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Anonymous
Some help from a Western Buddhist.
There are two major schools: Theravada & Mahayana. Mahayana is what you usually see on TV depictions of Buddhism and by far the more popular of the two. It's more spiritual and metaphysical, and includes things like Tibetan (Dalai Lama), Shingon & Zen (Japanese), Nichiren (Throat Singing) subtypes. It's practiced in China, Korea, & Japan. Theravada (what I am) is more intellectually based, and focuses more on analyzing experience. It's not as 'fun' as Mahayana, but it's more compatible with my atheist pragmatic beliefs. It's constituency is in Southern & Eastern Asia.
If you want to become a Buddhist monk, you should contact a major temple or meditation center within driving distance and speak to them. They'll probably tell you to practice as a layperson for a while and see if the lifestyle is compatible, but probably have the ability to set you up at a temple or monastery somewhere, or at least point you in the direction of someone who can. There are also monasteries all over the Western World, so you could in theory stay over here and become a Bhikkhu (monk).
I understand what you're trying to do: escape, but Buddhism is a very practical religion. In fact, the tenets of Buddhism are essentially practicality personified, so in keeping with Right Intent and Right Action (part of the Eightfold Path [which is analogous to the ten commandments kind of]), you'll probably find yourself wanting to figure it out before you leave anyways, if Buddhist philosophy really is for you.
Hope this helps a little bit.
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