seven kinds of believers ［七衆］ ( shichi-shu): Seven categories of members of the Buddhist Order. The seven kinds of believers are (1) monks, age twenty and older ( bhikshu), (2) nuns, age twenty and older (bhikshunī), (3) male novices under twenty years of age (shrāmanera), (4) female novices under twenty (shrāmanerī), (5) female novices from eighteen to nineteen preparing for the nunhood (shikshamānā), (6) male lay believers (upāsaka), and (7) female lay believers (upāsikā). The first five categories correspond to those who have left home, i.e., renounced secular life to live with the Buddhist Order. The remaining two—laymen and laywomen—remain at home, practicing Buddhism while maintaining their family and community responsibilities. In terms of precepts to observe, both laymen and laywomen observe the five precepts, and shrāmaneras and shrāmanerīs observe the ten precepts. Shikshamānās observe the six precepts. Monks and nuns are those who have pledged to observe the entire set of monastic precepts, i.e., 250 for monks and 348 (commonly referred to as 500) for nuns.