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People of the Pali Canon |
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| Pali | English |
| Monastic Sangha | |
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Bhikkhu, Bhikkhunī |
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| Laity | |
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Upāsaka, Upāsikā |
Lay devotee (m., f.) |
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Related Religions |
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In Buddhist context, a samanera (Pali: sāmaṇera, Sanskrit: śrāmaṇera) can be translated as novice monk. It literally means 'small samana', or small renunciate, where 'small' has the meaning of boy or girl. In the Vinaya (monastic discipline), a man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikkhu, but can ordain as a samanera. The female counterpart of the samanera is the samaneri. Samaneras and samaneris keep the ten precepts as their code of behaviour, and are devoted to the Buddhist religious life.
After a year or at the age of 20, a samanera will be considered for the higher Bhikkhu or Bhikkhuni ordination (Pali: upasampada). 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.
The issue of ordination is different for samaneras and samaneris; the rules governing higher ordination are different for samaneras and samaneris.
The female form of the samanera is the samaneri.
According to Swami Satyananda the sanskrit word Shramanera can also be translated as "labourer" and is related to the sanskrit word Ashram (a place of work). The Buddha is said to have called his first followers "Shramaneras" or labourers.
See also
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