income and after selling the house in this market I will most likely be left with a debt. But that's my risk and I'm fully prepared to take it.
I can not posphone my year long retreat. What if I die before I ever get there? And less dramatic: I've wasted about 43 years of my life. It is time I do what I promise every morning that I'll do:
Shu Jo Mu Hen Sei Gan Do - Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to save them.Bonno mu jin sei gan dan - Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to put an end to them.Ho mon mu ryo sei gan gaku - The Dharma's are boundless, I vow to master them.Butsu do mu jo sei gan do - The Buddha way is unsurpassable, I vow to attain it.
To be able to do that, I must have helped myself first. And a year monastery will in any way what so ever, ways I cannot forsee now, be good for me and help me on the way. And I'm honestly preparing myself in every other way I can.
So here I am, begging you to please share with me what ever you can afford and help me in this endeavour.
I bow before you, in Gassho.