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Significance of Ekamantam

Ekamantam, in the Theravada tradition, denotes a respectful distance that laypeople maintain when engaging with monks. This concept emphasizes the importance of reverence and appropriate boundaries in the relationships between the laity and the monastic community, fostering an environment of respect and spiritual harmony. Maintaining Ekamantam ensures that interactions are conducted with dignity, reflecting the cultural and religious values inherent to Theravada Buddhism.

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Buddhist concept of 'Ekamantam'

Buddhism Books

Ekamantam in Buddhism signifies a respectful distance maintained by the laity when engaging with monks, underscoring the reverence for monastic figures and the established boundaries in their interactions.

Significance in Theravada (major branch of Buddhism):
Theravada Books

From: Vinaya Pitaka (1): Bhikkhu-vibhanga (the analysis of Monks� rules)

(1) A term indicating a respectful distance adhered to by laity when interacting with monks.[1]

Theravada is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).