<p>In Thailand, male novices (called <em>nen</em> or <em>samanera</em>) are a fairly common sight.  Very often they have taken vows only temporarily.  They may do it during the <em>phansa</em> (rainy season) period, during summer holidays from March to May, or just for a few days in order to make merit when a parent or grandparent has passed away.  The latter motivation is in a sense repayment of a debt owed to family members for being under their care as a young child.  According to Thai wikipedia, novices should be no younger than 8.  A temple website states that they follow only 10 precepts.  A Thai friend of mine told me that one motivation on the part of parents is that since the boys learn the basics of meditation practice, they are more mature and exhibit fewer behavioral problems when they come out.  I recall reading something like this in a biography of one well-known Thai monk – it might have been Buddhadasa bhikkhu.  </p>

<p>Regarding language, my friend said that some of the special monastic vocabulary (like <em>chan</em> for ‘to eat') is used when speaking to novices as well as monks, but that the overall politeness level is less formal (e.g. novices are not addressed as ‘venerable’.) </p>

<p>In Burma I have seen young girls (<em>samanerī</em> or the Burmese equivalent) in pinkish robes out on alms rounds, perhaps later in the morning than monks.  You wouldn’t see that in Thailand though.</p>

<p>Donald Swearer discusses additional motivations for ordaining as a teenager in his book ‘The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia’ (1995), p. 48:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In Thailand one of the principle reasons for being ordained is to acquire an education.  Among poorer families often children cannot afford to attend school.  Ordination as a novice provides for their material needs as well as a basic education.  Indeed, if a boy is bright and highly motivated he may complete secondary school as a novice or monk, graduate from a monastic college, and then earn an advanced degree from a university in another country, such as India.  After teaching in a monastery school for several years or serving as an administrator in a larger provincial monastery he will probably disrobe and take a responsible and respected secular job.  Although such exploitation of the monastic educational structure siphons off able leadership, it has become standard practice and bears little or no social stigma.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I have known several university teachers who followed this career path - they were all from the relatively poor northeastern region of Thailand. </p>

<p>Swearer goes on to suggest that in an earlier era, ordaining at the age of puberty was a kind of rite of passage that all males went though.  Monks in fact lead rather comfortable lives and for a child from a poor family, being a monk would mean raising one’s economic and social status.  Given the traditional link between education and the sangha, it should be no surprise that males ordain at a young age and that this is encouraged by local cultural norms.  In comtemporary Thai society the link has been weakened with the advent of universal secular education, but elsewhere in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos and Burma) it is likely still quite strong.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-19T23:42:22.997Z
Thank you both for putting this in context. Under the circumstances, it seems like a pretty mutually beneficial system.
Robin111
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-19T13:33:18.640Z
2014-06-19T14:08:51.213Z
2014-06-19T14:08:51.213Z
neubau
<p><strong>Who decides:</strong></p>

<p>Often they are coerced into doing it for a short period of time; other places poverty drives them to ordain. In rare cases they do it of their own volition because of some wholesome supporting condition.</p>

<p><strong>Eating:</strong></p>

<p>Monks can eat technically eat two meals as long as it's in the morning hours from dawn to noon. Most monks fall into that schedule. Samanera (novice monks, usually under 20 years of age) often break this rule, eating in the evening, even though it's against the rules.</p>

<p><strong>How they are called:</strong></p>

<p>It depends on the country. In Sri Lanka, some samanera never actually become bhikkhus (fully ordained), so there is a tendency to call them all by the same honorific. In Thailand they are called "nen", as opposed to "pra", and they only wear two robes instead of three. I don't think there is a case of a samanera being called Bhante, which would be the equivalent of "venerable sir" in the Pali. From a monastic point of view, they are still considered unordained, and they only keep ten rules.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-19T00:42:58.083Z
2014-06-19T00:42:58.083Z
yuttadhammo
<p>I've seen pictures online of young children dressed in monks robes in Buddhist countries. Does someone make the decision on behalf of the child that they will become a monk? Do they eat only one meal a day as adult monks do? Are very young monks also called Venerable Sir? Thanks for helping a western mind to understand this matter. </p>

<ordination><monk>
Can someone explain about children monks?
# Can someone explain about children monks?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-18)

I've seen pictures online of young children dressed in monks robes in Buddhist countries. Does someone make the decision on behalf of the child that they will become a monk? Do they eat only one meal a day as adult monks do? Are very young monks also called Venerable Sir? Thanks for helping a western mind to understand this matter.

