How monastery benefit the country?

In Nepal most of the monasteries are of the Himalayan vajrayana (lama) Buddhist lineage, we also have Theravada and typical vajrayana sects. The Himalayan vajrayana Buddhist monk and nuns are fully involved in social work. Since the early 1990s most of them became involved with projects to help the poor of this country. One of the main ways that monasteries benefit this country is by helping provide a better way of life for many that they would not have otherwise. This is a benefit for these individuals, their families and for the whole country.

Our country has large monastic populations and most of the monks and nuns are of Himalayan origin. They come from remote areas of Nepal, which shares a border with Tibet.

These regions have had very little access to quality education, health care or nutrition. Most of them have no schools at all. This is due to the negligence of the government. The monasteries have been instrumental in giving those people a chance for a better life.

The monasteries have taken in many thousands of young people from these remote regions and Kathmandu itself. It is quite common for the parents of the monastic's to give one or more of their children to the monasteries for a religious education. It is probably fair to say that these children have a better life in the monasteries and that it benefits them their whole life to be educated and receive health care and have better nutrition. Even if they do not remain as a monk or nun their whole life they will have benefited greatly from the monastery discipline and having religious base.

This in itself is the best example of social welfare, as Buddhist monasteries are not only contributing to the well being of Nepali people, their daily prayers contribute to the welfare of everyone in the world.

Many monasteries these days give their monastics a secular education in addition to their religious education. Many are following in the Nepal department of education curriculum even up to the school graduation certificate. They are learning computer skill, English language etc.

Mostly coming from very deprived villages, all the benefits these young people receive in monastery life seem to produce a very well rounded and useful person. If a monk or nun leaves their monastery, they are in good position to help their families and communities by teaching school or working in the now established medical clinics. Having an education enables them as well to get better jobs to provide for their families or teach more skillful ways to develop their village such as better method of agriculture.