upasaka

upasaka
Lay devotee of the Buddha.

Originally the term applied to followers of the Buddha who were not ordained as bhiksus; today it is normally applied, mainly in Southeast Asia, to pious individuals who visit the local monastery on the weekly holy days and who undertake special vows. They support the sangha with regular offerings and observe the five precepts expected of all Buddhists: to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and using intoxicants.

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Sanskrit“servant” feminine  Upasika  

      lay devotee of the Gautama Buddha. The term correctly refers to any Buddhist who is not a member of a monastic order, but its modern usage in Southeast Asia more often connotes the particularly pious person who visits the local monastery on the weekly holy days and who undertakes special vows.

      Since its beginnings in India, Buddhism has accepted both men and women of any race, social class, or caste. All that is required of believers is the simple affirmation of the Triratna (“Threefold Refuge”), composed of the Buddha, the dharma (teachings), and the sangha (community of believers). The Buddhist layperson may observe, in addition, any combination of the five precepts (not to kill, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or take intoxicants) and to support the monastic community by giving alms.

      The Theravada (“Way of the Elders”) Buddhist tradition of Southeast Asia distinguishes between the religious paths of the layperson and the monk; achievement of nirvana (spiritual emancipation) is normally considered possible only if a devotee renounces worldly life and joins a monastic order. The Mahayana (“Greater Vehicle”) tradition of Tibet and East Asia, however, recognizes several celebrated masters who at the same time have been married householders.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Upāsaka — (masculine) or Upāsikā (feminine) are from the Sanskrit and Pāli words for attendant . [Nattier (2003), p. 25, states that the etymology of upāsikā suggests those who serve and that the word is best understood as lay auxiliary of the monastic… …   Wikipedia

  • Upasaka — Upāsaka (Sanskrit, Pali upāsaka, weibl. upāsikā), wörtl. Dabeisitzender , ist ein buddhistischer Laienanhänger, der sich durch die Dreifache Zufluchtnahme (skt. triśaraṇa) als solcher bekennt und gelobt, die fünf Śīlas einzuhalten. Nach… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Upāsaka — (Sanskrit, Pali upāsaka, weibl. upāsikā), wörtl. Dabeisitzender , ist ein buddhistischer Laienanhänger, der sich durch die Dreifache Zufluchtnahme (skt. triśaraṇa) als solcher bekennt und gelobt, die fünf Śīlas einzuhalten. Nach Auffassung… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Upasaka — Upāsaka Upāsaka (au masculin) ou upāsikā (au féminin) désigne un bouddhiste qui a pris les trois refuges, observe les cinq commandements et pratique le bouddhisme à la maison. On utilise au Japon les termes ubasoku (優婆塞, ubasoku?) au masculin et… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Upāsaka — Upāsaka, ou upāsikā au féminin, désigne un bouddhiste qui a pris les trois refuges, observe les cinq préceptes et pratique le bouddhisme à la maison. On utilise au Japon les termes ubasoku (優婆塞, ubasoku?) au masculin et ubai …   Wikipédia en Français

  • upasaka — Devoto laico de Buda. El término se aplicaba originalmente a los seguidores de Buda no ordenados como bhikkus; hoy se aplica, especialmente en el sudeste de Asia, a personas piadosas que visitan el monasterio local en días de semana sagrados y… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • pary-upásaka — पर्युपसक …   Indonesian dictionary

  • Upasika — Upāsaka (Sanskrit, Pali upāsaka, weibl. upāsikā), wörtl. Dabeisitzender , ist ein buddhistischer Laienanhänger, der sich durch die Dreifache Zufluchtnahme (skt. triśaraṇa) als solcher bekennt und gelobt, die fünf Śīlas einzuhalten. Nach… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Upāsikā — Upāsaka (Sanskrit, Pali upāsaka, weibl. upāsikā), wörtl. Dabeisitzender , ist ein buddhistischer Laienanhänger, der sich durch die Dreifache Zufluchtnahme (skt. triśaraṇa) als solcher bekennt und gelobt, die fünf Śīlas einzuhalten. Nach… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ubasoku — Upāsaka Upāsaka (au masculin) ou upāsikā (au féminin) désigne un bouddhiste qui a pris les trois refuges, observe les cinq commandements et pratique le bouddhisme à la maison. On utilise au Japon les termes ubasoku (優婆塞, ubasoku?) au masculin et… …   Wikipédia en Français

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