Dasa sil mata
Encyclopedia
A dasa sil mata is a Buddhist eight or ten precept-holder laywoman in Sri Lanka
, where the newly re-established bhikkhuni
lineage is not officially recognized yet. Dasa sil matas' status is between an ordinary lay follower and a fully ordained bhikkhuni. They are usually expected to work in the monasteries
, essentially as maids to ordained monk
s, rather than receiving training and the opportunity to practice. However, some dasa sil matas have struggled and managed to establish monasteries of their own, where women have the opportunity devote themselves to spiritual training and practice. Cambodia
, Sri Lanka and Burma have established monasteries for women. Similar orders exist in Thailand
, Cambodia and in Burma (Myanmar
). In Thailand (where it's illegal for a woman to take bhikkhuni ordination), they are called "mae ji
s." In Cambodia, they are named donchees. In Burma, an eight precept nun is addressed as thilashin
or sayalay, whereas a fully ordained woman is called a rahan-ma ("female monk"). Sri Lanka's dasa sil matas are recognized by their shaved heads and yellow robes.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, where the newly re-established bhikkhuni
Bhikkhuni
A bhikkhuni or bhikṣuṇī is a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic. Male monastics are called bhikkhus. Both bhikkhunis and bhikkhus live by the vinaya...
lineage is not officially recognized yet. Dasa sil matas' status is between an ordinary lay follower and a fully ordained bhikkhuni. They are usually expected to work in the monasteries
Vihara
Vihara is the Sanskrit and Pali term for a Buddhist monastery. It originally meant "a secluded place in which to walk", and referred to "dwellings" or "refuges" used by wandering monks during the rainy season....
, essentially as maids to ordained monk
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
s, rather than receiving training and the opportunity to practice. However, some dasa sil matas have struggled and managed to establish monasteries of their own, where women have the opportunity devote themselves to spiritual training and practice. Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Sri Lanka and Burma have established monasteries for women. Similar orders exist in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Cambodia and in Burma (Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
). In Thailand (where it's illegal for a woman to take bhikkhuni ordination), they are called "mae ji
Mae ji
Mae ji are Buddhist laywomen in Thailand occupying a position somewhere between that of an ordinary lay follower and an ordained monk. It is illegal for women to take ordination in Thailand. And they are expected to work essentially as maids to ordained monks, rather than receiving training and...
s." In Cambodia, they are named donchees. In Burma, an eight precept nun is addressed as thilashin
Thilashin
A Thilashin is a Burmese Buddhist female lay renunciant. They are often mistakenly referred to as nuns, but are closest to Samaneri.They, like the Mae ji of neighbouring Thailand and the dasa sil mata of Sri Lanka, occupy a position somewhere between that of an ordinary lay follower and an...
or sayalay, whereas a fully ordained woman is called a rahan-ma ("female monk"). Sri Lanka's dasa sil matas are recognized by their shaved heads and yellow robes.