Vinaya - Buddhist Vinaya and Monastic Organization 6 10 2013

8/12/2019 Vinaya - Buddhist Vinaya and Monastic Organization 6 10 2013

1/8

1

Content

Content .................................................................................................. 1

Introduction ........................................................................................... 2

The term thera based on vassa ............................................................ 2

The term thera based on knowledge................................................... 4

The term thera based on experience................................................... 5

Conclusion ............................................................................................. 7

Reference ............................................................................................... 8


2/8

2

Introduction

Most Buddhists seem to be familiar with the term thera, namely

Sariputta thera, Moggallana thera, especially one who follows Theravada 1

tradition. We all know that there are two main branches of Buddhism in the

world nowadays, namely Mahayana tradition and Theravada tradition.

The former is the development Buddhism. It is also called the Great

Vehicle. Mahyna Buddhism originated in India, and some scholars believe

that it was initially associated with one of the oldest historical branches of

Buddhism, the Mahsghika, a separate school in competition withSthaviravda or Theravda2

The later is the tradition that the elders who participated in the first

council maintained. The chronicles are very convinced and say that even the

first council was conducted by the elders (Theras). In this tradition,

especially in pali canon, the term thera appear in pali texts such as thero ,

therana , therassa etc, with different meaning. However, it is difficult toknow the meanings exactly in tipitaka. This paper will find out some of them.

The term thera based on vassa

Vinaya field monksappellation is divided into three levels depending

on his vassa (the three-month annual retreat). According to that, monks

include navaka, majjhima, thera, and later on, there adds also mahthera.3

The first one is new monk; the second is middle monk; the third is elder

1 Skilling, Peter and Jason A. Carbine. How Theravada is Theravada? : Exploring BuddhistIdentities . Silkworm Books, 2012, p. 460ff.

2 See the 12 th chaper of the Cullavaggapali . 3 Bhikkhu Ariyesako. Bhikkhus Rules A Guide For Laypeople . Kallista: Sanghaloka Forest

Hermitage, 1998, p.194.


3/8

3

monk and the last is great elder monk. Some vinaya books, for instance,

The Bhikkhus Rules a Guide for Laypeople4 describe clearly as follows:

When a candidate requests full admission to the Community (after the

smaera ordination) he does not make any 'lifetime vows' but offers himself

for training and instruction under his preceptor's guidance. At the end of the

ordination ceremony, the preceptor will immediately instruct the new

bhikkhu (or arrange that he is properly taught) about the p imokkha Rule

and the other principles that all bhikkhus should follow and observe.

For the first five years (vassa) a bhikkhu is called navaka ('new one')

and he must live 'dependent' (nissaya) on a senior bhikkhu either his

preceptor or teacher (acariya) training in the ways of a bhikkhu. The

preceptor and the new monk should be kind and helpful to each other, in

almost a father-and-son relationship. A new bhikkhu who no longer lives

under his preceptor must take another senior bhikkhu as his teacher and

depend on him instead.

For the next five years after his navaka period, the bhikkhu is called

majjhima, ('one in the middle') and he is allowed to live by himself if he is

accomplished in certain qualities.

When a bhikkhu has completed ten rains he is called thera. Thera can

be translated as 'an elder who is worthy of respect.' If he is also

accomplished in certain extra qualities, he is allowed to give ordination as preceptor, to be a teacher, and have young monks live in dependence on him.

4 Bhikkhu Ariyesako. Bhikkhus Rules A Guide For Laypeople . Kallista: Sanghaloka ForestHermitage, 1998, p.48-49.


4/8

4

When a bhikku has completed twenty vassa, he is called mahthera or

great elder. This is an honorific title automatically conferred upon a bhikkhu

of at least twenty years' standing. 5

The above titles are given relative to account of vassa. However, the

term thera also has another meaning regarding to quality of monk. We can

see in following quotation:

At A II.22 it is said that a bhikkhu, however junior, may be called

thera on account of his wisdom. It is added that four characteristics make a

man a thera - high character, knowing the essential doctrines by heart,

practising th e four Jhnas, and being conscious of having attained freedom

through the destruction of the mental intoxications. It is already clear that at

a very early date, before the Anguttara reached its extant shape, a

secondary meaning of thera was tending to supplant that of senior - that is,

not the senior of the whole Order, but the senior of such a part of the

Sangha as live in the same locality, or are carrying out the same function. 6

About the extra meaning, it is explained in detail in the next part.

The t erm thera based on knowledge

The second meaning certain, stable knowledge is found in

Ariyapariyesan sutta of Majjhima Nikya where the story of Prince

Siddhatthas renunciation is documented. According to this sutta, ascetic

Siddhattha studied a subject of yoga meditation from the two ascetics

Alarakalama and Udakaramaputta during his searching for truth. Finally he

5 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.html , accessed on October 9, 2013.6 Thomas William Rhys Davids, William Stede. Pali-English Dictionary . Pali Text Society, 1972,

p. 310.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.htmlhttp://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.htmlhttp://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.htmlhttp://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.html


5/8

5

learnt the sphere of nothingness (Akincannayataya jhana) from the ascetic

Alarakalama and developed the sphere of neither perception nor non

perception (Neva sanna na-sanna yatana jhana) revealed by the ascetic

Udaka-ramaputta.

