Samanera (or, Sramanera) is Buddhist monk with "learner's license", i.e.- someone below 20 years of age who has taken lower ordination, but yet to become a full fledged monk (Bhikkhu) by taking higher ordination. After attaining twenty, a smanera can decide whether he wants to ordain as a monk. I met these bunch of adorable boys, of course Samaneras, in the campus of the SriLankan Monastery at Lumbini. Some construction work was on progress and these little monks were happily volunteering for the same. A quick wiki-study made me aware of the Ten Precepts which Samaneras are expected to follow in conjunction with the Buddhist religious life:
* Refrain from killing living creatures.
* Refrain from stealing.
* Refrain from unchastity.
* Refrain from incorrect speech.
* Refrain from taking intoxicants.
* Refrain from taking food after noon.
* Refrain from singing, dancing, playing music and attending entertainment programs.
* Refrain from wearing decorative accessories.
* Refrain from sitting on high chairs and sleeping on luxurious soft beds.
* Refrain from accepting money.
Yes, too many restrictions to follow! Even if moralities are of utmost concern, it is hard to imagine how a adolescent boy/girl would deaf ear his/her biological demand. I see no harm or find no sin if any of these boys dares to taste meat secretly in some restaurant or sip a drink. Anyway, sometimes it's their choice, sometimes compulsion (out of socioeconomic pressure) and I'm certainly in no position to comment on others' religious ways. From an enthusiastic clicker's perspective I must mention, Samaneras are really photogenic and Lumbini is an excellent travel destination!
Thanks for sharing !!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend :)
Thanks Veena... wish you a happening week ahead :-))
DeleteThat was breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteThanks Datta :)-)
DeleteI have always imagined monks to look like monks from Chinese movies, who are good in Shaolin kungfu. :P
ReplyDeleteI think because of this discipline they can do stuff , way better than others. I remember seeing a monk in TV controlling a tiger by pressing his thumb on its forehead!
Hahaa... what I've learnt from my Buddhist friends is kungfu or any other marshal-art they show in those Chinese/Korean/Japanese movies have nothing to do with Buddhism and Buddhism is actually totally different from those. But surely I can imagine a doodle from you on the same :-P
Deletelol.. thanks for the idea. I was scratching myself trying to come up with a decent post idea. Now i have one.
Delete:P
Awww that deserves an expression like "how sweet!!!" :-P
DeleteWhy don't you make a post on your idea-giver... caricaturing a photo blogger can be fun you know ;-)
Nice clicks and thanks for sharing the facts...
ReplyDeleteVisitor should say "nice/rotten" and blogger is supposed to thank... that's how it goes... you're breaking the pattern :-P
DeleteDo the aspiring monks have academic life?
ReplyDeleteYes they do... I was fortunate to visit few Buddhist education institutes at Kalimpong... There the air was really disciplined despite the lack of expression of any hateful strictness... If you're planning to visit Darjeeling you can keep a couple of days for Kalimpong :-)
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