Śrāmaṇerī

A young Buddhist nun in Thailand

Buddhist nuns in Ban Pha Cuk, Thailand

A śrāmaṇerī (Sanskrit; Pāli: sāmaṇerī; traditional Chinese: 沙彌尼; ; pinyin: Shāmíní) is a novice nun in the Buddhist tradition. Male novice monks are called śrāmaṇeras.

Etymology

The word śrāmaṇerī is the feminine form of śrāmaṇera, which literally means "lesser śramaṇa".

Overview

Main article: Ordination of women in Buddhism

A woman is to be ordained, according to the traditional vinayas, by both a monk and a nun, first as a śrāmaṇerī. Śrāmaṇeras and śrāmaṇerīs keep the Ten Precepts as their code of behaviour, and are devoted to the Buddhist religious life during a break from secular schooling, or in conjunction with it if devoted to formal ordination.

The Ten Precepts upheld by śrāmaṇerīs are:

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 garlands (decorative accessories).
9. Refrain from sitting on high chairs and sleeping on luxurious, soft beds.
10. Refrain from accepting money.

After a year or at the age of 20, she will be ordained as a full bhikṣuṇī (Pali: bhikkhuni).

See also

• Anagarika, a person preparing for ordination
• International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha
• Maechi
• Nun
• Sangha#Ordination process
• 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 Bhante Sujato's Writings 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...."