Tibetan Buddhist Titles and Ranks: (bod lugs nang pa sangs rgyas pa'i go gnas kyi ming dang rim pa)

Tibetan Buddhist Titles and Ranks: (bod lugs nang pa sangs rgyas pa'i go gnas kyi ming dang rim pa)

Monastic Terms (from the Vinaya & Tibetan Usage)

- Abbess, Khenmo, Upadhyayani (mkhan mo):

- Abbot, Khenpo, Upadhyaya (Khenpo - head of the monks) (mkhan po):

- Chant Master, Umsey (dbu mdzad):

- Child Monk (grwa phrug):

- Congregation of Monks (grwa tshogs):

- Disciplinarian, Geku, Upadhiwarika (dge bskos):

- Disciplinarian -, Chos khrims pa (dge bskos):

- Flute Player, Gyalingpa (rgya gling pa):

- Gelobma, Shikshamana, (dge slob ma): ordination for females between dge tshul ma and gelong ma.

- Great Abbot, Khenchen (great abbot) (mkhan chen) Maha Upadhyaya:

- Great Monk, Gelong Chenmo, (dge slong chen mo):

- Great Monk or Nun, Banchen (ban chen):

- Head Cook, Solpon (gsol dpon):

- Junior Abbot, Khenchung (junior abbot) (mkhan chung):

- Master and Disciple (dpon slob):

- Monk, Drapa (draw pa) (sku gzhogs):

- Monk, Gelong fully ordained monk (dge slong):

- Monastic, Rabtujungwa, Pravrajita, (ordained monk or nun) (rab tu byung ba):

- Monk, Tsunpa, Bande (btsun pa) (monk):

- Nun/Aunt, Ani/tsunma (a ni, btsun ma):

- Novitiate Nun, Getsulma (Shramanerika, dge tshul ma):

- Novitiate Monk, Getsul (Shramanera, dge tshul): novice monk. Getsul – 36 vows (These 36 vows are the same as the 10 in the Chinese traditions). Getsul means “the one who’s training in virtuous conduct.”

- Nun, Gelongma (Bhikshuni, dge slong ma: fully ordained nun

- Official Abbot, Chikyab Khenpo (spyi khyab mkhan po):

- Old Monk, Bangan (ban rgan):

- Scholar Abbots, Khenrab (mkhan rabs):

- Senior or Retired Teacher (bla zur):

- Senior Monk, Lagan (bla rgan):

- Senior/elderly Monk (grwa rgan):

- Shrine Master, Konyen (dkon gnyer):

- Teacher, Gegan (teacher) (Guru) (dge rgan):

- Throne Holder Abbots, Trirab/danrab (khri rabs/gdan rabs):

- Treasurer/general secretary, Chagdzo (phyag mdzod):

- Young Monk, Banchung (ban chung):

- A lay person may take the 5 vows called 'approaching virtue' (in Tibetan 'genyen' dge snyan). Genyen – 5 vows (killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, using intoxicants including tobacco). This is for lay people.

- The next step is to enter the monastic way of life (Tib. rabjung) which includes wearing monk's or nun's robes. Rabjung – The 5 vows and 3 precepts including not wearing ornaments or perfumes, not sitting on high beds or thrones and not eating after midday. Rabjung means “cutting the crown hair to signify one’s willingness to give up attachment to worldly things and live a homeless life.”

After that, one can become a 'novice' (Pali samanera, Tib. getshül);

Jeff Watt & Karma Gellek

Source

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