Samanera

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Srama?eras in Thailand

Srama?eras from the tradition of Korean Buddhism

Group of Female novice in Sri Lanka

A young Buddhist nun in Thailand

Buddhist nuns in Ban Pha Cuk, Thailand

A sama?era (Pali); Sanskrit srama?era, is a novice male monastic in a Buddhist
context.[1] A female novitiate is a srama?eri or srama?erika (Sanskrit; Pali sama?
eri).

Contents [hide]
1 Etymology
2 History
3 Overview
4 Transition to full ordination
5 Ordination of women
6 See also
7 External links
8 References
Etymology[edit]
The sama?era is a Pali language diminutive of the Sanskrit term srama?a strenuous,
which indicates an ascetic practitioner. Therefore, sama?era might be said to mean
small or young renunciate. In some South Asian Buddhist traditions, the term refers
to someone who has taken the initial pravrajya vows but not the upasampada or full
ordination. The pratimok?a rules do not apply to them and they do not take part in
the recital of the rules on uposatha days.

The word srama?eri is the feminine form of srama?era.

History[edit]
The account provided in the literature of South Asian Buddhism (and adopted by
other Buddhist sects) is that when Gautama Buddha's son Rahula was seven years old,
he followed the Buddha, saying Give me my inheritance. The Buddha called Sariputta
and asked him to ordain Rahula, who became the first sama?era.

The King (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.[2]

Overview[edit]
Main article Vinaya

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 ordain as a bhik?u (monk) but can ordain as a sama?era.
Sama?eras (and sama?eris 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 North East 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 sama?eras are

Refrain from killing 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 sama?eras and srama?eris.

Transition to full ordination[edit]

After a year or at the age of 20, a sama?era will be considered for the upasampada
or higher ordination as a bhik?u. 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. Adults would normally wear the white robes of a
Brahmin.

People of the Pali Canon

Pali English
Sangha
(the Buddhist community)
Buddhist monasticism
Bhikkhu, Bhikkhu?i Monk, Nun
Sikkhamana Nun trainee
Sama?era, Sama?eri Novice (m., f.)
Laity
Anagarika, Anagarika lay renunciants (m., f.)
Maechi, thilashin
dasa sil mata, modern female
lay renunciants (f.)
Upasaka and Upasika Lay devotee (m., f.)
Gahattha, gahapati Householder
Related religions
Sama?a Wanderer
Ajivika Ascetic
Brahma?a Brahmin
Niga??ha Jain monastics
v t e
Ordination of women[edit]
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 srama?eri. Srama?eras and srama?eris 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.

After a year or at the age of 20, she will be ordained as a full bhik?u?i (Pali
bhikkhuni).
See also[edit]
Anagarika, a person preparing for ordination
International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha
Maechi
Nun
World Buddhist Sangha Council
Ordination
Sangha
Poy Sang Long
Shinbyu
Sik?ama?a
Unsui
External links[edit]
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 - Trainin