Bhikkhu

Category: Sangha

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

• Chinese :  比丘 biqiu
• Pali :  bhikkhu
• Sanskrit :  bhikṣu

A Bhikkhu is a fully ordained male Buddhist monk . Female monastics are called Bhikkhunis. Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis keep many precepts: they live by the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline. Their lifestyle is shaped so as to support their spiritual practice, to live a simple, happy and meditative life, and attain Nirvana.

Introduction

Bhikkhu may be literally translated as "beggar" or more broadly as "one who lives by alms". It is philologically analysed in the Pāli commentary of Buddhaghosa as "the person who sees danger (in samsara or cycle of rebirth)" (Pāli = Bhayaṃ ikkhatīti: bhikkhu.) He therefore seeks ordination in order to release from it. A bhikkhu has taken a vow to enter the Sangha (Buddhist monastic community) and is expected to obey rules of conduct (typically around 253 for a male) as set out in the Vinaya, although there are considerable local variations in the interpretations of these rules. A novice monk or nun in the Tibetan tradition takes 36 vows of conduct. The minimum age to take a bhikkhu vows is 21 years.

Monkhood

Monkhood is part of the system of vows of individual liberation; these vows are taken in order to develop one's own personal ethical discipline. The monks and nuns form the ordinary sangha. In Mahayana Buddhism, the term sangha is also refering to a principle restricted to those who have achieved certain levels of understanding (they are therefore called community of the excellent ones, (Tibetan: mchog kyi tshogs); these in turn need not be monks and nuns (i.e., hold such vows), however.

As for the vows of individual liberation, there are four steps :

1. A lay person may take the 5 vows called approaching virtue (Tibetan: dge snyan).
2. The next step is to enter the monastic way of life (Tibetan: rab byung) which includes wearing monk's or nun's robes.
3. After that, one can become a novice - Samanera (Sanskrit: shramanera; Tibetan: dge tshul);
4. the last and final step is to take all vows of the fully ordained monk (Tibetan: dge long). This term in the female form (Tibetan: dge long ma) is the translation of the Sanskrit bhiksu (for women: biksuni) which is the equivalent of the Pali term bhikkhu.

In Theravada

The following titles is commonly use to refer to a Theravada Bhiikhu :

• Thera is a Bhikkhu who has been living the monastic life for 10 or more years.
• Theri is a female Thera.
• Maha Thera is a Bhikkhu who has been living the monastic life for 20 or more years.
• Maha Theri is a female Maha Thera.

In Thailand

• Phra (Pali: vara) is commonly used to refer to a Bhikkhu.
• Ajahn (Pali: achariya) is commonly used to refer to a teacher.

Vows in Vajrayana

Although the European terms 'monk' and 'nun' are applied also on Buddhism, the situation of 'ordination' is more complicated.

Monks and Nuns

In Buddhism, monkhood is part of the system of "vows of individual liberation." These vows are taken by monks and nuns form the ordinary sangha, in order to develop personal ethical discipline. In Mahayana Buddhism, the term "sangha" is, in principle, restricted to those who have achieved certain levels of understanding. They are, therefore, called "community of the excellent ones" (tib. <mchog kyi tshogs>). These, however, need not be monks and nuns (i.e.: hold such vows).

As for the vows of individual liberation, there are four steps. A lay person may take the 5 vows called "approaching virtue" (in Tibetan genyen <dge snyan>). The next step is to enter the monastic way of life (tib. rabjung <rab byung>) which includes wearing monk's or nun's robes. After that, one can become a novice or samanera (skt. shramanera, tib. getshül <dge tshul>). The last and final step is to take all the vows of a "fully ordained monk" or gelong tib. (<dge long>). Gelongma (<dge long ma>) is the female term. The translation from skt. is bikshuni (female) or bikshu (male). The Pali term is bhikkhuni (female) or bhikkhu (male), used in Theravada Buddhism (Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand).

