Bhikkhunis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A female monastic in the Buddhist tradition who has fully ordained status and adheres to the Vinaya rules
2. A woman who has taken monastic vows in Buddhism, partaking in a spiritual life dedicated to meditation and teaching
3. An ordained female practitioner in Buddhism, recognized for her commitment to the monastic lifestyle and Buddhist teachings

Etymology: "Bhikkhunis" is the plural of "bhikkhuni," a term for an ordained Buddhist nun. It is a transliteration of the Pali "bhikkhunī," which derives from the Sanskrit "bhikṣuṇī," the feminine form of "bhikṣu," a mendicant or alms-seeking monk. The root sense is simply one who begs for alms, reflecting the practice of ascetic wanderers who relied on donations of food for their daily sustenance. The word entered English as a loanword from the Pali and Sanskrit vocabulary of Buddhism, carried into the language along with the religious traditions it names. Its form has been kept close to the original languages, so the spelling reflects a scholarly transliteration rather than an adaptation to English sounds.