Buddhist+Coming+of+Age+Ceremony

=Buddhist Coming of Age Ceremony=

When a Buddhist boy becomes mature enough, they become ordained. When they become mature enough is their decision, although most Buddhist's are about twenty when they go through this process. This process consists of two parts, but before they go through a couple stages to prepare for it.

__Preparing__ consists of many things that the ordained has to do. They have to shave their head and dress in white. This symbolizes the liminality of this life passage ritual, a transition from householder to monk, a neutering of one's previous identity prior to beginning a new life with a new monastic name.

__The ceremony itself__ starts out with the calling of the spirits. During this part of the ceremony the leader performs a ritual where he "calls" the 32 spirits away from all previous attachment. The leader also attracts the Khwan (body and soul). This is done by the leader preparing a special offering bowl, where elaborate symbols are placed inside. At the end of the ritual a sacred thread is tied around the wrists of the ordained. This represents the tying of the Khwan into this body after they have been "called". At the end of the ceremony is where the ordained becomes aware of his rights.

__Similarities between Judaism__ After becoming bat/bar mitzvah, he/she has to follow the 10 commandments. This also applies to becoming ordained because they have to follow their rights as well. The leader of their ceremony will read them their rights and restrictions. Also like Judaism, they have to sacrifice time and effort. After you have a bar or bat mitzvah you have to spend the rest of your life following from the Torah. Same thing with Buddhism, they have to follow their rights and restrictions that their leader gave them for their entire life. Another similarity is that in both of these religions there is a leader to help guide the student (the one having the ceremony). For example a Buddhist has a senior monk help them and guide them after their ceremony and a Jewish person would have a teacher to help them learn Hebrew.

__Similarities between__ Hinduism Buddhism and Hinduism are both very similar religions.
 * Shave their head.
 * Only males have a coming of age ceremony.
 * Wear specific clothing.
 * Actual ceremony, unlike most religions.
 * Make a sacrifice- Buddhist: limitations of food, entertainments, sleeping on comfortable beds, and money. Hinduism: The sacrifice of a wood.
 * Both religions have something symbolic in their ceremony. For Buddhists it's the symbolic bowl and for Hindus it's the thread and the wood.

__Similarities between Islam__ Both religions have strong views on sexual intercourse. During this ceremony the ordained is let no that no sexual encounters until marriage. Muslims don't prohibit it, but they have both circumcision and clitoridectomy (when the clitoris is removed). Not all people have these done, infact it's very uncommon now, but in ancient times people had them done most often than not.

Katz, Lisa. __Judaism__. New York Times company, 2008. Hay, Jeff. __Religions and Religious Movements.__ Greenhaven Press, 2006.