Ordination line
In Buddhism, the origin (derivation) of the Buddhist monk consecration is regarded as the ordination line (Pâli: Nikâya) or transmission line . All ordination lines can be traced back to Siddhartha Gautama (Gotama Buddha), who, after his enlightenment, accepted the first disciples as bhikkhus , ie as "wandering monks".
The Buddhist monk ordination was precisely prescribed by religious rules in the first centuries. Only with the division of the Buddhist order and the associated diversification into different Buddhist traditions ( Mahayana and Hinayana ) did ordination lines emerge, which differed depending on the country of origin and the view of teaching.
The preoccupation with the legitimacy of the ordination line in all Buddhist countries always played an extremely important role. There are also multiple ordinations, as some Buddhists wanted to make sure that they were in the direct line of the Buddha's Dharma heirs (e.g. Shōmu and Mongkut ). In addition, many monks studied with different masters. Some lines of transmission appear to be much smoothed and reconstructed compared to historical reality (e.g. in Zen ). Ordination lines were used within the temple networks and schools to delimit each other.
Theravada
In the meantime, even in the countries of Theravada Buddhism, there are different "monk capitals" that differ from one another in terms of their ordination. The differences between the individual ordination lines mostly concern the caste membership of the apprentice monks or the rigor with which the rules of the order ( vinaya ) are observed and practiced.
There are currently three major ordination lines in Sri Lanka :
The first ordination line (Siam Nikaya) was initiated in Thailand (called Siam at the time). In order to strengthen the Buddhist monastic order in Sri Lanka after the turmoil of the colonial times , a number of Sinhalese received their ordination in Thailand and thus preserved the "purity" of the ordination line, which could then be continued in Sri Lanka. Similar “resumption” of ordination orders had taken place throughout the Asian Middle Ages.
The second line of ordination appeared a few decades later in the form of a protest movement, as the Sayam Nikaya ordained primarily monks from higher castes.
The youngest ordination line, the Ramanna Nikaya, was founded in the 1950s as a reform movement. The institutions and monasteries of this ordination line are generally considered to be stricter and more meditative .
See also
Web links
- www.metta.lk Overview of the ordination line in Sri Lanka