Abbot (Buddhism)

Khen Rinpoche Nicholas Vreeland was the first western monk to be made abbot of a major Tibetan Buddhist monastery,[1] Rato Dratsang, in Karnataka, India

In addition to its use in a Christian context, abbot is a term used in English-speaking countries for a monk who holds the position of administrator of a Buddhist monastery or large Buddhist temple.[2] In Buddhist nunneries, the nun who holds the equivalent position is known in English as the abbess.

The English word "abbot" is used instead of all the various words that exist in the languages of the countries where Buddhism is, or was historically, well established.

Responsibilities

The administrative duties of an abbot or abbess include overseeing the day-to-day running of the monastery.[2][3] The Abbot or Abbess also has spiritual responsibility for the monastics under their care, and is required to interact with the abbots or abbesses of other monasteries.[4]

Languages other than English

Asian countries where Buddhism is still widely practiced have words in their own languages for the abbot of a Buddhist monastery or large temple:

Chinese

in Chinese Chan Buddhist monasteries, one word for abbot is Fangzhang meaning "ten feet square", a reference to the size of Vimalakirti's stone room.[5] Another Chinese word for abbot is Zhuchi(住持), meaning dweller and upholder.[6]

Japanese

Two story pagoda in dark wood
The abbot of the Sōji-ji, temple of Zen Buddhism, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan is a Zenji (Zen master).

In Zen Buddhism, the most commonly used Japanese words for the abbot of a large Zen temple or Zen monastery are juji(住持)[7] and choro.[2]

Tibetan

The abbot of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery is known as the Khenpo. This means "the one who gives the monks vows". The abbot is addressed as, and referred to, as "Khen Rinpoche". Another word used for more senior abbots is Khenchen, which means senior khenpo.[8]

Korean

The Korean word for abbot is chuji(住持/주지).[3][5]

References

  1. ↑ Taylor, Ella (November 20, 2014). "A Frustrating Love Letter In 'Monk With A Camera'". NPR. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Baroni, Helen Josephine (2002). The illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism. Rosen Publishing. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-8239-2240-6.
  3. 1 2 Buswell, Robert E. (1993). The Zen Monastic Experience: Buddhist Practice in Contemporary Korea. Princeton University Press. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-691-03477-5.
  4. ↑ Lawton, Kim (June 15, 2012). "Buddhist Abbot Nicholas Vreeland". PBS. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Buswell Jr., Robert E.; Lopez Jr., Donald S. (2013). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. p. 295. ISBN 978-1-4008-4805-8.
  6. ↑ "Buddhism A to Z: A entries". Buddhist Text Translation Society. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ "abbot (jūjishoku 住持職, jūji 住持, jūshoku 住職)". Sōtō Zen International. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Shamar Rinpoche's explanation of the proper use of the titles "Khenchen" and "Khenpo"". Bodhi Path Buddhist Center. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
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