Householder (Buddhism)

Translations of householder
Pali	gihin, gahattha, gahapati
Sanskrit	gṛhin, grihastha, gṛhapati
Chinese
Japanese
Mon	ဂရှ် ([həròh])
Sinhala
Tibetan	khyim-pa
Vietnamese
Glossary of Buddhism

In English translations of Buddhist texts, householder denotes a variety of terms. Most broadly, it refers to any layperson, and most narrowly, to a wealthy and prestigious familial patriarch. In contemporary Buddhist communities, householder is often used synonymously with laity, or non-monastics.

The Buddhist notion of householder is often contrasted with that of wandering ascetics (Pāḷi: samaṇa; Sanskrit: śramaṇa) and monastics (bhikkhu and bhikkhuni), who would not live (for extended periods) in a normal house and who would pursue freedom from attachments to houses and families.

Upāsakas and upāsikās, also called śrāvakas and śrāvikās - are householders and other laypersons who take refuge in the Three Jewels (the Buddha, the teachings and the community) and practice the Five Precepts. In southeast Asian communities, lay disciples also give alms to monks on their daily rounds and observe weekly uposatha days. In Buddhist thought, the cultivation of ethical conduct and dāna or "almsgiving" will themselves refine consciousness to such a level that rebirth in one of the lower heavens is unlikely even if there is no further Buddhist practice. This level of attainment is viewed as a proper aim for laypersons.

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