Why did some of the Buddha’s followers become monks or nuns?

Followers of the Buddha chose to become monks or nuns primarily to renounce worldly life and dedicate themselves to a spiritual quest. By forsaking the life of a householder and the associated involvement in worldly affairs, these individuals sought a path of belief and practice that would provide a meaningful explanation of life and offer salvation.123

Those who decided to "go forth" from the household joined the sangha, the monastic community, to meditate and apply the Buddha’s teachings to their daily lives. This commitment involved:34

• Spiritual Focus: Living a life of poverty, nonattachment to the material world, and strict celibacy to focus on the dharma.53
• Community and Teaching: Wandering with the Buddha to listen to his teachings and, in turn, teaching the way of religious righteousness to others.13
• Discipline: Adhering to specific monastic codes (vinaya) that regulated daily conduct and fostered a sense of community and purpose.153

While the majority of the Buddha’s followers remained in lay life, those who entered the order did so to pursue the path of enlightenment under his guidance.4