No, traditionally Buddhist nuns (and monks) must remain celibate and cannot marry while ordained, as they take vows (Vinaya) to focus solely on spiritual practice, forsaking worldly ties like marriage and family to dedicate themselves to the Dharma. However, this rule has exceptions, particularly in Japanese Buddhism where some traditions allow married clergy, and in Tibetan Buddhism, where specialized non-celibate practitioners exist outside traditional monasticism, or those ordained as children can disrobe to marry as adults.
Buddhism has a long tradition of encouraging monastic celibacy, seeing the simple life of a nun or monk, free of family responsibilities, as providing the best conditions for practising the Buddha's teachings.
They are: (1) even though the time since her ordination may be as long as one hundred years, a nun must pay respect even to a monk who has just been ordained into the Buddhist Order; (2) she must not slander a monk; (3) she must not accuse a monk of any misdeed; (4) she must receive from a monk the entire commandments ...
Celibacy (brahmacariya) is the practice of abstaining from sexual behaviour, particularly sexual intercourse. Buddhist monks and nuns must be celibate as are lay people during the time they practice either the eight or the ten Precepts.
Some nuns heard this and remained silent; other nuns replied, saying, “The World-Honored One has set down a rule-of-training that [a nun] is not allowed to touch a male.
yes, buddhist monks and nuns (Sanskrit. Bhikkhu/Bhikkhuni, Tibet. Gelong/Gelongma) must shave their hair every two month minimum and there is a two fingerbreadth rule for the hair.
The possibility of practicing polygamy for Buddhist men seems acceptable from the Buddhist view because there is no explicit rule in the Tipiṭaka which prohibits polygamy.
Buddhism, particularly in the early monastic Vinaya texts, recognizes four primary categories related to sex and gender: male (purisa), female (itthi), ubhatobyañjanaka (intersex/hermaphroditic, having signs of both), and paṇḍaka (a less clearly defined category often referring to individuals with deficiencies in sexual capacity or desire, sometimes translated as eunuchs or queer). These categories, especially ubhatobyañjanaka and paṇḍaka, don't map perfectly to modern LGBTQ+ terms but acknowledge biological variations and non-normative sexual beings, with paṇḍaka often facing restrictions in monastic ordination.
All the nunneries follow a simple vegetarian diet. Breakfast might be a piece of flat bread, cooked mixed vegetables, and tea. Lunch is the main meal of the day and is often rice, two kinds of vegetables, dal, and sometimes fruit. Dinner is often a noodle soup and maybe a steamed bun.
A female Buddhist monk, more commonly known as a Buddhist nun, is called a bhikkhuni. Bhikkhu and bhikkhuni live in monk communities called a sangha, which are traditionally comprised exclusively of either bhikkhu or bhikkhuni.
Yes, you can become a nun even if you are not a virgin, as the requirement is a vow of chastity, not physical virginity, meaning no sex after vows; past sexual experiences are generally acceptable if confessed and repented, and widowed women often become nuns. Religious life focuses on a future commitment to celibacy and dedication to God, with past life choices being less critical than one's present spiritual journey and ability to embrace the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
In Buddhist philosophy, 27 is the highest level of spiritual attainment in Rupa-loka (the material world). Above that are four more levels of attainment in the non-material world — infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, and finally: neither perception nor non-perception.
An American monk looks at traditional Buddhist economy. According to the Buddhist monastic code, monks and nuns are not allowed to accept money or even to engage in barter or trade with laypeople.
Buddhists are expected to follow the civil laws regarding marriage laid out by their respective governments. While the ceremony itself is civil, many Buddhists obtain the blessing from monks at the local temple after the marriage is completed.
A Buddhist nun has a commitment to live frugally, being mindful of the effects of her actions, speech, and thoughts wherever she is, whether she is within the compound of a monastery—living or participating with fellow practitioners in rituals—or whether she is interacting with non-monastics.
A woman who wants to become a Catholic nun, for example, must be at least 18 years old, be single, have no dependent children, and have no debts to be considered. Buddhist nuns face similar requirements when considering ordination.
We also wear the same outfit every day—the robes of a Buddhist monastic—and forego jewelry and makeup. This, too, is immensely practical. (Have you ever been paralyzed staring into your closet wondering what to wear that day? Buddhist nuns do not have this problem.)
The question “Can vegetarians eat eggs?” arises because eggs are an animal product, leading to debates about whether they involve killing. In Buddhism, fertilized eggs are considered the beginning of life, so consuming them goes against the principle of compassion.
Some Buddhists who follow a strict diet not eat the five pungent vegetables: onions, garlic, chives, green onions and leeks. The Buddha said that these adversely affect those who are in the early stages of cultivation.
The Vinyana, a Buddhist text for monks, forbids Buddhist monks and nuns from having sexual relationships with men, women and those of other genders, such as pandanka (interpreted as those with indeterminate sexual characteristics or people who do not conform to sexual norms, such as prostitutes).
The Buddha said to her: “Sujātā, a man can have seven kinds of wife. What seven? A wife like a killer, a wife like a thief, a wife like a lord, a wife like a mother, a wife like a sister, a wife like a comrade, and a wife like a bondservant.
The precepts are commitments to abstain from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Within the Buddhist doctrine, they are meant to develop mind and character to make progress on the path to enlightenment.
In return, the wife should reciprocate with love and respect for her husband and assist him by: (i) managing the household well; (ii) being hospitable to his friends and relatives; (iii) being faithful to him; (iv) taking care of the wealth of the family; (v) being industrious in her work.
Don't touch Buddhist monks, especially if you are female.
Women are not supposed to hand items to monks, either. Men who need to hand something to a monk, or take something from a monk, should try to use their right hands.
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also referred to as the FLDS Church) continues to practice polygamy.