Dhamma names

[Wizard in the Forest]

How do preceptors determine a Buddhist/Dhamma name for ordaining a monk, and what is the origin of this ceremony of bestowing a Dhamma name to initiates/novices in the order?

[Goofaholix]

How do preceptors determine a Buddhist/Dhamma name for ordaining a monk, and what is the origin of this ceremony of bestowing a Dhamma name to initiates/novices in the order?

I don't know about elsewhere but in Thailand they have a book where names are divided by day of the week, they select from the list of names according to the day of the week in which you were born.

[kirana]

How do preceptors determine a Buddhist/Dhamma name for ordaining a monk, and what is the origin of this ceremony of bestowing a Dhamma name to initiates/novices in the order?

as long as i know, they will using the teacher's name in the first name, for example : their teacher's name "Pannavaro", just for an example, then the disciple's name will be Pannananda, Pannasiri, Pannametta, etc.

in srilanka, they using their village's name as the first name then the second name is ordination name. for an example if their teacher's name "Sumangala", then the name will be "panadura [village's name] Sumitta [ordination name], if that one come from panadura (one of village's name at srilanka). because their teacher's name "Sumangala", then the disciple's name will be Sumitta, Supeshala, Sugita, etc.

mettacittena,

[Seren]

I've wondered this too.

Thanks for sharing this Kirana.

[PeterB]

It is a bit different for some western monks ...Luang Por Chah for example was known on occasion to give western monks names that would annoy them..no doubt he had his reasons Several of them later asked for and got a different name...