The Initiation of Novicehood and the Ordination of Monkhood in the Burmese Buddhist Culture

The book is organized into two principal parts. The opening sections include a preamble and a biographical note on the author, establishing the work as both a personal and scholarly account of Burmese Buddhist monastic rites. Part One, “Burmese Buddhist Initiation of Novicehood,” describes the initiation ceremony for boys entering novicehood, beginning with its cultural and religious meaning, then presenting the agenda of procedures such as introducing the boy aspirant to the Saṅgha, requesting the election of a monk to shave the head, preliminary meditation, requesting permission to participate, receiving robes, changing from lay clothing into monastic robes, taking refuge in the Three Ratanas, observing the Ten Precepts, appointing a preceptor, and receiving sermons and ritual blessings. Part Two, “The Higher Ordination of Buddhist Monk,” explains the ordination rite for full monkhood, including purification, formal ordination, certification, registration, the four dependable requisites, four akaraṇīya dhamma, and the sermon of ordination. The later sections present the code of discipline of the Buddhist monk, including the Pātimokkha of the Bhikkhus, categories of disciplinary rules, methods for settling disputes, the daily routine, confessional catechism, monastic education, and the ideal of tranquillity and peace.