Upasampada
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Upasampadā (Pali) literally means "approaching or nearing the ascetic tradition." In more common parlance it specifically refers to the rite of ordination by which one undertakes the Buddhist monastic life.[1]
According to Buddhist monastic codes (Vinaya), a person must be 20 years old in order to become a monk or nun. A person under the age of 20 years cannot undertake upasampada (i.e., become a monk (bhikkhu) or nun (bhikkhuni)), but can become a novice (m. samanera, f. samaneri). (To see how a person sets out to gain upasampada, see pabbajja or "adopting the condition of mendicancy.") After a year or at the age of 20, a novice will be considered for the upasampada.[2]
Certain organizations may require a person to practice in a semi-renounced state for a set period of time for the sake of preparation and cultural familiarization.
The strictures surrounding upasampada are different for samaneras and samaneris.
Traditionally, the upasampada ritual is performed within a well demarcated and consecrated area called sima (sima malaka) and needs to be attended by a specified number of monks - "ten or even five in a remoter area".[3]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 147, entry: "Upasampadā", (retrieved 26 Sep 2007).
- ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica (2007).
- ↑ Peter Skilling, How Buddhism invented Asia, 2 April 2009. Peter Skilling interviewed by Phillip Adams. Online audio recording
Source
- Encyclopædia Britannica (2007). Retrieved 26 Sept 2007 from "Encyclopædia Britannica Online"; "Upasampada"
- Rhys Davids, T.W. Stede, William (1921-1925). The Pali Text Society's Pali-English dictionary. Chipstead, London: Pali Text Society.
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