उपासक
Upāsaka
Male lay follower / Lay devotee
優婆塞
Grammar 語法
masculine noun (a-stem): from upa + āsati (to sit near) — 'one who sits near [the teacher]'
Definition 釋義
A male lay Buddhist who has taken the Three Refuges (ti-saraṇa) and the Five Precepts (pañca-sīla). Upāsakas form one of the four assemblies (parisā) of the Buddha's community along with bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, and upāsikās. Their role is to support the Sangha with material requisites (food, robes, shelter, medicine) and to practise the Dhamma in a lay context. Famous upāsakas in the Pali Canon include Anāthapiṇḍika and Citta-gahapati.
Canonical Example 典籍例句
Upāsako 'haṃ bhante, ājaṃ saraṇagato.
I am a lay follower, venerable sir, one who has gone for refuge for life.
Source: Standard lay refuge formula
At a Glance
- Pali
- Upāsaka
- IAST
- Upāsaka
- Devanagari
- उपासक
- Chinese
- 優婆塞
- Difficulty
- beginner
Related Words
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