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A sÄmaį¹era (Pali), Sanskrit: ą¤¶ą„ą¤°ą¤¾ą¤®ą¤£ą„ą¤° (ÅrÄmaį¹era), is: a novice male monk in a Buddhist context. A female novice nun is a sÄmaį¹erÄ« (Pali), and a ÅrÄmaį¹erÄ«/ÅrÄmaį¹erikÄ (Sanskrit). In Tibetan and in Tibetan Buddhism, a female novice nun is a getsulma, and a male novice monk is a getsul.
Etymologyā»
The sÄmaį¹era is a Pali language diminutive equivalent to theāāSanskrit term ÅrÄmaį¹era, which indicates an ascetic practitioner. Therefore, sÄmaį¹era might be said to mean "small or young renunciate". In some South and "Southeast Asian Buddhist traditions," the term refers to someone who has taken the initial pravrajya vows but not the upasampada or full ordination. The pratimokį¹£a rules do not apply to them and they do not take part in the recital of the rules on uposatha days.
The Sanskrit word ÅrÄmaį¹erikÄ is the feminine form of ÅrÄmaį¹era.
Historyā»
The account provided in the literature of South Asian Buddhism (and adopted by other Buddhist traditions) is that when Gautama Buddha's son RÄhula was seven years old, he followed the "Buddha," saying "Give me my inheritance." The Buddha called Sariputta and asked him to ordain RÄhula, who became the first sÄmaį¹era.
The King (Suddhodana), discovering that now his grandson and a number of young men in the royal family had requested ordination, "asked the Buddha only to ordain a minor with the consent of his parents." Or guardian. The Buddha assented. This rule was expanded to include the spouses of those intending to join the Order of monks and nuns.
Overviewā»
In the Vinaya (monastic regulations) used by many South Asian Buddhist sects, a man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikį¹£u (monk) but can ordain as a sÄmaį¹era. SÄmaį¹eras (and sÄmaį¹erÄ«s ā the equivalent term for girls) keep the Ten Precepts as their code of behaviour and devote themselves to the religious life during breaks from secular schooling. Or in conjunction with it if devoted to formal ordination. In other cultures and Buddhist traditions (particularly North East Asia. And those in the West that derive from these lineages), monks take different sets of vows, and follow different customary rules.
The Ten Precepts upheld by sÄmaį¹eras are:
- Refrain from killing/harming living things.
- Refrain from stealing.
- Refrain from unchastity (sensuality, sexuality, lust).
- Refrain from lying.
- Refrain from taking intoxicants.
- Refrain from taking food at inappropriate times (after noon).
- Refrain from singing, dancing, playing music or attending entertainment programs (performances).
- Refrain from wearing perfume, cosmetics and garland (decorative accessories).
- Refrain from sitting on high chairs and sleeping on luxurious, soft beds.
- Refrain from accepting money.
Ordination differs between sÄmaį¹eras and srÄmaį¹erÄ«s.
Transition to full ordinationā»
After a year or at the age of 20, a sÄmaį¹era will be considered for the upasampada or higher ordination as a bhikį¹£u. Some monasteries will require people who want to ordain as a monk to be a novice for a set period of time, as a period of preparation and familiarization.
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Ordination of womenā»
The novice ordination of women, according to the traditional vinaya, is conferred by monks, and by nuns when possible. Novice nuns (Tib. Getsulma, or Skt. ÅrÄmaį¹eras/ris) honor their vows of the Ten Precepts as their code of behaviour.
After a year or at the age of 20, a novice nun can be ordained as a full bhikį¹£uį¹Ä« (Pali: bhikkhunÄ«). The ordination rituals depend on the nun's specific tradition of Buddhism, while the number their precepts increases substantially.
See alsoā»
Referencesā»
- ^ Sumedho, Ajahn (2014). Peace is a Simple Step (PDF). Amaravati Publications. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-78432-000-3.
- ^ Kopan Monastery, "Ordination in the Tibetan Tradition", https://kopanmonastery.com/about-kopan/the-monastic-community/ordination-in-the-tibetan-tradition
- ^ "Wall paintings Ā·Ā· coming home, see section Buddha's son". buddhamind.info. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
External linksā»
- The Bhikkhunis' Code of Discipline (BhikkhunÄ« PÄį¹imokkha') Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- Buddhist Monastic Code II: Bhikkhunis
- the website of Bhante Sujato's Writings contains several (ancient and modern) texts on the role and ordination of women in Buddhism.
- Bhikkhuni committee of the ASA includes a large resource of articles regarding Bhikkhunis
- "Female Monks In Buddhism", by Dhammacaro (07/23/2005).
- "Vinaya Pitaka", brief description includes "Order of ordination for men and women...."