All monks who followed the Buddha's teachings and attained sainthood were considered great disciples of the Buddha. Depending on each individual's efforts in practice and the karmic conditions they encountered, the level and form of attaining sainthood varied. The Buddha's Sangha had the great fortune of directly receiving the teachings of the Fully Enlightened One, resulting in a large number of saints, numbering in the thousands. When speaking of the great disciples of the Buddha, the scriptures often mention ten individuals, known as the "Ten Great Disciples."...

Sangha (IPA: [sɐnɡʱɐ]) is a Sanskrit word used in many Indian languages, including Pali which means "association", "assembly", "company" or "community"; in these languages, sangha is frequently used as a surname. In Buddhism, sangha refers to the monastic communities of bhikkhu (monks) and bhikkhuni (nuns). These communities are traditionally referred to as the bhikkhu-sangha or the bhikkhuni-sangha. As a separate category, those Buddhists who have attained any of the four stages of enlightenment, whether or not they are members of the monastic community, are referred to as the āryasaṅgha ("noble Sangha")....

A Bhikkhu is an ordained male monastic in Buddhism. They are known for living a mendicant lifestyle, seeking enlightenment, and renouncing worldly life. Bhikkhus follow a strict set of 227 rules and are considered members of the Sangha (Buddhist community)....

The Triple Gem, comprising the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, constitutes the bedrock of Buddhist faith and practice. It represents the essential elements for spiritual growth and liberation from suffering....