Up until the latter half of the 20th century, most monks in Thailand began their careers
by serving as dek wat (literally 'temple kid'). Dek wat are traditionally no younger than
eight, and do minor housework around the temple. The primary reason for becoming a
dek wat is to gain a basic education, particularly in basic reading and writing and the
memorization of the scriptures chanted on ritual occasions. Prior to the creation of staterun
primary schools in Thailand, village temples served as the primary form of education
for most Thai boys. Service in a temple as a dek wat was a necessary prerequisite for
attaining any higher education, and was the only learning available to most Thai
peasants. Since the creation of a government-run educational apparatus in Thailand, the
number of children living as dek wat has declined significantly. However, many
government-run schools continue to operate on the premise of the local village temple.
After serving (typically for four years or more) as a dek wat, a future monk typically
ordains as a novice (samana in Pāli, or nain in Thai). Novices live according to the Ten
Precepts, as do monks, but are not formally required to follow the full range of monastic
rules found in the Pattimokha (Buddhist monastic code). There are a few other significant differences between novices and monks.
Novices often are in closer contact with their families, spending more time in the homes of their parents than monks. Novices do not
participate in the recitation of the monastic code (and the confessions of violations) that take place on the uposatha days. Novices
technically do not eat with the monks in their temple, but this typically only amounts to a gap in seating, rather than the separation
observed between monks and the laity.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น