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Upasaka

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A male lay follower of Buddhism who has taken refuge in the Three Jewels and observes the Five Precepts.

Detailed Definition
Upasakas sustain the Dharma through support, practice, and ethical living. In poetry, they appear as merchants, farmers, or kings—balancing worldly duties with spiritual commitment. Poets honor them as the roots of the Buddhist community, whose faith and generosity allow the Sangha to thrive.
Example
Example in poetry:
A lay Buddhist poem: “Upāsaka is not monk—but supporter, practitioner, friend of the Dhamma”; In a modern verse, “My upāsaka vow is to speak kindly, even online”; A minimalist reflection: “Upāsaka: refuge in daily life”; A student’s lyric: “I can’t ordain—but I can uphold the path.”
Additional Notes
An Upasaka is a male lay follower of Buddhism who has formally "taken refuge" in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) and undertakes to observe the Five Precepts (abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxication). The Upasaka, together with the monastic Sangha, forms the four-fold assembly of the Buddhist community. For poets, the Upasaka represents the ideal of integrating the Dharma into worldly life, balancing spiritual practice with family and social responsibilities.
Also Known As
Lay Male Follower Buddhist Devotee
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