Anagarika
Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia is now 14 years old
Our Encyclopedia recently received a wonderful opportunity for a major renewal on its 14th birthday . After many years of growing our Encyclopedia had become bit slow and sometimes even decided not to answer when people knocked on the door.
A very big thank you and blessings to Dmytro Rudiy (rudiy.nl) for his great work in upgrading the server, website and all of the infrastructure and helping make TBE fast and reliable again for everyone!
We kindly ask our readers to help us cover the cost of this important upgrade and also help with the ongoing costs of keeping the Encyclopedia alive and freely available.
or card
Every little donation helps and every one is deeply appreciated. 🙏🙏🙏
OM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM 🙏🙏🙏
May blessings shower down on all of yous 🙏🙏🙏
In Theravada Buddhism, an anagarika (Pali: anāgārika/ā; lit., "homeless one") is a person who has given up most or all of his worldly possessions and responsibilities to commit full-time to Buddhist practice. It is a midway status between monk and layperson where one takes on the Eight Precepts for the entire anagarika period, which could be for Life.
Anagarikas usually wear white Clothes or robes, depending on the tradition they follow. Some traditions have special ordination ceremonies for anagarikas, while others simply take the eight precepts with a special intention.
In monastic settings, lay attendants for Monks or nuns are needed.
The monastic rules restrict Monks and nuns from many tasks that might be needed, including the use of money, driving, cooking, digging and cutting plants, so lay attendants help bridge this gap.
Anagarikas differ from laity by their commitment to Buddhism, to their precepts and to the monastics.
There is usually a notable difference in their manner, appearance and attire. In most cases, they are full-time residents at the Monastery where they ordained.
Anagarikas often have the intention of becoming a Monk or nun at a later point, though not always.
In some Monasteries a period as an anagarika, often one year, is required in order to take novice ordination.
The main difference between the 8 precepts of an Anagarika and the 10 precepts of a novice Monk is the rule of not handling money. Therefore, anagarika ordinations usually take place in forest Monasteries where the monastic rules, including the one on not handling money, are strictly followed.