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WELCOME TO THE MONK LIFE COMMUNITY

What is a Sangha?
A Sangha, in terms of spirituality, is a community of Buddhist practitioners.
The goal of a Sangha is to provide support and inspiration along their path of
growth in spirit, wisdom, and compassion. As a Buddhist, the Sangha is
considered one of the “Three Jewlels,” where we find refuge in the Buddha, the
one who shows me the way in this life, and the Dharma, the way of understanding
and of love as well.



Join the virtual sangha
Learn more





JOIN OUR BUDDHIST COMMUNITY ON DISCORD

The Monk Life community is a Buddhist Discord server that is attended by Bhante
Varrapanyo and a lay community that is inclusive, diverse, and encouraging of
each other’s individual practice.

Enjoy meditations, sutta readings, and more, in an active and supportive
environment.


OVER 5,000 MEMBERS.
747 CURRENTLY ONLINE.

Accept Invitation




GETTING STARTED WITH BUDDHISM

So, you want to end Suffering and Bring Peace into your life, while having the
support of a community dedicated to that same goal? Well, you’re home.

While the following framework for approaching this uses a Buddhist Background,
it is meant to be Secular in nature and something that anyone can use for there
own practice of bringing peace and happiness into their life.





IT ALL STARTS WITH SILA…

> Sila is the Foundation of our Life as Practitioners. It simply means morality
> or intentional ethical living. So as you are here with the intention to end
> suffering and cultivate Peace, may we take up this activity.
> 
> As spoken about by the Plum Village master, Thich Nhat Hanh, “Be kind, Be
> Patient, Be Generous, Be Forgiving, Be compassionate. And do it Intentionally.
> Everyday. This is The Practice of Doing good deeds. It helps the mind to
> naturally Calm and Stabilize.“
> 
> 
> plumvillage.org


HERE COMES, SAMADHI…


Samadhi is our Meditation. It is the practice of abiding in and Training our
mind through Meditation. Over time as we begin to live a more and more
intentional and ethical life. This path of Meditation (Samadhi) becomes
accessible to use.

We pick up a method of meditation and we practice it. Focusing on the breath,
chanting a mantra, breathing and being aware. Over time as we get more into
meditation the natural result is a mind of deep relaxation and deep
concentration. We call this Samadhi and it helps our minds to deepen and expand.





FINALLY, PANNA AKA WISDOM.






This final Aspect of our Path of ending suffering is all about Listening to and
living in accordance with deep insight into the nature of our own mind and
reality.

This insight or clear understanding about the nature of ourselves comes from
both our inner experience of powerful morality and Samadhi but also this Wisdom
Exists as a Teaching from more senior practitioners. People like Thich Nhat Han,
Ajahn Brahm, and Shifu Sheng Yen.

We work to live in accordance with Wisdom but also to rely on it to understand.
This means listening to Dharma (Wisdom) Talks on YouTube or reading Dharma Books
that are full of Wisdom.


THIS IS THE HEART OF THE PATH.
SILA, SAMADHI, PANNA.

SO WE HAVE THE APPROACH, BUT WHAT CAN WE RELY ON TO FOLLOW THESE PRACTICES AND
EMBODY THE PATH?
IN BUDDHISM WE CALL THESE THE THREE JEWELS OR THE THREE REFUGES.




THE BUDDHA…

The Buddha Represents Our inner Nature. This aspect of ourselves that is Totally
at peace. Totally awake. Totally compassionate.

As we connect with and appreciate Buddha Nature. We can naturally feel more
Empowered and confident to continue walking this path of ending suffering even
in the face of Adversity or Difficulty.

So, this is called. Relying on Buddha or Taking Refuge in our ~Peace nature~
which can be understood as relying on our Awareness rather than the things and
experiences that come up and go away within that awareness.

We take refuge in the Buddha as a way of relying on our own inner ability to
wake up, to transform suffering, to embody total compassion.



So what is the Dharma? Skillful teachings that help us end suffering.

The Dharma is the teachings, the ways and means, the skillful advises, the
embodied shared wisdom from Teachers and people who have had success on the
path. As we rely on or take refuge in The Dharma We bring into our life
teachings on how to live, how to deal with suffering, how to cultivate
compassion and skillfully navigate this human life.




THE DHARMA…


FINALLY, WELCOME TO THE SANGHA…



Traditionally Sangha Meant the community of Buddhist Monks, Even more
traditionally it means those who had experienced deep awakening and embodied
peace.

What does it mean for you? The Sangha is a community of practitioners, sincere
beings on the path of ending suffering.
We work and spend time together not out of selfish intentions but rather we show
up to take care of ourselves to take care of each other. To practice meditation,
to listen to the teachings, to support one another on this path, Together.

Read More in resources





HELLO EVERYONE, I AM BHANTE VARRAPANYO.



Bhante Varrapanyo is an American Buddhist Monk ordained in the Thai Forrest
Dhammayut tradition of Thailand in 2018. His journey into meditation and
spirituality commenced in 2014 when he left his former life behind to reside at
a Zen Buddhist Meditation Center in New Mexico.

There, he undertook a one-year intensive training program, living as part of a
community, practicing intensive meditation, and delving into the teachings of
Buddhism. During this period, Bhante truly embarked on his path as a mediator
and a practitioner of Buddhism.

After several years of working and living as a Buddhist in the United States,
Bhante made a pivotal decision in 2018. He left his life behind once more, this
time relocating to Thailand and ordaining as a Bhikkhu at the Wat Phra Dara
Philom Forrest monastery in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Since his ordination as a
Bhikkhu in 2018, Bhante has resided in various Buddhist monasteries around the
world, forging profound and meaningful connections with fellow spiritual
practitioners and teachers within the Buddhist faith.

Bhante currently receives direct guidance and serves as a Dharma Teacher in the
tradition of Meditation Master Sayadaw Ashin Ottamathara, the Founder of
Thabarwa Centers Worldwide.

From this place of genuine, firsthand lived experiences, Bhante is driven by a
profound aspiration to alleviate the suffering of others. His deep commitment to
the Buddhist path has led him to establish this website and community. Visitors
are warmly welcomed and encouraged to become a part of this community through
the provided links, making the most of the available resources. May your journey
be marked by tranquility and joy. Sadhu~





Learn more




JOIN OUR DISCORD SANGHA

The Monk Life community is a Buddhist Discord server that is attended by Bhante
Varrapanyo and a lay community that is inclusive, diverse, and encouraging of
each other’s individual practice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monk Life is a thriving community of Meditators and spiritual practitioners.
People on the path of recognizing and transforming their suffering to bring
peace to themselves and the world. Here you will find resources that are meant
to support you on the journey of becoming a meditator and person on the path,
and if you like even a monk!

You have arrived, you are home.


JOIN SANGHA
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 * Home
 * Getting Started
 * Discord Login
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 * Donate
 * Resources
   * The Three Jewels of Buddhism
     * Sila: An Introduction to Virtue
     * Panna: The Buddhist Concept of Wisdom
     * Samadhi: A Fundamental Concept in Buddhism
 * Contact

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 * GitHub

Website created and maintained through community support.