{{short description|Buddhist higher ordination ceremony}} {{Buddhism|terse=1}} thumb|Upasampadā of a Buddhist monk in Burma '''Upasampadā''' (Pali) literally denotes "approaching or nearing the ascetic tradition." In more common parlance it specifically refers to the rite and ritual of ascetic vetting (ordination) by which a candidate, if deemed acceptable, enters the community as '''upasampadān''' (ordained) and is authorised to undertake ascetic life.<ref>Rhys Davids, T.W. Stede, William (1921–1925). [https://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/ The Pali Text Society's Pali-English dictionary]. Chipstead, London: Pali Text Society p. 147.</ref><ref>''Encyclopædia Britannica'' (2007). Retrieved 26 Sept 2007 from "Encyclopædia Britannica Online"; [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9074384 "Upasampadā"]</ref>
According to Buddhist monastic codes (Vinaya), a person must be 20 years old in order to become a monk or nun. A person under the age of 20 years cannot undertake upasampadā (i.e., become a monk (''bhikkhu'') or nun (''bhikkhuni'')), but can become a novice (m. ''samanera'', f. ''samaneri''). After a year or at the age of 20, a novice will be considered for upasampadā.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9074384 Encyclopædia Britannica (2007).]</ref>
Traditionally, the upasampadā ritual is performed within a well-demarcated and consecrated area called ''sima'' (''sima malaka'') and needs to be attended by a specified number of monks: "ten or even five in a remoter area".<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2009/2533073.htm Peter Skilling, How Buddhism invented Asia, 2 April 2009]. Peter Skilling interviewed by Phillip Adams. Online audio recording</ref>
==Regional variations== Customs regarding ''upasampada'' vary between regional traditions.<ref name=eob>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Buddhist Monasticism | encyclopedia = MacMillan Encyclopedia of Buddhism | last = Samuels | first = Jeffery | pages = 556–60 | year = 2004 | publisher = MacMillan Reference USA | location = New York | isbn = 0-02-865719-5 | volume = 2 }}</ref> In the Theravada tradition, monastics typically undertake higher ordination as soon as they are eligible. In East Asia, it is more typical for monastics to defer or avoid ''upasampada'' ordination entirely, remaining novices (samanera) for most or all of their monastic careers.<ref name=eob/> This difference may originate from the historical shortage of temples in East Asia able to provide higher ordination according to the Vinaya.<ref name=eob/>
==See also== *Pabbajjā: "going forth," novice ordination, entering the condition of mendicancy. *Shinbyu: Novitiation ceremony for young Burmese boys * Poy Sang Long: Novitiation ceremony for young Shan boys *Ordination hall *Bai Sema: Sima boundary stones in Thai Buddhist temples *Pāṭimokkha: Basic code of monastic discipline *Refuge in Buddhism
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
{{Buddhism topics}} {{Sri Lankan Buddhist Observances}}
Category:Buddhist monasticism Category:Vinaya Category:Pali words and phrases
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