A Buddhist Monk in Sri Lanka

A Bhikkhu (Pāli) or Bhiksu (Sanskrit) is a fully ordained male Buddhist monastic. Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone is the religious practice in which one Female monastics are called Bhikkhunis. A Bhikkhuni ( Bhikṣuṇī ( Sanskrit), Bhikkhuṇī ( Pāli) or 比丘尼 ( Chinese characters, ภิกษุณี Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis keep many precepts: they live by the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline, the basic rules of which are called the patimokkha. The Vinaya (a word in Pāli as well as in Sanskrit, with literal meaning 'leading out' 'education' 'discipline' is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist In Buddhism, the Patimokkha is the basic Theravada code of monastic discipline consisting of 227 rules for fully ordained monks ( Bhikkhus and 311 for nuns ( Bhikkhunis Their lifestyle is shaped so as to support their spiritual practice, to live a simple and meditative life, and attain Nirvana. In sramanic philosophy Nirvana (निर्वाण| Nirvāṇa; निब्बान Nibbāna; Prakrit: णिव्वाण

Introduction

Tibetan monks engaging in a traditional monastic debate. They employ stylized movements—hand claps, finger thrusts, and posture—to emphasize their points.

Bhiksu may be literally translated as "beggar" or more broadly as "one who lives by alms". In English translations of Buddhist literature, householder denotes a variety of terms A Shramana ( Sanskrit sa श्रमण śramaṇa, Pāli pi शमण samaṇa) is a wandering monk in certain Ascetic Ājīvika (also written Ajivika or Ajivaka) was an ancient philosophical and ascetic movement of the Indian subcontinent Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Ascetic redirects here You might also be looking for Acetic acid. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Alms or almsgiving exists in a number of religions In general it involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue It is philologically analysed in the Pāli commentary of Buddhaghosa as "the person who sees danger (in samsara or cycle of rebirth)" (Pāli = Bhayaṃ ikkhatīti: bhikkhu). Bhadantācariya Buddhaghosa was a 5th century Indian Theravadin Buddhist commentator and scholar He therefore seeks ordination in order to release from it. In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies The Dhammapada states:

Not therefore is he a bhikkhu
Merely because he begs from others. The Dhammapada ( Pāli; Prakrit: Dhamapada; Sanskrit Dharmapada; sometimes translated into English as Path of the
Not by adopting the outward form
Does one truly become a bhikkhu.
He who wholly subdues evil,
Both small and great,
Is called a monk (bhikkhu)
Because he has overcome all evil. Dhp 266, 267

A bhikkhu has taken a vow to enter the Sangha (Buddhist monastic community) and is expected to obey rules of conduct (typically around 227 for a male) as set out in the Vinaya, although there are considerable local variations in the interpretations of these rules. This article concerns the concept of Sangha in Buddhism. For information on other senses see Sangha (disambiguation. The Vinaya (a word in Pāli as well as in Sanskrit, with literal meaning 'leading out' 'education' 'discipline' is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist A novice monk or nun in the Tibetan tradition takes 36 vows of conduct. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including The minimum age to take bhikkhu vows is 21 years (although this varies from country to country).

In English literature prior to the mid-20th Century, Buddhist monks were often referred to by the term bonze, particularly when describing monks from East Asia and French Indochina. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States This term is derived via Portuguese and French from the Japanese word bonsō for a priest or monk, and has become less common in modern literature. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people ^[1]

Vows in Vajrayana Buddhism

Although the European terms "monk" and "nun" are applied also on Buddhism, the situation of 'ordination' is more complicated.

Monks and nuns

In Buddhism, monkhood is part of the system of "vows of individual liberation". These vows are taken by monks and nuns from the ordinary sangha, in order to develop personal ethical discipline. This article concerns the concept of Sangha in Buddhism. For information on other senses see Sangha (disambiguation. In Mahayana Buddhism, the term "sangha" is, in principle, restricted to those who have achieved certain levels of understanding. They are, therefore, called "community of the excellent ones" (Tib. <mchog kyi tshogs>). These, however, need not be monks and nuns (i. e. : hold such vows).

