upasaka; male lay Buddhist follower
A Buddhist term for a devout male lay follower who has taken the three refuges and observes the five precepts. The female counterpart is 優婆夷 (うばい).
from Sanskrit upāsaka
See also: 優婆夷
He is a devout upasaka and chants sutras every morning.
Upasaka refers to a male lay follower who practices Buddhism while living a household life.
Standard kanji spelling for this Buddhist term.
Borrowed from Sanskrit upāsaka, meaning 'one who sits near' or 'attendant', via Chinese Buddhist texts.