…eping to their spirit and doing what will be for the good of all in the day-to-day matters at hand. To Whom the Rules Apply The rules of the Order govern only the conduct of members of the Order, that is, monks, postulants, and lay ministers: those who officially represent the Order actively or by example. They do not govern the conduct of lay congregation members who are not postulants or lay ministers. Where they exist, rules that may apply dire…
…are financially and administratively independent of each other, and in day-to-day practice abbots, priors and chief priests of temples have a large measure of autonomy within the ethical framework of the Order. Wider Buddhist Connections The Order maintains connections with our Dharma relatives in Malaysia and Japan. It does not have formal administrative links in these countries and functions independently in regard to its finances and religious…
…lose to you. ↩ For example there is a range of talks given by monks of the Order on www.obcon.org/Dhrmatlk/Dharma Talks.htm, from Shasta Abbey in North America on www.shastaabbey.org/teachings-introductory.html, from Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Europe on www.throssel.org.uk/dharma-talks, and on other temples’ websites on www.obcon.org/temps.html, and articles are written by both monks and lay trainees in the Journal of the Order of Buddhist Co…
…and outlining disciplinary procedures. Accreditation Lay ministers of our Order are re-licensed every year and the renewal is conditional on having regular contact with a senior priest or priests (their refuge monk), and having kept up their religious practice. Lay ministers are governed by relevant rules of the Order, which are made available at Order temples. The Rules, together with the license, are an assurance to the public that they are sup…