By 佛光大學佛教研修院碩士班

2.Bhiksuni: This refers to an ordained woman who upholds the full precepts of three hundreds and forty-eight. She shaves her hair and wears clothes dyed to ragged colors, and then shows the image of a man of greatness{2} .Bhiksuni has same significant meanings as that of bhiksu.

3.Sramanera: This is a title given to a novice who has not yet received the full precepts. Any devotee's children aged seven or older, or adults who have no chances to receive the full precepts, are called sramaneras. A novice aged between seven to thirteen is called scarecrow sramanera{3}, while a novice aged between fourteen to nineteen is called sramanera in preparation for monkhood{4}. A novice aged between twenty and seventy is called sramanera-in-name{5}. Sramaneras only uphold the Ten Precepts.

4.Sramanerika{6}: This title is given to female novices who have not received the full precepts. Similar to sramaneras, sramanerikas only upholds the Ten Precepts.

5.Siksamana{7}: This refers to women who are preparing to become an ordained woman. They are one level higher than sramanerikas but lower than bhiksunis. Siksamana means a probationary nun, who observes the Six Precepts for two years. When married women enter the monastic order, there is the possibility that they may be pregnant, and people would hold them in contempt. Therefore, they must go through the stage of observation. If they do not violate the Six Precepts within two years, they are eligible to receive the Bhiksuni Precepts.