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Upasampadā (Peter Skilling, How Buddhism invented Asia, 2 April 2009
Peter Skilling interviewed by Phillip Adams. Online audio recording
Upasampadā (Pali
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist '' Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Bud ...
) literally denotes "approaching or nearing the ascetic tradition." In more common parlance it specifically refers to the rite and ritual of ascetic vetting (ordination) by which a candidate, if deemed acceptable, enters the community as upasampadān (ordained) and authorised to undertake ascetic life.
According to Buddhist monastic codes (Vinaya
The Vinaya (Pali & Sanskrit: विनय) is the division of the Buddhist canon ('' Tripitaka'') containing the rules and procedures that govern the Buddhist Sangha (community of like-minded ''sramanas''). Three parallel Vinaya traditions remai ...
), 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 upasampadā (i.e., become a monk (''bhikkhu
A ''bhikkhu'' (Pali: भिक्खु, Sanskrit: भिक्षु, ''bhikṣu'') is an ordained male in Buddhist monasticism. Male and female monastics (" nun", '' bhikkhunī'', Sanskrit ''bhikṣuṇī'') are members of the Sangha (Buddhi ...
'') or nun ('' bhikkhuni'')), but can become a novice (m. '' samanera'', f. '' samaneri''). After a year or at the age of 20, a novice will be considered for upasampadā.
Traditionally, the upasampadā 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".Peter Skilling interviewed by Phillip Adams. Online audio recording
Regional variations
Customs regarding ''upasampada'' vary between regional traditions. In theTheravada
''Theravāda'' () ( si, ථේරවාදය, my, ထေရဝါဒ, th, เถรวาท, km, ថេរវាទ, lo, ເຖຣະວາດ, pi, , ) is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school' ...
tradition, monastics typically undertake higher ordination as soon as they are eligible. In East Asia, it is more typical for monastics to defer or avoid ''upasampada'' ordination entirely, remaining novices ( samanera) for most or all of their monastic careers. This difference may originate from the historical shortage of temples in East Asia able to provide higher ordination according to the Vinaya
The Vinaya (Pali & Sanskrit: विनय) is the division of the Buddhist canon ('' Tripitaka'') containing the rules and procedures that govern the Buddhist Sangha (community of like-minded ''sramanas''). Three parallel Vinaya traditions remai ...
.
See also
* Pabbajjā: "going forth," novice ordination, entering the condition of mendicancy. * Shinbyu: Novitiation ceremony for young Burmese boys * Poy Sang Long: Novitiation ceremony for young Shan boys *Ordination hall
The ordination hall is a Buddhist building specifically consecrated and designated for the performance of the Buddhist ordination ritual ('' upasampada'') and other ritual ceremonies, such as the recitation of the Patimokkha. The ordination hall ...
* Bai Sema: Sima boundary stones in Thai Buddhist temples
*Pāṭimokkha
In Theravada Buddhism, the Pāṭimokkha is the basic code of monastic discipline, consisting of 227 rules for fully ordained monks (bhikkhus) and 311 for nuns ( bhikkhuṇīs). It is contained in the Suttavibhaṅga, a division of the Vinaya ...
: Basic code of monastic discipline
*Refuge in Buddhism
In Buddhism, refuge or taking refuge refers to a religious practice, which often includes a prayer or recitation performed at the beginning of the day or of a practice session. Since the period of Early Buddhism until present time, all Theravad ...
Notes
Buddhist monasticism Vinaya Pali words and phrases {{Buddhism-stub