Adasasīlamātā (Pali) ordasa sil mata (Sinhala:දස සිල් මාතා) is anEight- orTen Precepts-holdinganagārikā (lay renunciant) inBuddhism in Sri Lanka, where the newly reestablishedbhikkhuni (nun's) lineage is not officially recognized yet.
The status ofdasa sil matas is in between an ordinaryupāsikā (laywoman) and a fully ordained bhikkhuni. They are usually expected to work inviharas, essentially as maids to ordainedbhikkhus, while receiving training and the opportunity to practice. However, somedasa sil matas have struggled and managed to establish monasteries of their own, where women have the opportunity devote themselves to spiritual training and practice.
InCambodia, Sri Lanka andMyanmar, they have established monasteries for anagārikās. Similar orders exist inThailand, Cambodia and in Myanmar.
In Thailand, where it is illegal for a woman to take a bhikkhuni ordination, they are calledmaechi. In Cambodia, they are calleddonchees. In Burma, an eight precept nun is addressed asthilashin or sayalay, whereas a fully ordained woman is called arahan-ma ("female monk").[1][2] Sri Lanka'sdasa sil matas are recognized by their shaven heads and yellow robes.[3]
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