Teachings
Commentaries
Library of Wisdom and Compassion
New to Buddhism
For Young People
Buddhist Worldview
Stages of the Path
Thought Training
Bodhisattva Path
Wisdom
Meditation
Guided Meditations
Prayers and Practices
Mindfulness
Concentration
Preliminary Practices
Deity Meditation
Dharma in Action
Dharma in Daily Life
Working with Emotions
Prison Dharma
Engaged Buddhism
21st Century Buddhists
Students’ Insights
Monastic Life
Explore Monastic Life
Becoming a Monastic
A Nun’s Life
Living in Community
Western Monastics
Full Ordination for Nuns
Western Bhikshuni Timeline
Books
Calendar
Blog
About
Donate
Visit Sravasti Abbey
Youtube
Donate
Popular Books
Appearing and Empty
The Foundation of Buddhist Practice
Awaken Every Day
An Open-Hearted Life
Open Heart, Clear Mind
Working with Anger
Guided Buddhist Meditations
bhāṇakas
Home
Glossary: bhāṇakas
A group of monastics whose duty it was to memorize and recite the scriptures.
Related Articles:
Origin and spread of the Buddha’s doctrine
An excerpt from "Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions" exploring the similarities and differences within Buddhist traditions.
Why monastics matter in the modern world
Venerable Thubten Chodron explains how the role of monastics today is not much different than it was in times past.