bhikkhus

Bhikkhus are fully ordained male monastics in Buddhism, most prominently within the Theravada tradition, though the term and the monastic system appear in other lineages as well. The word bhikkhu comes from Pali and denotes a monk who lives by alms and follows a formal monastic discipline within a community known as a sangha.

Ordination typically occurs in two stages. A candidate first takes the novice ordination, known as pabbajja, to become a samanera (novice monk). After a period of training and demonstration of commitment, the monk may undertake the higher ordination, upasampada, to become a bhikkhu. Once ordained, bhikkhus observe the Vinaya, a comprehensive monastic code that governs ethics, conduct, dress, and daily routine.

Daily life centers on meditation, study, and service within the monastic community. Bhikkhus often participate in alms rounds (pindapata), relying on lay supporters for food and material needs, and they may reside in monasteries or forest monasteries. Their duties also include teaching the dhamma, preserving and reciting the scriptures, and supervising novices. The bhikkhu sangha plays a central role in the transmission of Buddhist doctrine and practice and is one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism, functioning alongside the laity.

Geographically, bhikkhus are most common in Theravada-majority countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. In other traditions, the term bhikṣu is used for fully ordained monks, while bhikkhuni refers to the female counterpart in lineages that preserve female ordination. Bhikkhus thus represent a cornerstone of monastic life and the broader Buddhist scholastic and spiritual enterprise.