<p>I am glad you managed to save your friend's life.</p>

<p>I suggest that both of you google "Thai monk with neurofibromatosis" and become aware that his 'problem' isn't a real problem.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-17T02:32:52.623Z
2016-05-17T02:32:52.623Z
Yinxu
<p>The commentary on page 195 of this document, <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc2.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The
Buddhist
Monastic
Code II</a>, implies that it depends on the type of skin condition, where it is, how severe it is, and whether it's likely to spread. I don't know to what extent it applies to herpes.</p>

<p><a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/11572/254">This answer</a> to a related question starts with,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The degree of strict interpretation of such rules largely depends on the monastery, tradition and abbot under whom one ordains. Most monastic orders I know adapt these rules to suit their circumstance in practice.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-16T11:59:45.070Z
2016-05-16T11:59:45.070Z
2017-04-13T12:51:06.400Z
ChrisW
<p>Previous lifestyle &amp; herpes should not prevent a person from becoming a monk. If your friend wants to become a monk, he should talk to a monk at the temple. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-16T08:42:35.930Z
2016-05-16T08:42:35.930Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>I am asking this behalf of my friend. He was gonna commit suicide. But I managed to calm him down by taking him to a Buddhist temple. He had a really fun life, movies, friends, night outs, girls, cars, everything. But suddenly he got to know that he has a skin condition called herpes. Something like a pimple. But it seems he regret a lot a lot as it has no cure. But it is a very common all over the world. He doesn't understand and tried to suicide. He has given up life. </p>

<p>Luckily I brought him to this Buddhist temple and managed to save his life. Now he is very interest in becoming a Theravada monk and spend the life in a temple meditating, learning and practicing Buddhism. I decided to support him as he was a good person, help others, donate etc. I am wondering if his conditions and previous life style matters to become a monk. Thanks.</p>

<theravada><monk><well-being><monastery><temples>
Would a skin condition stop someone becoming a monk?
# Would a skin condition stop someone becoming a monk?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-16)

I am asking this behalf of my friend. He was gonna commit suicide. But I managed to calm him down by taking him to a Buddhist temple. He had a really fun life, movies, friends, night outs, girls, cars, everything. But suddenly he got to know that he has a skin condition called herpes. Something like a pimple. But it seems he regret a lot a lot as it has no cure. But it is a very common all over the world. He doesn't understand and tried to suicide. He has given up life.

Luckily I brought him to this Buddhist temple and managed to save his life. Now he is very interest in becoming a Theravada monk and spend the life in a temple meditating, learning and practicing Buddhism. I decided to support him as he was a good person, help others, donate etc. I am wondering if his conditions and previous life style matters to become a monk. Thanks.

**Tags:** theravada, monk, well-being, monastery, temples


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-05-16. Score: 4

Previous lifestyle & herpes should not prevent a person from becoming a monk. If your friend wants to become a monk, he should talk to a monk at the temple.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-05-17. Score: 1

I am glad you managed to save your friend's life.

I suggest that both of you google "Thai monk with neurofibromatosis" and become aware that his 'problem' isn't a real problem.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-05-16. Score: 1

The commentary on page 195 of this document, [The
Buddhist
Monastic
Code II](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc2.pdf), implies that it depends on the type of skin condition, where it is, how severe it is, and whether it's likely to spread. I don't know to what extent it applies to herpes.

[This answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/11572/254) to a related question starts with,

> The degree of strict interpretation of such rules largely depends on the monastery, tradition and abbot under whom one ordains. Most monastic orders I know adapt these rules to suit their circumstance in practice.


---

