I know I am only young but I feel my heart is telling me to become a nun. I find myself sitting at class and I just feel like, "what am I doing here when I should be doing what is important? I do not desire knowledge. In a couple of years it will not even be relevant to me" I don't need to be there, but I am because that has been what my siblings did, so as if just to follow on the norm, I continue. Yet it just feels so wrong. My mum and dad say I need my qualifications (Alevels) etc for a good job but I just want to become a nun, if not a nun a traveller, or doing something to help people, neither of which need qualifications for, I know they will disapprove if I drop out or something, but it's not my heart to stay. I know I know nothing truly. I don't know where to go to recieve guidance, I don't know anyone who can help me along on my spiritual path but I want to get into some serious studying and meditating, I have read books on buddhist nuns and I find myself belonging. The question may be strange but I really felt the need to talk to someone about it so I thought this forum would be a good start... What do I do?
First, I would not suggest dropping out of school. You only have a few more years? I don't know how many in the UK, but in the US two. You have the capacity to live another 70 - 80 years after that. Invest two years now for your future 80. School is not designed to primarily teach you facts. Even though it does an awlful lot of it and even though most people don't know this, even many of your teachers. School is training you to survive in your culture (be on time, finish your work, learn responsiblitiy, get along and communicate with others, etc.) Also it is training your mind to think. Sentence construction, memorization, the arts, etc. are all developing connections in your brain. All these activities are building pathways for your brain to communicate with itself. This leads to a greater intellegence. Don't worry that the content of the teaching is out of date, what do you think the future will be like? You must learn to learn as anything you learn today may be outdated tommorrow. Second, you don't have to join an organized religon to be religious. You don't have to be a nun to partake of all of the spiritual benifits of any organized religon. All religons have paths for the spiritual development of lay members. If you want to help people, would you not be in a better position to help others if you have helped yourself by developing your mind to its full capacity?
and if you wish to tak ethe three refuges, you can still do it with a degree, or even a uni degree... lay persons can certainly participate in buddhist community... and one can begin to walk in the footsteps of the buddha alone or in a great company...
Well, I disagree that school is the end-all of learning. You can learn in other places than school, you just learn different (often more useful) things. Hands on knowledge is better than book knowledge any day if you ask me. That said, I'd suggest you remain in school for your remining few years. I don't know the age when you'll be legally an adult in the UK, but wait at least until then, because your family might not agree to let you drop out and while you live in their house, it's their rules. At least that's how it works in my house. Also, you may later decide that you want to pick a career in which you can do your service to society, and it'd be easier for you if you have your High School diploma. Otherwise, you'll have to wait to go to university while you finish up your high school.
I say you keep doing what you're doing. Maybe you could learn how to meditate. It seems like there might be an aweful lot of people to help all around you...if you become a nun, how could you help these people. We need more people that care about the things you do...but we need them to stay right where they are and be catalysts to the change that is about to sweep our world
Completely agree Went through almost exactly the same at your age*. Not to be a nun (never had any religious affiliation till recently) but to join a commune and be a hardcore hippy. I agree with Megain. Invest your time and energy now for the future, it's only a few months. Just keep your head down, jump through the hoops then you will be in a good position to carve out a future for yourself. For now nuture that calling and try to learn as much as possible about your chosen path. I'm assuming that is Buddhism; so hunt down your nearest monastery and/or talk to some experienced Buddhists. They can guide you. Good luck and blessings *Makes me sound really old, when I'm not (turn 19 on Friday) suppose age does bring wisdom.