Monk and nun vows are taken for a lifetime, but they can be 'given back' (three times in one life), a possibility which is actually used by many people. In this way, Buddhism keeps the vows "clean." It is possible to keep them or to leave this lifestyle, but it is considered extremely negative to 'break' these vows.

In Tibet, usually small children from 6 onwards can take the rabjung ordination which is a child-specific approach to monastic life. At age 14, they usually take getshül ordination which includes more rules, and after age 21, many take the gelong ordination -- or prefer to quit the monastic life.

Robes

The special dress of ordained people, the robes, comes from the idea of wearing cheap clothes just to protect the body from weather and climate. They shall not be made from one piece of cloth, but mended together from several pieces. Since dark red was the cheapest colour in Kashmir, the Tibetan tradition has red robes. In the south, yellow played the same role, in the far east, robes are grey or black.

The robes of getshül novices and gelong monks differ in various aspects, especially in the application of 'holes' in the gelong dress. Some monks tear their robes into pieces and then mend these pieces together again. The rabjung novices shall not wear the 'chö-göö', the yellow tissue worn during Buddhist teachings by both getshüls and gelongs.

Teachers

Buddhist monks and nuns are to be treated with respect; they are, however, not yet leaders of any kind. Therefore, it might be important to define the following terms :

• Lama (Tibetan: bla ma) is not bound to the taking of monks/nuns vows; a person possessing the wisdom to spiritually guide disciples can be called a lama by his or her followers. It is said, however, that only a person at least keeping the genyen vows should teach Buddhism, i.e., be a lama.
• Rinpoche (Tibetan: rin po che) is the title of an abbot (Tibetan: mkhan po) and in some cases of people who have achieved a high level of insight in this life.
• Tulku (Tibetan: sprul sku) refers to someone who has been recognized as the rebirth of a Buddhist master.
• Geshe (Tibetan: dge shes) is a scholar, a specialist in Buddhist Philosophy - in some traditions, the scholars are also called Khempo (Tibetan: mkhan po). The geshe degree could be compared to a doctorate in Europe; it is important to note, however, that simply by education one does not become a lama.

All these titles do not require ordination.

Tantric vows

A lay person (or a monk/nun) engaging in high tantric practices and achieving a certain level of realization will be called a yogi (female 'yogini', in Tibetan naljorpa/naljorma <rnal hbyor pa/ma>). The yogis (monks or lay) observe another set of vows, the tantric vows (together with the bodhisattva vows); therefore, a yogi/yogini may also dress in a special way, so that they are sometimes called the 'white sangha' (due to their often white or red/white clothes).

Both ways, tantric and monastic are not mutually exclusive because they psychologically act in different ways; both are ascetic. The ordination of monks and nuns is a safe way and give a good example to the people. The tantric path is often misunderstood in the west as something unascetic, but this is clearly an error in perception; although 'unorthodox' in appearance, tantric yogi(ni)s keep very strict ethical rules.

Other vows

There are still other methods of taking vows in Buddhism. Most importantly, 'Bodhisattva vows' are to be taken by all followers of Mahayana Buddhism; these vows develop an altruistic attitude. Another self-centered method is taking strict one-day vows which are somewhat similar to monks/nuns vows ('Mahayana precepts'), but last only from one sunrise to another sunrise.

Conclusion

'Ordination' in Buddhism is a cluster of methods of self-discipline according to the needs, possibilities and capabilities of individuals. According to the spiritual development of his followers, the Buddha gave different levels of vows. The most advanced method is the state of a bikshu(ni), a fully ordained follower of the Buddha's teachings. The goal of the bikshu(ni) in all traditions is to achieve liberation from suffering.

Beside that, the mahayanist approach requires bodhisattva vows, and the tantric method requires tantric vows. Since some people are not attracted to monk/nun ordination, all other vows can be taken separately. On the other hand, it is said that one cannot achieve the goal without taking the vows of individual liberation -- i.e., comply with the ethical disciple inscribed in these vows.