Ven. Yuttadhammo, a western monk who's probably best known as the creator of the
Digital Pali Reader software (a Firefox plugin - you can browse the Pali text of the canon, click on any word, and retrieve dictionary entries and conjucation/declension info) is moving from South East Asia to Canada.
Here's his latest blog post,
Trippin.
Yuttadhammo:
Off to the city, then another city, then another country. Eighteen days left to change plans.
Feeling more confident about the move to Canada, but the idea of disappearing into the forest still rears its head every so often. Or at least staying in Asia. Life is always so uncertain…
I think the real uncertainty stems from the fact that there is no real support in Canada as far as an experienced Buddhist meditation community. Being picked up at the airport by people I’ve never met to depend on their support for keeping me off the streets of Toronto… and we already know how alms in Toronto goes from last year (it doesn’t). I shy away from explaining the details of my planned residence to people here after getting some fairly concerned expressions from those I have. Even if we do acquire a house (and that’s still a big if), then what? Life in a house, I suppose. Not so bad, but still nothing like the forest.
The benefits are reassuring, though, so let’s go through them again… freedom from pesky things like visas and government regulated monasticism, a culture and society that makes sense and sees me as a member – albeit a strange one, and infrastructure that allows international organization and activity. And it doesn’t hurt to remind oneself of things like the absence of oppressive heat (got some wool cloth to make a nice sangati for the cold) and generally healthy food (assuming people want me alive enough to feed me).
I guess the best I can say is it will be interesting. If I don’t disappear in the next eighteen days, that is…
So, for all Traditionalists out there - here's a real monk to feed and shelter. If the existence of the ordained Sangha is an inspiration to you, here's an opportunity to provide for them. Of course, there are many other nuns and monks living in Western countries. They all face similar issues: either go live in an Asian cultural center supported by Asian ex-pats, or struggle to get support from Westerners who are not culturally steeped in the idea of providing for holy drop-outs. And then there are the secular Western teachers trying to live off donations.
And if you're not that excited about Western monks, but still find the Digital Pali Reader useful - well, it's free (as in beer), but its creator still has to keep warm and wants to eat.
Cheers,
Florian
