What is renounced and why? As soon as I began looking for material on the Internet, I came across a blog post that was very helpful. The author begins the main section:
In Buddhist circles, renunciation is spoken of most often in reference to an individual’s choice to take up the robes of a monastic, to shave one’s head and ‘renounce’ the life of a layperson in order to practice Buddhism in a dedicated manner.
A nice description from the Buddhist perspective, which is where I want to start.
To put it another way, what is renounced is the rich, pleasant, and varied material life of a layperson (at least of the fortunate ones) to enable a more dedicated spiritual practice, and presumably speed one toward the goal of that practice, liberation.
The questions here lead off in two different directions, both alluring. First - does the goal of liberation require this thoroughgoing abnegation; and second, is monasticism the best or only way to achieve it?
Questions for tomorrow.
