Śrāmaṇera

Śrāmaṇeras from the tradition of Korean Buddhism

A śrāmaṇera (P. sāmaṇera; T. dge tshul དགེ་ཚུལ་; C. shami) is a novice monk (bhikṣu) in the Buddhist tradition. A female novitiate is called a śrāmaṇerī or śrāmaṇerikā (P. sāmaṇerī). The novice monastic (monk or nun) is a preliminary stage before becoming a fully ordained monastic.

According to tradition, Gautama Buddha's son Rāhula became the first śrāmaṇera when he was seven years old, at the request of the Buddha.

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".

Precepts

Ten precepts

Novice monastics in the Theravada tradition follow a set of ten precepts:

1. Refrain from killing living things.
2. Refrain from stealing.
3. Refrain from unchastity (sensuality, sexuality, lust).
4. Refrain from lying.
5. Refrain from taking intoxicants.
6. Refrain from taking food at inappropriate times (after noon).
7. Refrain from singing, dancing, playing music or attending entertainment programs (performances).
8. Refrain from wearing perfume, cosmetics and garland (decorative accessories).
9. Refrain from sitting on high chairs and sleeping on luxurious, soft beds.
10. Refrain from accepting money.

Thirty-six precepts

In the Mūlasarvāstivāda vinaya, which is observed by novice monks in the Tibetan tradition, there are thirty-six precepts.

External links

• The Bhikkhunis' Code of Discipline (Bhikkhuni Patimokkha) Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
• "Female Monks In Buddhism", by Dhammacaro (07/23/2005).
• "Vinaya Pitaka", brief description includes "Order of ordination for men and women...."