Addressing monks in Malaysia.

Addressing monks in Malaysia.

Sangha and Bhante (Ayya)

There is some confusion on how to refer to monks. For example if referring to 5 monks, some people say there are 5 sangha in the temple; some say there are 5 bhantes in the temple. Both are incorrect.

Sangha means "community", but in popular usage commonly refers to a community of monks, not individual monks. And Bhante is a vocative term one uses when addressing a monk directly. 

It is not a noun. The correct phrase is "There are 5 monks in the temple", or if one wants to be more exact "There are 5 bhikkhus in the temple", assuming one knows they are all fully ordained bhikkhus. The word "Bhante" is also commonly used as a title e.g Bhante Nagasena. 

Sometimes one hears the word "sangha-members" being used instead of monks or bhikkhus. 

This is a fairly new term, and is superfluous. It is like saying "members of the human race" when the word "people" will do. So why add more terms that become increasingly confusing? 

Just say monks or bhikkhus.

The equivalent for Bhante for Nuns is the word "Ayya"

Mahasangha

Literally meaning "Great Sangha", it is used as a term of respect by Sri Lankan Buddhists only when referring to the bhikkhu sangha. But it is unclear at which point a sangha becomes Maha. 

As far as I know, it is not used in other traditional Theravada countries.

Avuso/Ayasma

Avuso is used by a monk to address another monk junior to him. Ayasma is the other way round. Junior monks and also laymen address senior monks as Ayasma or Bhante.

The word Bhikkhu in names

Some monks use the word Bhikkhu as a title in their names. It can be placed in front as in Bhikkhu Bodhi or at the back as in Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Both are correct. Its like the Dr title. It can be Dr Wong or Wong M.D.

Bhikkhu/bhikkhuni /samanera/samaneri /upasaka/upasika

Pali words meaning monk/nun /novice monk/novice nun /layman/laywoman

Chief High Priest of Malaysia

A strictly Malaysian invention. "Chief" was the nick name for Ven K Sri Dhammananda but since his demise, the title is claimed by a number of monks who have been awarded Sangha Nayaka by Sri Lankan nikayas. Sangha Nayaka means Leader of the Sangha but it refers only to monks of that particular Sri Lankan sect. When applied before the word Malaysia, it is misleading as it gives the impression the monk is the head of all Malaysian Buddhists. What is regrettable is that many Buddhist organisations are aware of this misrepresentation but intentionally exploit it, possibly in breach of the precepts. Furthermore the word Priest is absurd as priests are by definition, an intermediary between man and god. The term Chief High Priest should be dropped altogether

Thai words

Ajahn

This is a Thai word derived from the Pali word Acariya meaning Teacher. One can address any Thai monk as Ajahn if one considers him a teacher. It is not a title conferred by any authority, and neither is it true that only Thai monks of 10 vassas and above are all Ajahns. 

This misunderstanding comes about because the sangha of Ajahn Chah, which is popular internationally, has adopted a practice of referring to monks of 10 vassas and above as Ajahn. 

But this is a practice in their group only.

Phra

Another Thai word derived from the Pali word vara, meaning venerable, holy or blessed. It is a general term for any monk one considers as venerable. So Phra Ajahn Sumedho means Venerable Teacher Sumedho.

Tan

A Thai honorific which is like the English "Mister" but used only for monks. For laymen Thais use the word "Khun". As far as I know this has no Buddhist connotations. It is strictly a Thai word and is commonly used for junior Thai monks or whose seniority is unknown.

Luang Por, Luang Pu, and Luang Ta

Again, these are Thai words, meaning "Royal Father", "Royal paternal grandfather" and "Royal maternal grandfather" respectively. It is used for old and senior monks. Another Thai practice..

Kruba

Commonly used in North Thailand, Chiangmai and Laos. Again meaning teacher, it is believed to derive from the word "guru".

Burmese words

Sayadaw/Sayama

Burmese word for "Royal Teacher" because it was originally used for monks who taught members of the royal family. Sayadaw for men, Sayama for women. It is now commonly used for Abbots and senior teachers.

Sayalay

A Burmese word for Nun.

Ashin

Burmese word for venerable, commonly used for monks.( equivalent to the Thai Phra). May be derived from the Pali Acariya (meaning teacher).

Theravada in Malaysia.

Malaysian Buddhists are fortunate to receive teachers from various countries but their customs can be confusing. So let us stop practising Thai Buddhism, Burmese Buddhism or Sri Lankan Buddhism. Take the Dhamma from these teachers but make Theravada our own tradition. We could start by dropping the cultural baggage from these countries and revert to terms as recommended in the texts. 

Use the correct term according to our own languages or use the term Bhikkhu when referring to monks or either Bhante or Ayasma when addressing them. 

Make it simple.