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{{Short description|Buddhist ordained novices}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2013}}
[[File:Novices meditating.jpg|thumb|[[Theravadan]] Sāmaṇeras in [[Thailand]]]]
[[File:Chogye Buddhist monks.jpg|thumb|Sāmaṇeras from the tradition of [[Korean Buddhism]]]]
A '''{{lang|pi-latn|sāmaṇera|italic=no}}''' ([[Pali]]; {{langx|sa|श्रामणेर|translit=śrāmaṇera}}), is a novice male monk in a [[Buddhist]] context.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sumedho|first=Ajahn|author-link=Ajahn Sumedho|title=Peace is a Simple Step|url=https://www.abhayagiri.org/media/books/Ajahn%20Sumedho%20Volume%201%20-%20Peace%20is%20a%20Simple%20Step.pdf|publisher=Amaravati Publications|year=2014|page=36|isbn=978-1-78432-000-3}}</ref> A female novice nun is in {{langx|pi-latn|sāmaṇerī}}, and in {{langx|sa-latn|śrāmaṇerī}} or {{lang|sa-latn|śrāmaṇerikā}}. In [[Tibetan Buddhism]], a female novice nun is known by the [[Lhasa Tibetan|Tibetan language]] term {{lang|bo-latn|getsulma}}, and a male novice monk is a {{lang|bo-latn|getsul}}.<ref> [https://kopanmonastery.com/about-kopan/the-monastic-community/ordination-in-the-tibetan-tradition "Ordination in the Tibetan Tradition"]. ''Kopan Monastery''.</ref>
== Etymology ==
The {{lang|pi-latn|sāmaṇera}} is a Pali language diminutive equivalent to the Sanskrit term {{lang|sa-latn|śrāmaṇera}}, which indicates an [[asceticism|ascetic practitioner]]. Therefore, {{lang|pi-latn|sāmaṇera}} might be said to mean "small or young renunciate (ascetic)". In some South and Southeast Asian Buddhist traditions, the term refers to someone who has taken the initial [[pravrajya]] vows but not the [[upasampada]] or full ordination. The [[pratimokṣa]] rules do not apply to them and they do not take part in the recital of the rules on [[uposatha]] days.
The Sanskrit word {{lang|sa-latn|śrāmaṇerikā}} is the feminine form of {{langx|sa-latn|śrāmaṇera}}.
== History ==
The account provided in the literature of South Asian Buddhism (and adopted by other Buddhist traditions) is that when [[Gautama Buddha]]'s son [[Rāhula]] was seven years old, he followed the Buddha, saying "Give me my inheritance." The Buddha called [[Sariputta]] and asked him to ordain Rāhula, who became the first sāmaṇera.{{quote|The King ([[Śuddhodana|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buddhamind.info/leftside/arty/his-life/home.htm |title=Wall paintings ·· coming home, see section Buddha's son |publisher=buddhamind.info |access-date=2013-11-06}}</ref>}}
== {{anchor|Ten precepts}}Overview ==
{{Main|Vinaya}}
[[File:Novices sweeping.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Thai novices sweeping temple grounds]]
In the Vinaya (monastic regulations) used by many South Asian Buddhist sects, a man under the age of 20 cannot be ordained as a bhikṣu (monk) but can be ordained as a {{lang|pi-latn|sāmaṇera}}. {{lang|pi-latn|Sāmaṇeras}} (and {{lang|pi-latn|sāmaṇerīs}}{{snd}}the equivalent term for girls) keep the Ten Precepts as their code of behaviour and devote themselves to the religious life during breaks from secular schooling, or in conjunction with it if devoted to formal ordination. In other cultures and Buddhist traditions (particularly Northeast Asia, and those in the West that derive from these lineages), monks take different sets of vows and follow different customary rules.
The Ten Precepts upheld by {{lang|pi-latn|sāmaṇeras}} are:
#Refrain from killing or harming living things.
#Refrain from stealing.
#Refrain from unchastity (sensuality, sexuality, lust).
#Refrain from lying.
#Refrain from taking intoxicants.
#Refrain from taking food at inappropriate times (after noon).
#Refrain from singing, dancing, playing music or attending entertainment programs (performances).
#Refrain from wearing perfume, cosmetics and [[garland]] (decorative accessories).
#Refrain from sitting on high chairs and sleeping on luxurious, soft beds.
#Refrain from accepting money.
Ordination differs between {{lang|pi-latn|sāmaṇeras}} and {{lang|pi-latn|srāmaṇerīs}}.
== Transition to full ordination ==
After a year or at the age of 20, a {{lang|pi-latn|sāmaṇera}} will be considered for the [[upasampada]] or higher ordination as a bhikṣu. 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.
{{peoplepalicanon}}
== Ordination of women ==
{{main|Bhikkhunī}}
The novice ordination of women, according to the traditional [[vinaya]], is conferred by monks, and by nuns when possible. Novice nuns ({{langx|bo-latn|getsulma}}, or {{langx|sa-latn|śrāmaṇeras}} and {{lang|sa-latn|śrāmaṇeris}}) honor their vows of the [[Five Precepts#Ten Precepts|Ten Precepts]] as their code of behaviour.
After a year or at the age of 20, a novice nun can be ordained as a full {{lang|sa-latn|bhikṣuṇī}} ({{langx|pi-latn|[[bhikkhunī]]}}). The ordination rituals depend on the nun's specific tradition of Buddhism, while the number of their precepts increases substantially.
== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Anagarika]]
* [[International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha]]
* [[Maechi]]
* [[Nun]]
* [[World Buddhist Sangha Council]]
*[[Ordination]]
*[[Sangha]]
*[[Poy Sang Long]]
*[[Shinbyu]]
*[[Śikṣamāṇā]]
*[[Unsui]]
{{div col end}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/sv/bhikkhuni-pati.html ''The Bhikkhunis' Code of Discipline (''Bhikkhunī Pāṭimokkha') Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051122202501/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc2/ch23.html ''Buddhist Monastic Code II: Bhikkhunis'']
*[http://santifm.org/santipada/sitemap/ the website of Bhante Sujato's Writings contains several (ancient and modern) texts on the role and ordination of women in Buddhism.]
*[http://bhikkhunicommittee.googlepages.com ''Bhikkhuni committee of the ASA''] includes a large resource of articles regarding Bhikkhunis
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070117065914/http://www.buddhapadipa.org/pages/buddhism_femalemonksinbuddhism.html "Female Monks In Buddhism"], by Dhammacaro (07/23/2005).
*[http://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/spectra/vinaya_pitaka "Vinaya Pitaka"], brief description includes "Order of ordination for men and women...."
{{Buddhism topics}}
[[Category:Buddhist titles]]
[[Category:Beginners and newcomers]]
[[Category:Buddhist monasticism]]
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[[Category:Pali words and phrases]]
[[Category:Buddhism and children]]