<p>According to the Theravada Vinaya, one wishing to ordain needs to obtain the permission of all living birth or foster parents, unless they have abandoned him or her.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A son whose parents have not given their permission. According to the
Commentary, this requirement includes foster parents as well as birth
parents. There is no need to get a parent’s permission if he/she is no
longer alive or has abandoned the son. From this it can be argued that
if the parents are divorced and one of them has totally abandoned
responsibility for the son, there is no need to get permission from
that parent. If, however, both parents continued to assume
responsibility for the son, <strong>he needs to get the permission of both</strong>.<br />
<a href="https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/bmc/Section0054.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vinaya on Ordination</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-20T19:17:41.723Z
2021-06-20T19:23:13.843Z
2021-06-20T19:23:13.843Z
ruben2020
<p>This is a question of law. In some places, the laws will allow one parent, or even no parents, since it's a matter of religious preference. In other places, the laws are strict, and require both parents' permission.</p>

<p>This is also a question of the sangha's policies. Most will have an age limit because they observe a need to gain life experience. Some will permit children, and others will even seek after them, so that children will not be unduly influenced by outside ideas. So it depends a lot on who is asking, and who is doing the ordaining.</p>

<p>Ordination can be a big deal. Mostly, though, it's merely feeling a call to serve others, seek the best interests of the world and promote its well-being. Nobody needs an ordination for that, but it helps to have a legal piece of paper to avoid certain troubles.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-27T19:45:56.467Z
2016-11-27T19:45:56.467Z
Vishwa Jay
<p>Do you need both parents' permission to become ordained?</p>
<p>What if one of the parents refuses contact? Should you strive for it?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-24T09:37:56.113Z
You'll have to ask the monastery you wish to ordain at. Some will even ignore a parent's opinion if it's clear that the parent doesn't have the child's best interests at heart.
Hugh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-24T10:10:57.857Z
Would you post that as an answer, please, Hugh, instead of as a comment?
ChrisW
<monasticism><ordination>
Do you need both parents' permission to become ordained?
# Do you need both parents' permission to become ordained?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-11-24)

Do you need both parents' permission to become ordained?

What if one of the parents refuses contact? Should you strive for it?

**Tags:** monasticism, ordination

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You'll have to ask the monastery you wish to ordain at. Some will even ignore a parent's opinion if it's clear that the parent doesn't have the child's best interests at heart.  
> **username_2**: Would you post that as an answer, please, username_1, instead of as a comment?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-11-27. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

This is a question of law. In some places, the laws will allow one parent, or even no parents, since it's a matter of religious preference. In other places, the laws are strict, and require both parents' permission.

This is also a question of the sangha's policies. Most will have an age limit because they observe a need to gain life experience. Some will permit children, and others will even seek after them, so that children will not be unduly influenced by outside ideas. So it depends a lot on who is asking, and who is doing the ordaining.

Ordination can be a big deal. Mostly, though, it's merely feeling a call to serve others, seek the best interests of the world and promote its well-being. Nobody needs an ordination for that, but it helps to have a legal piece of paper to avoid certain troubles.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-06-20. Score: 1

According to the Theravada Vinaya, one wishing to ordain needs to obtain the permission of all living birth or foster parents, unless they have abandoned him or her.

> A son whose parents have not given their permission. According to the
> Commentary, this requirement includes foster parents as well as birth
> parents. There is no need to get a parent’s permission if he/she is no
> longer alive or has abandoned the son. From this it can be argued that
> if the parents are divorced and one of them has totally abandoned
> responsibility for the son, there is no need to get permission from
> that parent. If, however, both parents continued to assume
> responsibility for the son, **he needs to get the permission of both**.  
> [Vinaya on Ordination](https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/bmc/Section0054.html)


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