The 21^st Sikchamana Ordination Ceremony was held on April 14^th, 2013 at Bongryeong-sa Temple, Suwon City. Approximately 90 Buddhist novice nuns obtained novice ordination precepts with the promise to train diligently as Sikchamana for the next two years. Ven. Gosan and Ven. Jongjin from the Jogye Order stated in their Dharma Talk, “If you do not maintain your precepts, you cannot enter into Samadhi and gain the perfect wisdom, thus you will not be able to enter the right path of practice. This means attainment of Full Enlightenment will not be open to you. By practicing day and night, you will leave behind all worldly concerns and enter the right path of Dharma, shedding away any obstacles.”

 

Sikchamanas are the female candidates before receiving the full ordination of Bhikkhuni precepts. They are one of the five classes of monastic communities, along with the Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, male and female laities. Sikchamanas are normally referred to as the female novice nuns between the ages of 18-20 years old, who maintain six precepts for the minimum of two years.
 

 
 

The following are six precepts rendered:
 

1.    Abstain from taking life

2.    Abstain from taking what is not given

3.    Abstain from sexual misconduct

4.    Abstain from false speech

5.    Abstain from using intoxicating drinks and drugs, which lead to carelessness.

6.    Abstain from eating at the wrong time (after sunrise, before noon).

 

These precepts originated during the time of Buddha to make sure the novice nuns were not bearing a child and responsible enough to perform right action.

 

In modern times, the Jogye Order most often rneder Sikchamanas precepts to the third year novice nuns from the Jogye Order Sangha University.