Tokudo-shiki” (ordination ceremony)

In Myanmar, Buddhism is deeply embedded in people’s lives, profoundly influencing their daily actions and ways of thinking. People follow the teachings of the Buddha, visit pagodas, temples, and monasteries to make donations, and bring offerings to monks.

It is considered desirable for both men and women to experience monastic life at least once in their lifetime. When beginning life in a monastery, one undergoes a ceremony called “Tokudo-shiki,” or ordination ceremony.

When boys and girls are between about seven and twenty years old, their parents entrust them to a monastery so they can experience monastic life and training for a period of one week to three months, after which they return to their normal lives.

Allowing children to take part in the “Tokudo-shiki” (ordination ceremony) is considered an important event in life, as it helps them understand the teachings of Buddhism and grow into respectable and virtuous adults in the future.

The ordination ceremony is

• In the courtyard of the monastery, the child’s head is sprinkled with water, and then their hair is carefully shaved off with a razor under the watchful eyes of their parents, brothers, and sisters.
• After the head is completely shaved, it is washed clean using water from the bathroom or a tap.
• Monk’s robes are prepared, and the child changes from their ordinary clothes into the robes.
• Since the Tokudo-shiki (ordination ceremony) is usually held for many children at the same time, they gather in the assembly hall, where the vows to become monks are recited. Their parents and siblings watch from the back of the hall.
• After the ceremony, the children go to their assigned rooms in the monastery, where they part from their parents and begin their life as a monk.

The head shaving, changing into monk’s robes, and taking the vows are all part of the ordination ceremony to become a monk. However, for men and women over the age of 20, there are several requirements: they must have their parents’ consent, be in good health, and have no debts.

Those over 20 years old are called “Koyin”, meaning novice monks. Nuns, however, are not considered monks in the same sense and must strictly observe the Ten Precepts.

The Ten Precepts are as follows:

(1) Not to kill any living being
(2) Not to steal
(3) Not to commit sexual misconduct
(4) Not to tell lies
(5) Not to drink alcohol
(6) Not to eat after noon (until dawn of the next day)
(7) Not to dance, sing, or attend entertainment
(8) Not to wear flowers, perfumes, or cosmetics
(9) Not to sit or sleep on high or luxurious places
(10) Not to accept or possess money (gold or silver)

Life in the monastery begins at 4 a.m. The monks do not simply walk around the monastery for about an hour — instead, they practice mindful walking, focusing only on three thoughts:
“The foot has lifted,” “the foot has moved forward,” and “the foot has touched the ground.”
They keep their minds free from all other thoughts and walk in complete silence.

After that, they practice sitting meditation for about an hour, concentrating only on “breathing in” and “breathing out.” Around 6 a.m., after sunrise, they have a light breakfast, then continue with more walking and meditation before going out for alms round (Takbat).

During the alms round, monks walk in a line, keeping their eyes lowered and looking only a few steps ahead. They walk barefoot, arranged from the tallest to the shortest. The soles of their feet often become sore and may even bleed from gravel on the road. Even in the rain, they walk barefoot sometimes without umbrellas. This strict and disciplined practice of alms rounds continues every day in Myanmar.

For the parents, allowing their son to undergo the Tokudo-shiki (ordination ceremony) and live this monastic life is considered a great honor and blessing.