How a bikkhu name is chosen?

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
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yureee123
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How a bikkhu name is chosen?

Post by yureee123 »

I was just wondering.. how a bikkhu's name is chosen? Who choses it? The bikkhu himself? The abbot of the monstery? And the name is arbitrarious? Or it has any context?

It is just a useless curiosity.. =)

Thanks.
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Goofaholix
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Re: How a bikkhu name is chosen?

Post by Goofaholix »

yureee123 wrote:I was just wondering.. how a bikkhu's name is chosen? Who choses it? The bikkhu himself? The abbot of the monstery? And the name is arbitrarious? Or it has any context?

It is just a useless curiosity.. =)
In Thailand they have a huge book with a list of possible names based on the day of the week or date of the birth of the monk to be, the preceptor chooses a name from that.

InSsri Lanka I understand the monk is named after the village he ordained or was born in .

Note sure about Burma
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waterchan
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Re: How a bikkhu name is chosen?

Post by waterchan »

I have heard that at Bodhinyana Monastery in Perth, Australia, the newcomers get to choose their own monastic names from a book of names. Kind of cool, really.
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James the Giant
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Re: How a bikkhu name is chosen?

Post by James the Giant »

waterchan wrote:I have heard that at Bodhinyana Monastery in Perth, Australia, the newcomers get to choose their own monastic names from a book of names. Kind of cool, really.
Yep, one monk even made up his own Pali-sounding name; "Nito", pronounced Neat-oh. :tongue:
But that's not usual, it's usually as Goofaholix explained.

I've got a couple of ideas for myself.
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Goofaholix
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Re: How a bikkhu name is chosen?

Post by Goofaholix »

James the Giant wrote:I've got a couple of ideas for myself.
Gianto?
Pronouns (no self / not self)
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
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Virgo
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Re: How a bikkhu name is chosen?

Post by Virgo »

Goofaholix wrote:
yureee123 wrote:I was just wondering.. how a bikkhu's name is chosen? Who choses it? The bikkhu himself? The abbot of the monstery? And the name is arbitrarious? Or it has any context?

It is just a useless curiosity.. =)
In Thailand they have a huge book with a list of possible names based on the day of the week or date of the birth of the monk to be, the preceptor chooses a name from that.
Yes, in Thailand it is based on astrology in the monasteries.

Kevin
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pilgrim
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Re: How a bikkhu name is chosen?

Post by pilgrim »

Goofaholix wrote:
InSsri Lanka I understand the monk is named after the village he ordained or was born in .
In Sri Lanka, monks also adopt a Pali name with religious significance, but many monks may have the same Pali name. So his village of origin is added as a prefix to identify which monk is being referred to.
Goofaholix wrote:
James the Giant wrote:I've got a couple of ideas for myself.
Gianto?
Or Jayanto. :jumping:
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Cittasanto
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Re: How a bikkhu name is chosen?

Post by Cittasanto »

The Thai Book is a calendar (I believe). with the starting letter for the name corresponding to the day of the week and date.
I have heard in Burma the name is simply random (although I think the system in thailand may also be used there), and can be chosen because a new ordainee reminds the preceptor of someone.
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Re: How a bikkhu name is chosen?

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