Talk:Upāsaka

lay ordination

I know there is the practice of "lay ordination" in Mahayana schools (especially Zen). Anyone know if Theravada Buddhism has a similar practice? Thanks! LarryR^(talk) 18:39, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

FWIW, while awaiting a response from others, I'm reminded that, on Uposatha days in southeast Asian communities, there is a "ceremony" (Pali: uposathaŋ samādiyati) during which a layman requests the Eight Precepts from a monastic. (See, for instance, the PED entry for "Uposatha".) Thought I'd just mention this here for the possible pending edit of this article where I might create a new section on "Lay ceremonies" or "Theravadin ceremony"/"Mahayana ordination," etc. LarryR^(talk) 22:20, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

After waiting over a month and not receiving a response, I went ahead and made the aforementioned changes. Based on scanning I did of a Google search of "'lay ordination' +Buddhism" (or something like that), I inferred that it was the Jukai ceremony by which lay followers are "ordained" in the Mahayana (or, specifically, Zen) tradition. If this is incorrect, please correct my edit. Sorry for any errors. Larry Rosenfeld (talk) 05:23, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

Not entirely sure, but I think that lay ordination is like a contradiction in terms; I've only heard ordination used in connection with becoming a monk or nun. If you mean joining the Mahayana, well, that's not called ordination as far as I ever heard, that is basically taking the bodhisattva vows?rudy 20:50, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Hi Rudy - thanks for the reply. I have the same intuition as you at this point — after all, shouldn't "ordination" have something to do with an "order" (e.g., vs. "initiation," etc., perhaps) ? Yet, when I Google "'lay ordination' +Buddhism," it comes up with 1,230 hits (most appearing to be Zen or Tibetan?). Since I already have too many fires going (here and elsewhere), I'm gonna let it go for now :-) . If you'd like to modify this article's text regarding it though, feel free of course :-) Thanks again, Larry Rosenfeld (talk) 23:00, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Hi Larry, yes, amazing this amount of hits, but if you look well I think they are mainly about a wikipedia page they refer to or Zen. Now in some traditions of Zen, the ordinations have become - how to say this carefully - a bit unorthodox; they don't have monks and nuns, but priests for example, I think as only Buddhist tradition... Stories about sake-drinking teachers/monks etc. are wide-spread, not exactly a Buddhist tradition either, so I can imagine they use the word ordination a bit different from most other Buddhists. In that sense, a bit of a mine-field perhaps? rudy 20:24, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Hi Rudy - You're certainly correct: adding "-Wikipedia -Zen" to the aforementioned Google search eliminates about 1,000 hits. FWIW, if you additionally add "-Tibetan" it reduces the hits to 80. And a number of the remaining hits appear to be on Zen-related sites (e.g., Shasta Abbey). Maybe a (mis)translation issue? We'll have to defuse some other time perhaps? Best, Larry Rosenfeld (talk) 03:51, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

Funerary ceremonies

Hi Larry, good subject, but as far as I can see it has nothing to do with the subject of this page??rudy 20:48, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Hey Rudy again!

I think it has ... something ... to do with this subject but I'd be happy to move it (or, if someone strenuously objects before we move it, we can delete it).

I think my inclination was to stick it here because I see it as a "life cycle" issue (in the Eriksonian sense), similar to initiation/conversion (mentioned just above, although, admittedly, primarily due to a change I made yesterday to a heading).

Do we have an article that covers Buddhist rituals for birth, marriage, death, etc. ? Part of me thinks that Householder (Buddhism) article might do, but one can be born and die as a Buddhist without being a "householder" (especially in the socioeconomic sense). Is it time to start a new article? If so, what? For instance, a very specific one could be created called Buddhist funeral (as exists for other religions per the Funeral article); but I rather do a cradle-to-grave kind of thing, like Ceremony (Buddhism) (e.g., based on the ceremonies identified in the WP Ceremony article).

Have you any suggestions or preferences? Thanks! Larry Rosenfeld (talk) 23:29, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Okay. The more I add to this section, the more obviously out of place it is. I'm gonna stick it out on Funeral (Buddhism) but we may want to move it again to something that, at the very least, incorporates "dying" and "death." Thanks for the prod, Rudy. I'd still be interested in any alternate suggestions you (or anyone else) might have. With metta, Larry Rosenfeld (talk) 00:36, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Yes, I think Ceremony (Buddhism) is a really good idea! You're doing great stuff here Larry - don't get overworked :-)rudy 20:26, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

I greatly value your encouragement Rudy. (Honestly, just today I was concerned that all I've been churning out lately are trifling stubs.) As always, I loudly applaud your mastery, articulateness and productivity. Be well, Larry Rosenfeld (talk) 03:55, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

Upasaka in Hinduism

Upasaka is a sanskrit term who literal meaning is attendant. In practice, an upasaka is an ardent devotee or a complete follower of a particular path or deity.

For example, a Srividya Upasaka, means the person has taken the Srividya method of worship. A Krishna upasaka, means he has taken up complete worship of Lord Krishna. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Karthik (talk • contribs) 09:12, 18 December 2011 (UTC)

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