Novice

Novice or Samnera in Pali means the family background of monk who will carry out the burden of studying the Buddhist scriptures and practising the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha derived the name ‘Gotama Buddha’ because he was born into the Gotama clan. All ascetics in India at that time called him Gotama Buddha. When he started teaching the world and some people wanted to follow him and to become Buddhist monks, initially he allowed only adult men to become a Buddhist monk because they were patient and more determined than women and children.

When his teaching was well established, the Buddha allowed women and children to become a Buddhist (female) monk and novice and he allowed children who were under 20 years old to be ordained. A boy was called Samnera and a girl was called Samneri. The first ever novice in Buddhism was Prince Rahula who was his son. He was ordained by Saributta and Mogallana was an assistant. When Rahula was a novice, he travelled to many places. Even if there was a drought and it was very dry, he never gave up. After listening to Rahulovada and Maharahulovada sutras from the Buddha, he became enlightened. When he was twenty years old when he became a Buddhist monk.

Monk Ruhula was renowned for his investigation and education, for instance, one day he went to the river and held a handful of sand and proclaimed that he would learn from everyone and everything as much as all the grains of the sand on this earth.

After Rrice Rahula became a novice, many children came to become a novice in Buddhism and they still do to this day. The meaning of ordination is still the same they are still the family background of monks. Specifically the big burden is to spread the Buddha’s teaching to the world like all the monks.

The Buddhapadipa Temple London, led by the head monk and heading Buddhist mission to the UK, Phrarajbhavanavimol realises that the young children who were born or grown up in the UK can carry out this duty also. Although only for a fifteen day duration, the summer novice project is held in summer every year. This time of year is very suitable as it is not cold and children are on their summer break from school. In the year of 2006, the project was held on 23rd of July until 6th of August.

The programme of a novice ceremony is as follows;

On 23^rd of July, all the children (boys) aged from 10 upwards who applied to participate in this project came to The Buddhapadipa Temple with their parents and relatives. There were 13 children and they came from different families and have different background, but when they are here, they have to abandon their old habits and observe the monastic rules (10 precepts) as the teachers provided for them.
At 9.30, there was the hair shaving ceremony; all the children sat on the chairs provided for them on the lawn of the temple. The parents began by cutting the first lock of their children’s hair, relatives and friends then took their turn. It is regarded as an auspicious event for parents, relatives and friends who join in the ceremony. Following that the monks carried out the shaving of the children’s heads until completion.

When their heads were shaved, as befits a monk, they then dressed in white clothes. Accompanied by their parents, relatives and friends, they then went into the house to listen to the chanting performed by the venerable monks. After the chanting, they offered food to the monks and also had their own lunch. When the monks had finished their meal it was time for the lay people to have lunch together in the garden. It was a very enjoyable time for everyone on such a beautiful day.

At 1.30 pm the time of ordination came, everyone went to the main temple and did circumambulation around the main temple, three times. Then they all went into the main temple for the ordination. The preceptor, Phrarajbhavanavimol and the monks were waiting inside. All the boys parents were waiting also and it was very happy occasion for them. Some parents may have experienced this before as some of the novices had been a novice in previous years, which greatly increased and prolonged their parents’ happiness.

When all was ready for the ordination, Phramaha Prasert, Phramah Paisan and Phrakrusamu Pruchyawut took great and close care helping the novice-to-be. While lots of camera shutters were being pressed to capture an image for posterity as the children received the orange robes from them. They paid respect to their parents and got blessed by them. Then they crawled to the preceptor and requested ordination. Even if it was difficult for them to say words in Pali, they did their best.
Now they had the orange robes and they changed from white to orange, with the help of the monks. They were shown how to dress properly. A remarkable picture was there for us all to witness. From then on they have to learn how to dress by themselves. When they were all dressed, it was the time to ask for ten precepts. The preceptor instructed them for those ten precepts. The ordination was finished but the mission of being trained was to be carried on until the 6th of August.

The programme of training both theoretical and practical for them was provided as follows;

It starts with discipline, living together in harmony; eating together, chanting in the morning and evening together, doing the same activities such as sweeping the temple’s ground together, monastic manners etc. and about the teachings’ contents and the training of chanting was taught by Phrakrusamu Pruchyawut, the life of the Buddha and some inspiring stories from Dhammapada was taught by Phramaha Sangthong, culture and ceremony was taught by Phramaha Chai, Daily Dhamma was taught by Phra Soo-Guan, Insight meditation was taught by Phramaha Prasert.
The novice is an offspring of Buddhism and the ordination ceremony creates a small merit for the parents and relatives and friends today. They who are empowered by Buddhism can liberate themselves from their own ignorance and also lead others out of the dark, namely suffering. The suffering comes to our lives everyday more or less; one by one. One arises and vanishes and another arises and vanishes again and repeats like this. It is said that suffering abides inside mankind; it just changes its form and time. To learn the Buddha’s teachings means not only to get rid of suffering (because it is paired with this very world), but also to live in this world peacefully and happily by knowing both suffering and happiness. Therefore we are not overwhelmed by them and understand their nature. Since we know them, we know how not to be under their control, and so not under them and their influence.

To learn the Buddha’s teaching at a young age is popular in Thailand and some other Buddhist countries. It is so that the young can accumulate knowledge and wisdom. When they grow up, they can apply it in and to their lives. Dhamma will balance their lives. When suffering or happiness occurs to them, they can understand their nature and live a happy life.