By 佛光大學佛教研修院碩士班

6.Upasaka: This refers to male lay practitioners who uphold the Five Precepts. If they do not wish to uphold all the Five Precepts, they can just uphold one precept. Hence, they are called “one-mark upasaka”. If they uphold two precepts, it is so-called “few-marks upasaka{8}” Those uphold three or four precepts are so-called“most -marks upasaka{9}.” Those uphold the Five Precepts are then called “full-marks upasaka.” Upasaka means laymen ( jinshi, close-to ) who are close to and serve bhiksus in order to learn the Dharma.

7.Upasika: This refers to female lay practitioners who uphold the Five Precepts. It means laywomen who are close to and serve bhiksus or bhiksunis in order to learn the Dharma.

In the disciplinary precepts of the Smaller Vehicle{10}, the classifications of the seven classes of disciples are strictly divided. However,in Mahayana Bodhisattva precepts, the seven classes of disciples are divided based on their resolutions, and are called Bodhi- sattvas.Monastic Bodhisattvas or Lay Bodhisattvas, they possess same definition and significance.

Buddhism belongs to the seven classes of disciples. We, as children of the Buddha, must repay our gratitude to the Buddha and relieve the suffering beings.