samanera

A novice is a monk or nun in training in the Buddhist or Christian tradition. In the Buddhist tradition, samanera, or novice monk, refers to the first of two levels of ordination. In the Theravada tradition, a man may become a novice as the first stage toward becoming a full-fledged monk or bhikkhu, or he may become a novice monk for a short period with the specific intention of accruing religious merit. In Mahayana traditions, short-term ordinations are rare, although the practice is increasing, especially among Chinese Buddhists.