Buddhism, a religion that originated in ancient India in the 6th century BC, is now one of the three major religions in the world. Throughout its long history, Buddhist practitioners have played a pivotal role. And among these practitioners, bhikshus and bhikshunis are two distinct groups. Today, let's walk into their world together and learn about the differences between them.
1. Historical background.
In the early days of Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha founded the Sangha in which male practitioners were called bhikshus and female practitioners were called bhikshunis. Both words are derived from Sanskrit, bhikshu means "beggar" and bhikshuni means "beggar". In the social context of the time, the life of Buddhist practitioners was very difficult, and they had to rely on begging for food to make ends meet.
2. Lifestyle.
There is a significant difference in the way of life of a bhikshu and a bhikshuni. In ancient India, the social status of women was relatively low, so bhikshunis faced more difficulties and challenges in their spiritual practice. They need the consent of the bhikshu to become ordained and have a relatively low status in the Sangha. However, this does not affect their pursuit and belief in the Dharma. They also had to keep the precepts, meditate, and spread the Dharma.
In contrast, the living conditions of the monks are comparatively better. They can receive more education, participate in more religious activities, and even hold important positions in the Sangha. However, this does not mean that they can relax their demands on themselves. In Buddhism, bhikshus are also required to strictly observe the precepts, meditate, and spread the Dharma.
3. Cultivation methods.
There are also significant differences between bhikshus and bhikshunis in terms of practice. Bhikshus mainly improve their spiritual state through meditation, and they achieve inner peace and enlightenment through long periods of meditation. In the process, they may experience various hallucinations and realms, but they all need to maintain strong beliefs and mindfulness.
Bhikshunis, on the other hand, focus more on the practice of daily life. They develop compassion and bodhichitta through daily chores such as housework and caring for the sick. They believe that the spirit of Buddhism can only be truly embodied by compassion and selfless dedication in daily life. Of course, that doesn't mean they don't meditate. When appropriate, they also meditate to improve their spiritual realm.
Fourth, social impact.
Historically, both bhikshus and bhikshunis have made great contributions to the spread and development of Buddhism. Through their own practice, they set an example for their followers and spread the essence of Buddhism. At the same time, they also actively participate in social welfare undertakings and make positive contributions to the society.
Nowadays, with the progress of society and the development of Buddhism, the status of bhikshus and bhikshunis has also been significantly improved. They are no longer just Buddhist practitioners, they are part of society. They actively participate in social welfare undertakings and make positive contributions to society. At the same time, they have also become important inheritors and developers of Buddhist culture.
V. Conclusion. In general, although both bhikshus and bhikshunis are Buddhist practitioners, there are significant differences in their lifestyles, practice methods, and social influences. These differences reflect the different ways in which Buddhism perceives and treats different gender roles, as well as the diversity and inclusiveness of Buddhist practice. Whether it is a bhikshu or a bhikshuni, they are all important parts of Buddhism and have made great contributions to the spread and development of Buddhism.
Buddhist culture