|
|
|
| Homepage
> Buddhism in Thailand > Ordination
Procedure 01
Page 1 | Next Page >> A person desiring ordination should first clear himself of disqualifying factors - such as certain diseases, debt, lawsuits, lack of consent on the part of his parents or the local authorities - and settle any outside responsibilities he may have concerning work, family, possessions, investments, etc. When this has been done, and the appointed day has arrived, he should go to the monastery, enter the main hall, and pay homage to the triple Gem. Then, when the members of the Sangha have assembled, he should approach them and ask for ordination as a samanera as the customary first step.
Carrying a set of the three robes on his forearms and joining his hands in the gesture of respect, he enters their gathering. Laying the robes down to his left, he takes a tray of offerings (placed on his right), presents it to the Upajjhaya (Preceptor), and prostrates himself three times with the five-point prostration: the forehead, two forearms and two knees touching the floor. Then, as he continues to kneel, he again places the robes on his forearms, joins his hands in respect and by saying the following Pali passages takes refuge in the Triple Gem and asks for the Going-Forth.
Then the Upajjhaya receives the applicant's set of robes and the applicant sits down with his legs folded to one side. Having placed the set of robes in front of himself, the Upajjhaya instructs the applicant in the Triple Gem, advises him to develop conviction in it as his refuge and reminds him of the purpose and benefits of ordination. After that, he teaches the applicant the following five basic objects of meditation and, after explaining their meaning and the repeats them after him, word by word, as follows:
NOTE: Some Upajjhayas will first have the applicant repeat the Pali names of these parts and then will explain them. The Upajjhaya then takes the amsa (the shoulder-cloth worn across the left shoulder) out of the set of robes, put it over the applicant's head, covering his left shoulder, and hands him back the rest of the robes, teaching him how they are to be worn. He then tells the applicant to go out and put them on. The applicant carries the set of robes on his forearms as before, and with hands joined in the gesture of respect, backs out (walking on his knees) to the edge of the platform or floor-covering before standing up and walking to a suitable place where he will put on the robes. A bhikkhu leaves the assembly to help him.... Page 1 | Next Page >> Information
from: "Ordination Procedure" by Somdet Phra Kaha Samana
Chao Krom Phraya Vajirananavarorasa. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
