Boys are ordained as novices or Samaneras in Sri Lanka. Novices shave their heads, wear yellow robes, and observe ten basic precepts. Samaneras learn and practice until they are twenty years. What they learn, in fact, and practice is something very necessary to life. These things are called the ‘Four necessities’ and include: the clothes they wear; the food they eat; their accommodation and physical and mental care. So as a novice, they are only allowed to wear an orange robe; they are permitted only two meals a day (breakfast and lunch, no more dinner). They are trained to be contented with what they have and who they are. With right understanding, they can be happy with less material things and realize that their life doesn’t depend on materialism, but is based on right understanding. In the end, they are trained to be kind, generous, to take responsibility, to be truthful to themselves and others and to live a life mindfully, carefully, patiently and wise. It was a pleasure to experience their kindness, maturity beyond their age and calmness during my brief stay at Mihintale.
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