Samanera

In Buddhist context, a samanera (Pali, Sanskrit: śrāmaṇera) can be translated as novice monk. It literally means 'small samana', or small renunciate, where 'small' has the meaning of boy or girl. In the Vinaya (monastic discipline), a man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikkhu, but can ordain as a samanera. The female counterpart of the samanera is the samaneri. Samaneras and samaneris keep the ten precepts as their code of behaviour, and are devoted to the Buddhist religious life.

After a year or at the age of 20, a samanera will be considered for the higher Bhikkhu or Bhikkhuni ordination (Pali: upasampada). 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.

The issue of ordination is different for samaneras and samaneris; the rules governing higher ordination are different for samaneras and samaneris.

The female form is samaneri, a novice nun who lives according to the ten precepts. M A young woman is to be ordained, according to Theravada tradition, by both a monk and a nun, first as a samaneri. Then, after a year or at the age of 20, she will be ordained as a full bhikkhuni. The Theravada vinaya has 311 rules of discipline for bhikkhunis. Within Chinese society, as an example, members of the Sangha are expected to renounce family connections and accept the Sangha as their family.

See also

• Ordination
• Sangha#Ordination process
• Sikkhamana
• anagarika (pre-ordaination)
• Buddhism
• Nuns
• International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha
• Sangha
• World Buddhist Sangha Council

External links

• The Bhikkhunis' Code of Discipline (Bhikkhuni Patimokkha) Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
• Buddhist Monastic Code II: Bhikkhunis
• the website of Santi Forest Monastery 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
• Monastic Resources - Training
• "Female Monks In Buddhism", by Dhammacaro (07/23/2005).
• "Vinaya Pitaka", brief description includes "Order of ordination for men and women...."