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What titles apply to non-monastic/lay Buddhists? (upasaka/upasika savaka/sravaka)

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3 answers
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Labels are illusions like all conditioned phenomena, but I have an attachment to taxonomy and being able to describe myself accurately. I'm working on that, but in the meantime, I thought this would be a good question for the stack. **How best can people describe themselves in the hierarchy/ecology of believers if they aren't living the monastic life of the Bhikkhu/Bhikkhuṇī (monk/nun), but still consider themselves as living a life driven by the dhamma?** I personally identify as Theravada/Pali canon/early Bhuddism, but an answer specifying Mahayana/Vajrayana titles is also welcome! Ideally I'd like Pali words and their best English equivalents, but obviously including Sanskrit versions too would be polite (^_^) BONUS POINTS: My gender is non-binary (genderqueer/agender) and thus I really need a title that can apply to me without need to specify gender. If I ever become a monastic I will really have my work cut out for me and/or a need to compromise, but for any non-monastics with non-binary gender, which titles are functional for us?
Asked by jerclarke (195 rep)
Jan 19, 2018, 10:28 PM
Last activity: Feb 6, 2018, 07:53 AM