Path: shell.portal.com!svc.portal.com!sdd.hp.com!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!newsfeed.acns.nwu.edu!news.acns.nwu.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!jneatrou
From: jneatrou@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (John Neatrour)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.buddhism
Subject: Re: Monks and priests
Date: 15 Nov 1995 21:22:11 GMT
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston IL
Lines: 14
Message-ID: <48dlm3$njs@news.acns.nwu.edu>
References: <48aicr$qd3@knot.queensu.ca> <48b883$do3@ixnews3.ix.netcom.com> <48dgs8$cb6@knot.queensu.ca>
NNTP-Posting-Host: casbah.acns.nwu.edu

In article <48dgs8$cb6@knot.queensu.ca>,
Kocks Mika I <3mik@qlink.queensu.ca> wrote:
>	Oops, should have made my question a bit clearer.  I'm not so 
>concerned about the differences between monks and priests.  I just want 
>to know what they are.  For example, is a monk somebody who's taken vows 
>to save all sentient beings?  Someone who isolates himself in a 
>monastery?  What?

in Japanese lineage Zen there is no difference period. the ordination service
and vows are identical. at the beginning of the Meiji era the government of
Japan strongly encouraged the abandonment of celibacy and encouraged clergy
to marry. the difference is a matter of lifestyle choice only. the word osho
applies equally to both.