A sāmaṇera (Pali), Sanskrit: श्रामणेर (śrāmaṇera), is a novice male monastic in a Buddhist context.[1] A female novice is a śrāmaṇerī or śrāmaṇerikā (Sanskrit; Pāli: sāmaṇerī).
Sāmaṇeras in ThailandSāmaṇeras from the tradition of Korean Buddhism
The sāmaṇera is a Pali language diminutive equivalent to the Sanskrit term śrāmaṇera, which indicates an ascetic practitioner. Therefore, sāmaṇera 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 pratimokṣa rules do not apply to them and they do not take part in the recital of the rules on uposatha days.
The Sanskrit word śrāmaṇerikā is the feminine form of śrāmaṇera.
Historyedit
The account provided in the literature of South Asian Buddhism (and adopted by other Buddhist sects) is that when Gautama Buddha's son Rāhula was seven years old, he followed the Buddha, saying "Give me my inheritance." The Buddha called Sariputta and asked him to ordain Rāhula, who became the first sāmaṇera.
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.[2]
In the Vinaya (monastic regulations) used by many South Asian Buddhist sects, a man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikṣu (monk) but can ordain as a sāmaṇera. Sāmaṇeras (and sāmaṇerīs – 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 sāmaṇeras 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 sāmaṇeras and srāmaṇerīs.
Transition to full ordinationedit
After a year or at the age of 20, a sāmaṇera will be considered for the upasampada or higher ordination as a bhikṣu. 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.
A woman is to be ordained, according to the traditional vinayas, by both a monk and a nun, first as a śrāmaṇerī. Śrāmaṇeras and śrāmaṇerīs keep the Ten Precepts as their code of behaviour, and are devoted to the Buddhist religious life during a break from secular schooling, or in conjunction with it if devoted to formal ordination.
After a year or at the age of 20, she will be ordained as a full bhikṣuṇī (Pali: bhikkhunī).
The Bhikkhunis' Code of Discipline (Bhikkhunī Pāṭimokkha') Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
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
, by Dhammacaro (07/23/2005).
"Vinaya Pitaka", brief description includes "Order of ordination for men and women...."
December 04, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Samanera news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message A samaṇera Pali Sanskrit श र मण र sramaṇera is a novice male monastic in a Buddhist context 1 A female novice is a sramaṇeri or sramaṇerika Sanskrit Pali samaṇeri Samaṇeras in ThailandSamaṇeras from the tradition of Korean Buddhism Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Overview 4 Transition to full ordination 5 Ordination of women 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEtymology editThe samaṇera is a Pali language diminutive equivalent to the Sanskrit term sramaṇera which indicates an ascetic practitioner Therefore samaṇera 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 pratimokṣa rules do not apply to them and they do not take part in the recital of the rules on uposatha days The Sanskrit word sramaṇerika is the feminine form of sramaṇera History editThe account provided in the literature of South Asian Buddhism and adopted by other Buddhist sects is that when Gautama Buddha s son Rahula was seven years old he followed the Buddha saying Give me my inheritance The Buddha called Sariputta and asked him to ordain Rahula who became the first samaṇera 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 2 Overview editMain article Vinaya nbsp Thai novices sweeping temple groundsIn the Vinaya monastic regulations used by many South Asian Buddhist sects a man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikṣu monk but can ordain as a samaṇera Samaṇeras and samaṇeris 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 samaṇeras 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 samaṇeras and sramaṇeris Transition to full ordination editAfter a year or at the age of 20 a samaṇera will be considered for the upasampada or higher ordination as a bhikṣu 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 Ordination of women editMain article Bhikkhuni A woman is to be ordained according to the traditional vinayas by both a monk and a nun first as a sramaṇeri Sramaṇeras and sramaṇeris keep the Ten Precepts as their code of behaviour and are devoted to the Buddhist religious life during a break from secular schooling or in conjunction with it if devoted to formal ordination After a year or at the age of 20 she will be ordained as a full bhikṣuṇi Pali bhikkhuni See also editAnagarika International Congress on Buddhist Women s Role in the Sangha Maechi Nun World Buddhist Sangha Council Ordination Sangha Poy Sang Long Shinbyu Sikṣamaṇa UnsuiReferences edit Sumedho Ajahn 2014 Peace is a Simple Step PDF Amaravati Publications p 36 ISBN 978 1 78432 000 3 Wall paintings coming home see section Buddha s son buddhamind info Retrieved 2013 11 06 External links editThe Bhikkhunis Code of Discipline Bhikkhuni Paṭimokkha 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Samanera amp oldid 1149584921, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
