Velama Sutta (AN 9:20) 

“If one were to have a dwelling built and dedicated to the Community of the four directions, that would be more fruitful than… if one were to feed a community of monks headed by the Buddha.

“If one with a confident mind were to go to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha for refuge, that would be more fruitful than… if one were to have a dwelling built and dedicated to the Community of the four directions.

“If one with a confident mind were to undertake the training rules — refraining from taking life, refraining from taking what is not given, refraining from illicit sex, refraining from lying, refraining from distilled & fermented drinks that cause heedlessness — that would be more fruitful than… if one with a confident mind were to go to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha for refuge.

https://suttacentral.net/an9.20/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

The Buddha continued with the sermon by extolling the virtues of building a monastery or dwelling place for the monastic. We may then wonder, how does this verse tie in with the previously mentioned mendicant Sangha? Aren’t the monastic during Buddha’s time supposed to be without a fixed home?

The Buddhist monastery is a focal point for Buddhist practices. It allows a convenient place for laypeople to support the monks and nuns. In return, we can listen to Dharma and learn meditation. A monastery is also a final resting place for retired monks and nuns who are aged. On the other hand, younger monks and nuns are encouraged not to be attached to a permanent resident. They would travel to learn from various teachers or travel to spread the word of wisdom. During the rainy seasons, the monastics would retreat into the monastery to engage in intensive meditation. The usage of a monastery is meant to be a shared property. In that manner, monks may seek residence in a Buddhist monastery wherever they might be. There are rules about how the residency in a monastery is to be shared and how to manage the occupancy. Such a monastery is known as a dwelling place dedicated to the Community of the four directions

As a layperson, we will marvel at how the principle of the middle path is being applied here. We see how the monastics are trained to be mobile and not to establish any attachment to any particular community, village, town, or city. They travel and wander, they learn and teach. They can seek shelter when they are old or sick.

On the other hand, lay people can become very attached to a particular monk or nun. When they wander about and do not stay in a fixed location, we miss them. Every time they leave, we wonder if we will ever see them again. In that manner, we are supposed to treasure their advice and words. Because that is the only thing that they left behind in our minds.

Next, the Buddha said that it is better for us to take refuge in the Triple Gems than to build a dwelling place for his monks and nuns. This is because our confidence in the Triple Gems will cause us to follow the path towards liberation. To achieve that, we must first understand what are the Triple Gems and their significance. Taking refuge is not about attending a refuge-taking ceremony. It is a core practice that we have to do daily,

Then Buddha explained that it would be more fruitful to lead our life in accordance to Dharma. In other word, it is not enough to have confidence in the Triple Gems. It is more fruitful if we practice what The Buddha taught. As a layperson, that means we should life our life in accordance to the five precepts.

To be continued.do daily.

May all be well and hat is ippy.