**Tags:** ordination, monk


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-19. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

In Thailand, male novices (called *nen* or *samanera*) are a fairly common sight. Very often they have taken vows only temporarily. They may do it during the *phansa* (rainy season) period, during summer holidays from March to May, or just for a few days in order to make merit when a parent or grandparent has passed away. The latter motivation is in a sense repayment of a debt owed to family members for being under their care as a young child. According to Thai wikipedia, novices should be no younger than 8. A temple website states that they follow only 10 precepts. A Thai friend of mine told me that one motivation on the part of parents is that since the boys learn the basics of meditation practice, they are more mature and exhibit fewer behavioral problems when they come out. I recall reading something like this in a biography of one well-known Thai monk – it might have been Buddhadasa bhikkhu.

Regarding language, my friend said that some of the special monastic vocabulary (like *chan* for ‘to eat') is used when speaking to novices as well as monks, but that the overall politeness level is less formal (e.g. novices are not addressed as ‘venerable’.)

In Burma I have seen young girls (*samanerī* or the Burmese equivalent) in pinkish robes out on alms rounds, perhaps later in the morning than monks. You wouldn’t see that in Thailand though.

Donald Swearer discusses additional motivations for ordaining as a teenager in his book ‘The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia’ (1995), p. 48:

> In Thailand one of the principle reasons for being ordained is to acquire an education. Among poorer families often children cannot afford to attend school. Ordination as a novice provides for their material needs as well as a basic education. Indeed, if a boy is bright and highly motivated he may complete secondary school as a novice or monk, graduate from a monastic college, and then earn an advanced degree from a university in another country, such as India. After teaching in a monastery school for several years or serving as an administrator in a larger provincial monastery he will probably disrobe and take a responsible and respected secular job. Although such exploitation of the monastic educational structure siphons off able leadership, it has become standard practice and bears little or no social stigma.

I have known several university teachers who followed this career path - they were all from the relatively poor northeastern region of Thailand.

Swearer goes on to suggest that in an earlier era, ordaining at the age of puberty was a kind of rite of passage that all males went though. Monks in fact lead rather comfortable lives and for a child from a poor family, being a monk would mean raising one’s economic and social status. Given the traditional link between education and the sangha, it should be no surprise that males ordain at a young age and that this is encouraged by local cultural norms. In comtemporary Thai society the link has been weakened with the advent of universal secular education, but elsewhere in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos and Burma) it is likely still quite strong.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you both for putting this in context. Under the circumstances, it seems like a pretty mutually beneficial system.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-06-19. Score: 11

**Who decides:**

Often they are coerced into doing it for a short period of time; other places poverty drives them to ordain. In rare cases they do it of their own volition because of some wholesome supporting condition.

**Eating:**

Monks can eat technically eat two meals as long as it's in the morning hours from dawn to noon. Most monks fall into that schedule. Samanera (novice monks, usually under 20 years of age) often break this rule, eating in the evening, even though it's against the rules.

**How they are called:**

It depends on the country. In Sri Lanka, some samanera never actually become bhikkhus (fully ordained), so there is a tendency to call them all by the same honorific. In Thailand they are called "nen", as opposed to "pra", and they only wear two robes instead of three. I don't think there is a case of a samanera being called Bhante, which would be the equivalent of "venerable sir" in the Pali. From a monastic point of view, they are still considered unordained, and they only keep ten rules.


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