Certainly, if taken the wrong way, you might be right. I don't feel that this is any worse than automatically being confined to the Christian/Western ideals. HyperZonk also makes a valid point asking where do we draw the line. I proposed the Zen/Buddhist idea because when one thinks of monks these are the two that would hopefully spring to mind most readily. Other beliefs may have equivalents but are they Monks?

True, while it is (marginally) more likely that one would be cannonized a saint than to achieve enlightement (at least in this lifetime) there is a certain aspect that we can associate with. As others have pointed out, the purpose of a Bodhisattva is to help others achieve enlightenment. Isn't that what we are trying to do here?

In reply to Re: (elbie) Eastern Monks vs. Western Monks by elbie
in thread Eastern Monks vs. Western Monks by elbie

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