A Study on the Living of Samaneras in the Dhammapada Commentary

Abstract

This academic article was a part of thesis entitled ‘A study on the living of Samaneras in the dhammapada commentary’ aimed to; 1) Studying history and background of Samaneras or novices in Buddhism, 2) studying the way of enlightenment of novices in Dhammapada Commentary. It was a documentary research. From the study, the findings were that;

The word ‘Samanera’ in Buddhism came from Pali word referring to boys with age under 20 years old, ordained as a novice by taking 10 precepts. The first novice in Buddhism was Rahula. Samaneras ordination was allowed by taking Tisaranagamanuupasampada or ordaining by taking three refuges only.

From study on living of Samaneras, each novice had performed perfections in different ways, resulting to some born in common family, some in rich family with the great reflections on the Buddha’s teaching then ordained as novice by different motivation,that some novice had attained enlightenment because of his perfection accumulating from previous lives, reminding his seeing the Buddha and previous deeds in past, some had attained enlightenment with perfect faculties and great liberation, only considering the teaching taught by master, some got enlightenment just finishing his hair-shaped, some with perfect wisdom and hard practice attained Arahantship while ordaining, some gained Arahantship after having ordained as a Bhikkhu. All novices had gained enlightenment due to their previous perfection accumulating, learning and practice Dhamma rightly.