To ordain in the west or in Asia? Dhamma greetings to you,
Considering the possible advantages and disadvantages of where one is being ordained, I wish to have your understanding on whether it'd be more conducive to ordain in Asia or in Europe ?
Thank you for reading me,
May you be well,
With metta.
When I think of Western ordination, I only think of the Ajahn Chah tradition because it is highly disciplined.
If you are European, it may be convenient to be a novice &amp; take ordination in Europe, so you can undertake the transition in a familiar language &amp; possibly a less challenging environment.
However, once you settle into the life of a bhikkhu (say after two or three years), I think living the Holy Life in Asia is more advantageous because you will live in what is historically a Buddhist society &amp; culture; which is based in the relationship between monks &amp; laypeople and the cultural norms of both benefaction &amp; social morality.
The strongest impressions I had when I lived in Thailand was the traditional culture.
To the contrary, in my opinion, what has become &quot;Western Buddhism&quot;, particularly in the USA, has little relationship to orthodox Buddhism.