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'''Upasaka''' (Skt. ''upāsaka''; Tib. ''genyen''; [[Wyl.]] ''dge bsnyen'') or '''upasika''' (Skt. ''upāsikā''; Tib. ''genyenma''; Wyl. ''dge bsnyen ma'') — respectively, a male or female lay practitioner. One of the [[pratimoksha vows]]. Jan Nattier writes:
'''Upasaka''' (Skt. ''upāsaka''; Tib. ''genyen''; [[Wyl.]] ''dge bsnyen'') or '''upasika''' (Skt. ''upāsikā''; Tib. ''genyenma''; Wyl. ''dge bsnyen ma'') — respectively, a male or female lay practitioner. One of the [[pratimoksha vows]]. Jan Nattier writes:<ref>''The Bodhisattva Path Based on the Ugraparipṛcchā, a Mahāyāna Sūtra'' - Jan Nattier. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Delhi, 2007.</REF>
:An upāsaka is not simply a "non-monastic Buddhist"; rather the term refers to a specific category consisting of lay Buddhist (one might better use the terms "lay brother" and "lay sister") who are particularly diligent in their Buddhist practice. Specific activities are generally associated with becoming an upāsaka, that is, taking the three refuges, observing [[Five lay vows|the five ethical precepts]], frequenting the monastery in order to hear teachings and make offerings, and taking extra vows on festival or uposatha days (which in essence involve emulating monastic behavior). Moreover, the role of the upāsaka, as the etymology of the term ("one who serves") would imply, is to associate with and to be of service to the monastic community.
:An upāsaka is not simply a "non-monastic Buddhist"; rather the term refers to a specific category consisting of lay Buddhist (one might better use the terms "lay brother" and "lay sister") who are particularly diligent in their Buddhist practice. Specific activities are generally associated with becoming an upāsaka, that is, taking the three refuges, observing [[Five lay vows|the five ethical precepts]], frequenting the monastery in order to hear teachings and make offerings, and taking extra vows on festival or uposatha days (which in essence involve emulating monastic behavior). Moreover, the role of the upāsaka, as the etymology of the term ("one who serves") would imply, is to associate with and to be of service to the monastic community.


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#“Keeping a few precepts” (''na ga chöpa'') means that in addition to taking refuge, one vows not to kill, not to steal and not to lie.  
#“Keeping a few precepts” (''na ga chöpa'') means that in addition to taking refuge, one vows not to kill, not to steal and not to lie.  
#A “complete upasaka (or upasika)” (''yongdzok genyen'') is one who in addition to these vows, also takes the commitment to abandon sexual misconduct.
#A “complete upasaka (or upasika)” (''yongdzok genyen'') is one who in addition to these vows, also takes the commitment to abandon sexual misconduct.
==Notes==
<small><references/></small>


==Further Reading==
==Further Reading==

Revision as of 11:04, 8 February 2017

Upasaka (Skt. upāsaka; Tib. genyen; Wyl. dge bsnyen) or upasika (Skt. upāsikā; Tib. genyenma; Wyl. dge bsnyen ma) — respectively, a male or female lay practitioner. One of the pratimoksha vows. Jan Nattier writes:[1]

An upāsaka is not simply a "non-monastic Buddhist"; rather the term refers to a specific category consisting of lay Buddhist (one might better use the terms "lay brother" and "lay sister") who are particularly diligent in their Buddhist practice. Specific activities are generally associated with becoming an upāsaka, that is, taking the three refuges, observing the five ethical precepts, frequenting the monastery in order to hear teachings and make offerings, and taking extra vows on festival or uposatha days (which in essence involve emulating monastic behavior). Moreover, the role of the upāsaka, as the etymology of the term ("one who serves") would imply, is to associate with and to be of service to the monastic community.

Etymology

The Tibetan term dge bsnyen which translates the Sanskrit upāsaka is etymologically explained as 'being close to' (Wyl. sbnyen) 'virtue' (Wyl. dge ba). The Sanskrit word upāsaka means 'one who serves' or a 'servant'.

Subdivisions

There are four types of upasaka or upasika:

  1. An “upasaka (or upasika) who keeps the threefold refuge” (kyab sum dzinpé genyen) takes refuge in the Three Jewels, but does not take the vows of not killing, not stealing, not committing sexual misconduct and so on (i.e. none of the five lay vows).
  2. “Keeping a single precept” (na chik chöpa) means that, for example, in addition to taking the Three Jewels as one’s refuge, one vows not to take the lives of others.
  3. “Keeping a few precepts” (na ga chöpa) means that in addition to taking refuge, one vows not to kill, not to steal and not to lie.
  4. A “complete upasaka (or upasika)” (yongdzok genyen) is one who in addition to these vows, also takes the commitment to abandon sexual misconduct.

Notes

  1. The Bodhisattva Path Based on the Ugraparipṛcchā, a Mahāyāna Sūtra - Jan Nattier. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Delhi, 2007.

Further Reading