Pabbajjā
Pabbajjā (Pali; Skt.: pravrajya) literally means "to go forth" and refers to when a layperson leaves home to live the life of a Buddhist renunciate among a community of bhikkhus (fully ordained monks). This generally involves preliminary ordination as a novice (m. samanera, f. samaneri). It is sometimes referred to as "lower ordination". After a period or when the novice reaches 20 years of age, the novice can be considered for the upasampadā ordination (or "higher ordination") whereby the novice becomes a monk (bhikkhu) or nun (bhikkhuni).
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In some traditional Theravada countries, such as Myanmar, boys undergo pabbajjā (Shinbyu) at the age of puberty. In Mahayana countries such as China and Japan, the pabbajjā is preceded by a probationary period.[1]
Sources
- Encyclopædia Britannica (2007a). "Pabbajjā." Retrieved 26 September 2007 from "Encyclopædia Britannica Online" at http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9057892.
- Encyclopædia Britannica (2007b). "Upasampadā." Retrieved 26 September 2007 from "Encyclopædia Britannica Online" at http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9074384.
External links
- "pabbajjā" entry in the Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary (1921–25).
- "The Admission to the Order of Bhikkhus" in Rhys Davids & Oldenberg's English-language translation of the Vinaya Text (1881). (Note that, in this translation, the English word is spelled, "pabbaggâ.")
