Anāgārika / Anagāriya (Oblate)

Oblates are individuals, either laypersons or clergy, normally living in general society, who, while not professed monks or nuns, have individually affiliated themselves with a monastic community of their choice. They make a formal, public promise to follow the Rule of the Order in their private life as closely as their individual circumstances and prior commitments permit. Such oblates do not constitute a separate religious order as such, but are considered an extended part of the monastic community. Oblates often feel a calling to work directly in ministry with the marginalized, the poor, the sick, the dying, the bereaved, the hungry and the imprisoned. Oblates may work in dharma centers, temples, or other Buddhist organizations, where they provide basic instruction and organization in between visits by teachers or monastics. They are not considered teachers, but are senior students who help to run the center and lead group practices, along with both providing pastoral care to and officiating ceremonies for their congregants. Their primary purpose would be to serve anyone who comes to them, regardless of their religion or lack thereof. In this sense, they would be like any other interfaith minister, though they could serve a dual role as both an interfaith and a Buddhist minister. Because of their status between monk and layperson, Oblates wear gray clothes or robes and a green yungesa as part of Lotus Heart Zen.

Ansok Devadipa -- bio forthcoming
Anwan Devadipa -- bio forthcoming