What’s the difference between renunciation and being a layman? Seldom praising  monks and nuns, Supreme Master Ching Hai explained in details the difference between being a renunciant and layman on one rare occasion.  She pointed out that for a monk/nun to follow Master is like a marriage,, while for a layman to follow Master is like being in love. There’s a difference between marriage and being in  love . Marriage includes  love , but being in love  does not necessarily include the marriage. In a love affair, people do their own things separately, they get  together as they wish, but do other things while they are not together, thus there is  less responsibility. In a marriage, people share happiness, suffering, and also  responsibility.

Renunciants  follow Master to share joys and sorrows of life. Most of them have already renounced  the world at entering the monkhood , and wanted follow Master absolutely. No matter what level they will achieve, the spirit of sacrifice existed already, and they were prepared to  share any joys and sorrows for  Master. That determination is different, and it’s very important. Layman have less sharing spirit like that. So, don’t think a renunciant and layman are  the same. Renunciants understand not to rely on outer happiness. They are already beyond the level of “less need”, so  they can become renunciants and follow only Master every day.