This video from Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly shows a family in the U.S. sending off their pre-teenage son to become ordained as a nen, or novice monk, in the tradition of Theravada Buddhism. Theravada, one of the two major schools of Buddhism, is considered the earliest record of the Buddha's teachings. It is the predominant religion of Thailand, Mynamar (Burma), Cambodia, and Sri Lanka, and has also blossomed in the West.
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The nen (an abbreviation of samanen) ordination practiced by followers of Theravada Buddhism allows boys under the age of twenty to become "novice" monks for a period of time. The ordination is not intended to induct the boys into the Buddhist community of monks, or sangha. Rather, it signals their commitment to Buddhist teachings and gives them the option of later joining the sangha.
In regions where Theravada Buddhism is prevalent, such as Thailand, nen ordination is socially incumbent on all males. The ceremony is more elaborate in some communities than others. A boy can be ordained a samanen at any time with little fanfare, but the occasion is usually an honored celebration for parents who gain merit when their son takes the "robes and bowl."
The initiation ceremony is a reenactment of an event from the life of Buddha. Prince Siddhartha (before he became Buddha) began his quest for enlightenment by renouncing all worldly possessions. In the middle of the night, he slipped away from his palace and ventured into the forest. He erased all signs of his princely life by cutting his long hair (a sign of royalty) and shedding his silk garments in exchange for the robes and bowl of a mendicant.
Similarly, the boys to be ordained as nen shave their heads and eyebrows, and trade in their clothes for robes. In imitating Buddha's actions, the boys renounce all worldly attachments, which are believed to give rise to suffering and impede enlightenment.
The boys then request permission from a senior monk to enter the sangha. They change from white robes to saffron robes and take the oath of the "ten precepts," in which they vow to abstain from killing, stealing and indulging in worldly things. After the ordination ceremony, the boys live among the sangha.
During these retreats, which should last at least a couple of weeks for thorough training, the nen live and practice the "four necessities": clothes, food, shelter, and healthcare. The boys wear only their saffron robes and eat just two meals a day (breakfast and lunch). The nen chant, meditate and study the Dharma, the Buddha's teachings. Their daily activities are intended to prepare the young men to rejoin the laity with a deeper knowledge of their faith to better navigate the world.
SUDARAT TANGTRONGWANIT: Matthew's going to be 12 in August. He told us about two months ago that he would love to become a nen.
A nen is like a little monk ... to learn about Buddhism. He had two reasons to become a nen. One is for religious purposes, and the second is because he wants to make Mommy and Daddy happy -- especially Mommy.
The abbot, because he's the oldest, was the first to cut all the children's hair. They shave the hair and the eyebrows so they don't have to worry about the way they look. They only worry about how to become good people.
Then they take a shower, for him to be pure before he becomes a nen. This is the only time especially Mom can touch him, because after tomorrow we cannot touch him directly.
We walk in a circle around the building three times -- the first circle for the Buddha, the second for the Buddha's teaching, and the third one for the monks. Then we go up to the top, the heaven, with the nen.
Inside the temple they are ready to go into nenhood, to become good children for Buddhism as well.
This chanting they have had to practice for the past week. They have to be able to say it out loud to the abbot in order for the abbot to grant them nenhood.
For the next two weeks he has to be here every day. Then I'll take him home.
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