Samanera

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Peoples of the Pali canon
Pali	English
Community of Buddhist Disciples
Monastic Sangha
Bhikkhu, Bhikkuṇī Samaṇera, Samaṇerī Sikkhamānā Anagārika	Monk, Nun Novice (m., f.) Nun trainee Postulant
Laity
Upāsaka, Upāsikā Gahattha, Gahapati Agārika, Agāriya	Lay devotee (m., f.) Householder Layperson
Other Religions
Samaṇa Ājīvaka Brāhmaṇa Nigaṇṭha	Wanderer Ascetic Brahmin Jain ascetic
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In Buddhist context, a samanera (Pali, Sanskrit: śrāmaṇera) can be translated as novice monk. It literally means 'small samana', or small renunciate, where 'small' has the meaning of boy or girl. In the Vinaya (monastic discipline), a man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikkhu, but can ordain as a samanera. The female counterpart of the samanera is the samaneri. Samaneras and samaneris keep the ten precepts as their code of behaviour, and are devoted to the Buddhist religious life.

After a year or at the age of 20, a samanera will be considered for the higher Bhikkhu or Bhikkhuni ordination (Pali: upasampada). Some monasteries will require people who want to ordain as a monk to be a novice for a set period of time, as a period of preparation and familiarization.

The issue of ordination is different for samaneras and samaneris; the rules governing higher ordination are different for samaneras and samaneris.