Buddhist religious occupations

In Indian religions and society, an acharya (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ācariya) is a religious teacher in Hinduism and Buddhism and a spiritual guide to Hindus and Buddhists. The designation has different meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism and secular contexts.

Bhāṇaka (Pali: reciter) were Buddhist monks who specialized in the memorization and recitation of a specific collection of texts within the Buddhist canon. Lineages of bhāṇakas were responsible for preserving and transmitting the teachings of the Buddha until the canon was committed to writing in the 1st century BC, and declined as the oral transmission of early Buddhism was replaced by writing.

alt=Anagarika the person who dedicated his life to practice Buddhism|thumb|Anagarika Dharmapala In Buddhism, an anagārika (Pali, 'homeless one', ; f. anagārikā ) is a person who has given up most or all of their worldly possessions and responsibilities to commit full-time to Buddhist practice. It is a midway status between a bhikkhu or bhikkhuni (fully ordained monastics) and laypersons. An anagārika takes the Eight Precepts, and might remain in this state for life.

thumb|right|265px|Milarepa, wearing the distinctive white shawl (zen) of a ngakpa

title of monk officials in Buddhism

thumb|281x281px|Maechi Sansanee Sthirasuta|Sansanee, Thailand Maechi, Maeji or Mae Chee (; ), "respected mother" (แม่ + honorific suffix "-ji"), are Theravada Buddhist Nuns in Thailand. As female monastics ordained under The Eight or Ten Precepts (i.e., more than the Five Precepts taken by laypersons), they formally occupy a position similar to sāmaṇerī and wear white robes, but are in practice resemblant of Theravāda bhikkhus - renunciants who have dedicated their life to Buddhist practice, meditation, vowing celibacy and ascetisicm.

Kappiya is a Buddhist lay manciple (attendant or steward) who resides in a monastery (vihāra) and assists Buddhist monks (bhikkhu in Pali).

thumb| during alms round in Yangon, [[Myanmar (Burma).]] thumb|Young before alms round in Pyin Oo Lwin train station (Myanmar). A '''' (, ,(, ), "possessor of morality", from Pali sīla) is a female renunciant in Burmese Buddhism; a Burmese Theravada Buddhist nun. They are not fully ordained nuns (bhikkhuni), as the full ordination is not legal for women in Burma, but are closer to sāmaṇerīs'', 'novice nuns'. According to 2016 statistics published by the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, there were 4,106 nunneries and 60,390 in Myanmar (Burma), over a quarter of whom live in Yangon Region.