How does a teacher assess and decide if one is suitable for ordination?
In fact getting the robes and bowl is not so much a problem for once the candidate is accepted by a preceptor, the preceptor will know where suitable requisites may be found. The question should be more about the qualities necessary to become a monk and I have explained some of these in the section on Becoming a Bhikkhu. If the candidate’s intention is right and he is not disqualified by other factors, he should find a senior monk who can advise him on the places where he might ordain and perhaps recommend him to a preceptor. If the candidate lives in a non-Buddhist country, he can write for details to the country where he is interested in staying. Bhikkhus are often travelling and giving Dharma talks around the world and they would generally be very happy to make suggestions about this. In certain communities there is a ‘postulancy’ period when the candidate first wears white robes as an anagarika and after a year (or two) may then be given either novice (saama.nera) or full bhikkhu o
