Characteristic of a Monk
僧人的品德：
Among the salient characteristics of a monk are purity, voluntary poverty, humility, simplicity, selfless service, self-control, patience, compassion and harmlessness. He is expected to observe the four kinds of Higher Morality _ namely:
纯净、自发、谦虚、朴素、无私、自律、耐心、慈悲、仁爱是僧人淳良的品德。他们遵守四种高尚的道德戒律：
Patimokkha Sila --The Fundamental Moral Code (major offenses related to immoral, cruel, harmful and selfish activities.)
一、基本的道德戒律(Patmoha Sila)，制约于不道德、残忍、伤害及自私的行为等等。
Indriyasamvara Sila --Morality pertaining to sense-restraint.
二、制约于欲望的戒律(ndryasamara Sila)。
Ajivaparisuddhi Sila --Morality pertaining to purity of livelihood.
三、净化生活的戒律(Ajaparsuddh Sila)。
Paccayasannissita Sila
-- Morality pertaining to the use of requisites pertaining to life.
四、生活必需品的戒律(Paccayasannssta Sila)。
These four kinds of morality are collectively called Sila-Visuddhi (Purity of Virtue).
这四种戒律称为「清净戒」(Sila suddh)。
When a person enters the Order and receives his ordination he is called a Samanera _Novice Monk. He is bound to observe Ten Samanera Precepts with certain disciplinary codes for leading a monastic life until he receives his higher ordination
Upasampada _ to become a Bhikkhu or fully fledged monk.
当一个人刚刚加入僧团时，称为沙玛内拉(Samanera)，他需要持守十条「沙玛内拉戒」。一直到他接受了「比库戒」后，才真正的成为一名比库(僧人)。
A bhikkhu or monk is bound to observe the above-mentioned four kinds of higher morality which comprise 227 rules apart from several other minor ones. The four major ones which deal with celibacy and abstinence from stealing, murder, and false claims to higher spirituality must strictly be observed. If he violates any one of these, a monk is regarded as a defeated person in the Sangha community. He will be deprived of certain religious rights by the Sangha community. In the case of other rules which he violates, he has to face many other consequences and make amends according to the gravity of the offence.
比库必须接受四种「比库戒」，共二百二十七条，及一些附带的条款。比库戒的主要范围在于杀生、偷盗、邪淫、妄语等方面。身为一名比库必须严格的持守比库戒，如果触犯任何戒条，就会被视为失败者，同时被僧团剥夺某些权力。如果触犯了其他的条例，就必须为自己的过失负责，接受惩罚、做出弥补，同时忏悔于自己的过失。
出家为僧，是个人对圣道生活的向往，不存在任何强制性或誓约。因此，僧人不受任何誓约的约束，僧人持守戒律是出于自愿。当他想还俗时，他可以很自由的离开僧团，重新过着在家人的生活。