The vows of individual liberation are taken in four steps. A lay person may take the five vows called "approaching virtue" (in Tibetan genyen <dge snyan>). The next step is to enter the monastic way of life (Tib. rabjung <rab byung>) which includes wearing monk's or nun's robes. A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. A robe is distinguished from a Cape or Cloak by the fact that it usually has Sleeves The English After that, one can become a novice or samanera (Skt. For the city in Texas, see Novice Texas. Buddhism See also Buddhist Novitiate In many Buddhist In Buddhist context a samanera ( Pali: sāmaṇera, Sanskrit: śrāmaṇera) can be translated as novice monk shramanera, Tib. In Buddhist context a samanera ( Pali: sāmaṇera, Sanskrit: śrāmaṇera) can be translated as novice monk getshül <dge tshul>). The last and final step is to take all the vows of a "fully ordained monk" or gelong Tib. Gelongma (feminine term or Gelong (masculine term is the Tibetan word for a fully ordained monastic observing the entire Vinaya. (<dge long>). Gelongma (<dge long ma>) is the female term. Gelongma (feminine term or Gelong (masculine term is the Tibetan word for a fully ordained monastic observing the entire Vinaya. The translation from Sanskrit is bikshuni (female) or bikshu (male). A Bhikkhuni ( Bhikṣuṇī ( Sanskrit), Bhikkhuṇī ( Pāli) or 比丘尼 ( Chinese characters, ภิกษุณี A Bhikkhu ( Pāli) or Bhiksu ( Sanskrit) is a fully ordained male Buddhist Monastic. The Pali term is bhikkhuni (female) or bhikkhu (male), used in Theravada Buddhism (Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand). A Bhikkhuni ( Bhikṣuṇī ( Sanskrit), Bhikkhuṇī ( Pāli) or 比丘尼 ( Chinese characters, ภิกษุณี Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj

Monks and nuns take their vows for a lifetime, but they can "give them back" (up to three times in one life), a possibility which is actually used by many people. In this way, Buddhism keeps the vows "clean". It is possible to keep them or to leave this lifestyle, but it is considered extremely negative to break these vows.

In Tibet, usually small children from 6 onwards can take the rabjung ordination which is a child-specific approach to monastic life. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European At age 14, they usually take getshül ordination which includes more rules, and after age 21, many take the gelong ordination—or prefer to quit the monastic life.

Robes

Chinese monk lighting incense in Beijing temple.

The special dress of ordained people, the robes, comes from the idea of wearing cheap clothes just to protect the body from weather and climate. They shall not be made from one piece of cloth, but mended together from several pieces. Since dark red was the cheapest colour in Kashmir, the Tibetan tradition has red robes. In the south, yellow played the same role, though the color of saffron also had cultural associations in India; in East Asia, robes are yellow, grey or black. Saffron is a shade of golden Yellow resembling color of the tip of the saffron crocus thread from which the spice Saffron is derived India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

The robes of getshül novices and gelong monks differ in various aspects, especially in the application of "holes" in the gelong dress. Some monks tear their robes into pieces and then mend these pieces together again. The rabjung novices shall not wear the "chö-göö", the yellow tissue worn during Buddhist teachings by both getshüls and gelongs.

Tantric vows

A lay person (or a monk/nun) engaging in high tantric practices and achieving a certain level of realization will be called a yogi (female "yogini", in Tibetan naljorpa/naljorma <rnal hbyor pa/ma>). The yogis (monks or lay) observe another set of vows, the tantric vows (together with the bodhisattva vows); therefore, a yogi/yogini may also dress in a special way, so that they are sometimes called the "white sangha" (due to their often white or red/white clothes).

Both ways, tantric and monastic are not mutually exclusive because they psychologically act in different ways; both are ascetic. The ordination of monks and nuns is a safe way and give a good example to the people. The tantric path is often misunderstood in the west as something unascetic, but this is clearly an error in perception; although "unorthodox" in appearance, tantric yogi(ni)s keep very strict ethical rules.

Other vows

There are still other methods of taking vows in Buddhism. Most importantly, "Bodhisattva vows" are to be taken by all followers of Mahayana Buddhism; these vows develop an altruistic attitude. Another "centering of self" method is taking strict one-day vows which are somewhat similar to monk's/nun's vows ("Mahayana precepts"), but last only from one sunrise to another sunrise.

Conclusion

"Ordination" in Buddhism is a cluster of methods of self-discipline according to the needs, possibilities and capabilities of individuals. According to the spiritual development of his followers, the Buddha gave different levels of vows. The most advanced method is the state of a bikshu(ni), a fully ordained follower of the Buddha's teachings. The goal of the bhikku(ni) in all traditions is to achieve liberation from suffering.

Beside that, the Mahayanist approach requires bodhisattva vows, and the tantric method requires tantric vows. Since some people are not attracted to monk/nun ordination, all other vows can be taken separately. On the other hand, it is said that one cannot achieve the goal without taking the vows of individual liberation—i. e. , comply with the ethical disciple inscribed in these vows.

Literature

Inwood, Kristiaan. Bhikkhu: Disciple of the Buddha. Bangkok: Thai Watana Panich, 1981. (No ISBN listed in the Library of Congress catalog. The Library of Congress is the De facto National library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress )

See also

• Buddhism
• Monk
• Sangha
• Unsui
• World Buddhist Sangha Council