Samanera

Samanera (sometimes spelled Samanera) is a Buddhist term that refers to a young person who has chosen to take a special vow of moral and spiritual commitment to learn and practice the teachings of the Buddha. The samanera is someone who has decided to become a Buddhist monk, but has not yet become a full monk. In traditional Buddhist countries, samaneras live in a monastery or temple, and spend much of their time studying and practicing meditation. Many young people join a monastery or temple as samaneras before becoming a full-fledged monk.