"There are two kinds of monks: monks by appearance and monks by practice. Monks by appearance are just those who wear the robes. In Pâli, monks are called "Samaòa". In Myanmar, you get the meaning, "One who has extinguished the kilesâs (defilements)". If one does not practice sîla (morality), samâdhi (concentration), and panña (wisdom), which cause the extinction of the kilesâs, the kilesâs are not extinguished. If the kilesâs are not extinguished, one doesn't get to experience the happiness which comes from that extinction. Only if one does the practices which cause the extinction of the kilesâs is one said to be a practicing monk."

"One can't be called a good soldier just for wearing a military uniform and going to the front line. Only if one fights to overcome the enemy can one be called a good soldier. In the very same way, a monk cannot be called a good monk just for wearing the robes and coming to the battlefield, the meditation center. Only if one actually does battle to overcome the kilesa-enemies can one be called a good monk."

"Those who become monks must have relinquished the sensual pleasures they enjoyed. If one does not do the monastic practice, one forfeits the monastic happiness, extinction of kilesâs. Thus, to prevent this, one has to practice the monastic practices of sîla, samâdhi, and panña." That is the counsel Sayadaw has the habit of giving in the ordination hall to new monks after they have taken robes.

Some take robes as temporary monks or temporary novices. Those who wear rosaries around the hand, wear them around the hand and those who wear them around the neck, wear them around the neck and with the robes all disheveled, go into the town or the village without wearing the robes in the formal manner. They handle money and buy whatever it is that they want to eat. As for temporary novices, they often continue to run around and make mischief. Saying it's just to keep them happy, their parents even give the temporary novices money to pacify them.

Some temporary monks and temporary novices take robes on an astrologer's advice. It is said that some take robes in order to gain wholesome kamma, because their kamma is bad. Some take robes in order to gain wholesome kamma to be successful in business or rise in their career. Some take robes because their parents or grandparents want to see their little son or grandson as monks before they die.

Thinking, "Freeing you once, I am freed ten times", people save the lives of others. Aiming not for others' happiness but performing actions intended only for one's own happiness, one does not gain merit. You have to focus on wanting another to be happy. Only then do you advance nobly. Some parents and grandparents even say that once they've seen their little grandson or son in robes, when they have to die, they'll die happy. These parents and grandparents only try to get their children to take the robes because they are concerned with their own happiness in death. They are just looking out

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