Let’s imagine you have a choice: take a pill that extends your life by six months or give it to a stranger who will gain five extra years. Which would you choose? This question was asked to various groups including Tibetan Buddhist monks, non-religious Americans, American Christians, ordinary Buddhists in Bhutan, and Hindus in India.
One might expect Buddhist monks to be the most generous, but surprisingly, they were the least likely to give the pill to a stranger. This finding was part of a study examining whether the Buddhist concept of a fluid self affects fear of death. Interestingly, while this teaching might suggest less attachment to life, it appeared to make the monks more fearful of death and less willing to sacrifice their own life extension for the benefit of others.
These monks were novices, not long-term practitioners, but still, they showed less generosity than average Buddhists with less formal practice. This led to a curious question: does the monastic lifestyle attract more self-centered individuals, or does it encourage selfishness due to the status it confers?
In another part of the Buddhist world, Western monk Sravasti Dhammika noted that excessive veneration of monks can lead to complacency and pride. Some monks in Myanmar and Sri Lanka have even supported violence and genocide, highlighting a troubling side of monastic life.
This study is both fascinating and disturbing. One of my friends on social media pointed out that becoming a monk doesn’t necessarily make one a better person and might, in some ways, make a person less ethical. Personally, I’d struggle with the guilt of living for six more months at the cost of depriving someone else of five additional years.
There have been moments when my own practice made me more selfish, sometimes justifying neglect or unkindness by hiding behind the notion of “non-attachment.” The main takeaway from this study for me is the importance of continually checking to ensure I’m being kind.
I shared my thoughts with one of the study’s leaders, suggesting that the unsettling change in social connections for novice monks might provoke anxiety, overshadowing their generosity. They clarified that the study included both novices and fully ordained monks and found no significant differences based on the length of time in robes or age.
There’s possibly an ideal of perfectibility pursued in monastic life that ironically fuels self-centered thinking instead of transcending it. The expectation might be that months of meditation and practice can benefit humanity more than years in less impactful roles. However, this study specifically asked participants to consider a person similar to themselves, eliminating that disparity.
Humans, regardless of their lifestyle, have both admirable and flawed qualities. Those drawn to monastic life might often be people grappling with their own suffering, not always driven by a pure intention to help others. Even in typical Buddhist countries, being a monk isn’t necessarily a choice motivated by altruism; cultural expectations can play a significant role.
In conclusion, becoming a monk doesn’t automatically lead to greater generosity or ethical behavior. This study serves as a reminder to question our motives and maintain kindness in our actions.