Thero

For the figure in Greek mythology, see Thero (Greek mythology).

Thero (Sinhalese: ස්ථවිර, also called Thera, feminine form Theri) is an honorific term for higher ordained Buddhist monks in the Buddhist monastic order. The feminine term, Theri is used for higher ordained Buddhist nuns. The Pāli language term Thera translates to English as 'elder and venerable'. These terms which are used at the end of a monk or a nun's other names, are useful to distinguish Buddhist monastics from the lay people (upāsaka and upāsikā), who keep five precepts. The term Mahathera (feminine form : Mahatheri) is used sometimes to refer most elderly and venerable monks, who have reached a higher level of spiritual development. Usage of these terms varies according to the Buddhist tradition and culture. In Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist tradition, these terms are widely used.

Some prominent theros / theris :

Buddhism topics

Foundations	Three Jewels Buddha Dharma Sangha Four Noble Truths Noble Eightfold Path Nirvana Middle Way

The Buddha	Tathāgata Birthday Four sights Physical characteristics Footprint Iconography Films Miracles Family Suddhodana (father) Maya (mother) Mahapajapati Gotami (adoptive mother) Yasodhara (wife) Rahula (son) Places where the Buddha stayed Buddha in world religions

Key concepts	Three Marks of Existence Impermanence Suffering Not-self Dependent Origination Five Aggregates Karma Rebirth Saṃsāra Saṅkhāra Defilements Ignorance Craving Five Hindrances Ten Fetters Faculties Enlightenment (Awakening) Parinirvana Thusness Two truths doctrine Emptiness Bodhicitta Bodhisattva Buddha-nature Mindstream Dzogchen

Cosmology	Ten spiritual realms Six Realms Heaven Human realm Asura realm Hungry Ghost realm Animal realm Hell Three planes of existence

Practices	Refuge Buddhist devotion Puja Offerings Prostration Chanting Merit Paritta Generosity Renunciation Morality Precepts Bodhisattva vow Prātimokṣa Threefold Training Morality Concentration Wisdom Four Divine Abidings Loving-kindness Compassion Sympathetic joy Equanimity Perfections Enlightenment Qualities Seven Factors of Enlightenment Sati Dhamma vicaya Pīti Passaddhi Effort Four Right Exertions Bases of Power Five Strengths Faith Mindfulness Satipatthana Jhāna/Dhyāna Bhavana Satya Sacca Meditation Mantras Kammaṭṭhāna Recollection Smarana Mindfulness of Breathing Serenity meditation Insight meditation Shikantaza Zazen Kōan Mandala Tonglen Tantra Tertön Terma

Attainment	Types of Buddha Private Buddha Bodhisattva Four stages of enlightenment Stream-enterer Once-returner Non-returner Arhat

Monasticism	Monk Nun Novice monk Novice nun Anagarika Ajahn Sayadaw Zen master Rōshi Lama Rinpoche Geshe Tulku Householder Lay follower Disciple

Major figures	Gautama Buddha Kaundinya Assaji Sāriputta Mahamoggallāna Mulian Ananda Maha Kassapa Anuruddha Mahakaccana Nanda Subhuti Punna Upali Mahapajapati Gotami Khema Uppalavanna Asita Channa Yasa Buddhaghosa Nagasena Bodhidharma Nagarjuna Asanga Vasubandhu Atiśa Padmasambhava Nichiren Ambedkar Dalai Lama Panchen Lama Karmapa Naropa

Texts	Tripiṭaka Mahāyāna sūtras Pāli Canon Chinese Buddhist canon Tibetan Buddhist canon

Branches	Theravada Mahayana Zen Pure Land Tiantai Nichiren Madhyamaka Yogacara Navayana Vajrayana Tibetan Buddhism Shingon Early Buddhist schools Pre-sectarian Buddhism Basic points unifying Theravāda and Mahāyāna

Countries	Bangladesh Bhutan Burma Cambodia China India Indonesia Japan Korea Laos Malaysia Mongolia Nepal Pakistan Philippines Russia Singapore Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand Tibet Vietnam Middle East Iran Western countries Argentina Australia Brazil France United Kingdom United States Venezuela

History	Timeline Ashoka Buddhist councils History of Buddhism in India Decline of Buddhism in India Greco-Buddhism Buddhism and the Roman world Buddhism in the West Silk Road transmission of Buddhism Persecution of Buddhists Banishment of Buddhist monks from Nepal Buddhist crisis (Vietnam) Women in Buddhism Buddhism in the West Buddhist modernism Vipassana movement 969 Movement

Philosophy	Abhidharma Logic Buddhology Eschatology Reality God Secular Buddhism Humanism Eight Consciousnesses Engaged Buddhism Socialism Economics Atomism Evolution Ethics The unanswered questions

Culture	Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Temple of the Tooth Art Greco-Buddhist art Poetry Buddha statue Budai Symbolism Dharmacakra Flag Bhavacakra Swastika Thangka Prayer wheel Mala Mudra Mantra Om mani padme hum Funeral Music Holidays Vesak Uposatha Magha Puja Asalha Puja Rains retreat Monastic robe Architecture Vihara Wat Stupa Pagoda Candi Thai temple art and architecture Pilgrimage Lumbini Maya Devi Temple Bodh Gaya Sarnath Kushinagar Bodhi Tree Mahabodhi Temple Calendar Cuisine Vegetarianism

Miscellaneous	Lineage Maitreya Avalokiteśvara Guanyin Amitābha Brahmā Māra Comparison of the rise of Buddhism in China and Japan Dhammapada Vinaya Sutra Koliya Hinayana Liturgical languages Pali Sanskrit Dharma talk Kalpa Higher Knowledge Iddhi (Psychic powers) Siddhi (Psychic powers)

Buddhism and:	Science Psychology Hinduism Jainism East Asian religions Christianity Theosophy Gnosticism Violence Western philosophy

Lists	Buddhas Twenty-eight Buddhas Bodhisattvas Buddhists Suttas Books Temples Candi

Outline Portal Category Glossary Index Commons Wikiquote

Thero

See also