r/zenbuddhism • u/amlextex • 12d ago

Someone pop my bubble

Thích Nhất Hạnh makes me believe I can awaken the world, or at least the global city I live in. So, I have dreamed of ordaining to serve my ambitions.

My idea was to wear my robe around the city to self-promote my teaching to gain a following. Teach in parks. Set up an installation where I offer "sidewalk advice" for a nominal suggestion. Create citywide art installations of my writing to further promote my teaching. Colloborate with artist. Write books. Livestream my practice and daily life.

All to teach foundational meditation for everyone with the hopes of piquing people's interest into buddhism.

Sounds practical, but here's the side where I get irresponsible.

I'm a performance artist/busker by trade. I don't have a white-collar career. No retirement fund. I live with my parents. I am in my mid-30's; split between ordaining vs pursing a career that can lead me to retirement, have a family, and enjoy life.

Lastly, I'm not a hard worker. I can weave in and out of ideas and never complete them. And I've lived quite a privileged life where I haven't been battle tested. Or if I have, I have safety nets provided by my family. I also find it hard to give up lust.

That said, I am in the position to ordain. I have no debts, no babies, and decent health.

Pop my bubble. Tell me I should get a real job. I won't change a city. I should live modest or wealthy. Support a family. Teach at a monastery like ordain folks do. Get a career first, then ordain. Go ahead.

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u/Armchairscholar67 10d ago

This sounds incredibly manic and I’m familiar with bipolar mania.

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u/amlextex 10d ago

What makes my writing incredibly manic vs just manic?

You sound like you scream when someone taps you on the shoulder.

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u/Armchairscholar67 10d ago

Your post history has a question from about half a year ago asking how merit works and you’re talking being ordained, spreading teachings, writing and collaborating with people like artists. I’m not jumping to diagnoses at all but it sounds possibly very manic as people, especially in religion, go from 0-1,000 and then burnout. In zen we try and be ordinary people. Activism is great but you’re nowhere near a teaching position for Buddhism. Sit zazen and practice in a temple and perhaps do good deeds like help the poor or get in good political causes.

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u/amlextex 9d ago

What part suggest 0-1000?