After becoming a Buddha, He retold Bhikkhus in the above sutta that

with these two achievements hermit Siddhattha is said to have uttered: So

kho aha, bhikkha ve, tvatakeneva ohapahatamattena lapitalpanamattena

avdaca vadmi theravdaca, jnmi passmti ca paijnmi

ahaceva ae ca. (MN 26, PTS: M.i.160) (As far as mere lip-reciting

and rehearsal of his teaching went, I could speak with knowledge and

assurance, and I claimed, I know and see- and there were others who did

likewise.) 7

Here, the word Theravda can mean certain, stable knowledge in

the sense that Hermit Siddhattha gained certain and firm knowledge of what

Alara-kalama and Udaka-ramaputta taught. The commentary on the

Ariypariyesana Sutta, in the Papacasudani (Majjimanikay-atthakatha) (i.e

commentary of the MN) defines the theravda in this context as

theravadanti thirabhava vadam. Therefore, the discourse of the Pali

canno n used the term theravda in the sense of certainty.

The term thera based on experience

The meaning of thera regarding to experience here mean one whounderstand certainly the teaching and practice it perfectly. He really

7 namoli, Bhikkhu and Bhikkhu Bodhi trans. The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha:A Translat ion of the Majjhima Nikya. Boston, MA: Wisdom Publications, 1995, p.257.


6/8

6

experiences the dhamma in his daily life. No matter he is young or old, even

a novice, he is called thera.

The story with reference to Thera Bhaddiya, who also known as

Lakundaka8 Bhaddiya because he was very short in stature illuminates this

meaning. While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered

Verses (260) and (261) to concise the story as follows:

One day, thirty bhikkhus came to pay obeisance to the Buddha. The

Buddha knew that time was ripe for those thirty bhikkhus to attain

arahatship. So he asked them whether they had seen a thera as they came

into the room. They answered that they did not see a thera but they saw only

a young samanera as they came in. Whereupon, the Buddha said to them,

"Bhikkhus! That person is not a samanera, he is a senior bhikkhu although

he is small-built and very unassuming. I do say that one is not a thera just

because he is old and looks like a thera; only he who comprehends the Four

Noble Truths and does not harm others is to be called a thera."

These verses in pa i language are:

Na tena thero so hoti

yenassa palitam siro

paripakko vayo tassa

"moghajinno" ti vuccati.

Yamhi saccanca dhammo ca

ahimsa samyamo damosa ve vantamalo dhiro

"thero" iti pavuccati.

8 Lakundaka means dwarf, short.


7/8

7

(Verse 260. He is not a thera just because his head is grey; he who is

ripe only in years is called "one grown old in vain."

Verse 261. Only a wise man who comprehends the Four Noble Truths

and the Dhamma, who is harmless and virtuous, who restrains his senses and

has rid himself of the stains of defilements is indeed called a thera.) 9

The term thera here implies a monk has real experience, penetrating

the Four Noble Truths and the Dhamma (four ways and four fruits) and

attains the goal of nibbana.

Conclusion

As a result, the meaning of the term thera is not simple as the senior or

elder in normal understanding.

Although thera literally means the title of senior monk has at least ten

raining retreats, it also means the monk who attains the end, have real

experience of the Four Noble Truths, and achieve four ways and fruits.

The most interesting meaning is stable, certain. It is the stable

knowledge, certain knowledge the Buddha experience himself mentioned in

very sutta nikaya.

Further meaning is one who follows Theravada tradition. This paper

does not mention. But one who would like to research farther, the term

suggested is Sthaviravda, Acariyavada, Attanomati

9 See Ven. Weagoda Sarada Maha Thero. Treasury of Truth. Illustrated Dhammapada. Taipei: TheCorporate Body of the Buddha Education Foundation, 1993, p. 1069-1070.


8/8

8

Reference

Bhikkhu Ariyesako. Bhikkhus Rules A Guide For Laypeople . Kallista:

Sanghaloka Forest Hermitage, 1998.

namoli, Bhikkhu and Bhikkhu Bodhi trans.The Middle Length

Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikya .

Boston, MA: Wisdom Publications, 1995, p.257.

Narada Thera, The Buddha and his teachings , BMS,Malaysia, 3rd

edition,

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia): BMS Buddhist Missionary Society, 1993.

Skilling, Peter and Jason A. Carbine. How Theravada is Theravada? :

Exploring Buddhist Identities. Silkworm Books, 2012.

Thomas William Rhys Davids, William Stede. Pali-English Dictionary.

Pali Text Society, 1972.

Ven. Weagoda Sarada Maha Thero. Treasury of Truth. Illustrated

Dhammapada. Taipei: The Corporate Body of the Buddha Education

Foundation, 1993,

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.html, accessed on October 9, 2013.

Documents

Vinaya - Buddhist Vinaya and Monastic Organization 6 10 2013