Slide 1

November 25, 2014

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Sanu Mahatthanadull, Ph.D.Bhikkhu Ptimokkha: the Fundamental Precepts and their Number of Rules in Vinaya PitakaInternational Buddhist Studies College (IBSC), Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya UniversityPtimokkha: the Fundamental Precepts Wait, Sriputta. The Tathagata will know the right time for that. The Teacher does not make known, Sriputta, the course of training for disciplines or appoint the Ptimokkha until some conditions causing the pollutions (asva) appear here in the Sagha.Ptimokkha: the Fundamental PreceptsIts was done with ten objects in view, Upli. What ten ?1. For the excellence of the Order;2. For the well-being of the Order;3. For the control of ill-conditioned monks and 4. For the comfort of well-behaved monks;5. For the restraint of the cankers in this same visible state;6. For protection against the cankers in a future life;7. To give confidence to those of little faith;8. For the betterment of the faithful;9. To establish true dhamma, and10. To support the discipline.The Number of Rules of Ptimokkha The four Prjika: The DefeatersThe thirteen Saghdisesas: Requiring Formal Meetings of the CommunityThe two Aniyatas: Indefinite or UndeterminedThe thirty Nissaggiya Pcittiyas: Confession with ForfeitureThe ninety-two Pcittiyas: Expiation through ConfessionThe four Pidesaniyas: to be AcknowledgedThe seventy-five Sekhiyas: TrainingsThe seven Adhikaraasamatha: Settlement of Issues

The Mahvagga : 19 rules ! 4 prjikas 13 saghdisesas 2 aniyatas The Aguttaranikya: 150 rules ! 4 prjikas 13 saghdisesas 2 aniyatas30 Nissaggiya Pcittiyas92 Pcittiyas4Pidesaniyas75Sekhiyas7Adhikaraasamatha?The Parivra: 220 rules ! 4 prjikas 13 saghdisesas 2 aniyatas30 Nissaggiya Pcittiyas92 Pcittiyas4Pidesaniyas75Sekhiyas7AdhikaraasamathaThe Suttavibhaga: ? 4 prjikas 13 saghdisesas 2 aniyatas30 Nissaggiya Pcittiyas92 Pcittiyas4Pidesaniyas?Sekhiyas7AdhikaraasamathaThe Cullavagga:When I am gone, nanda, let the Order, if it should so desire, abolish the lesser and minor rules of trainingQuestions and Answers:Q: When a monk commits a Prjika offence, do the lay people have the right to ask him to disrobe? What is the usual procedure as stated in the Vinaya? What happens when a monk has been proven to have committed a Prjika offence, yet refuses to disrobe in spite of demands from lay devotees and there is no Sagha Council to enforce the demands, as is the case in non-Buddhist countries?Questions and Answers:A: If a bhikkhu commits a Prjika offence he is defeated and no longer a bhikkhu even if he is wearing robes. The Community of bhikkhus will have nothing to do with him and will expel him. However, if the accused bhikkhu does not admit to the offence and it cannot be proved, the results of kamma must be allowed to run their own course. Buddhism has never engaged in violent witch hunts.Questions and Answers:Q: Why the monks have rules in the first place. Since the Dhamma aims at freedom and depends on self-reliance, wouldn't it be better to let the monks develop their own innate sense of right and wrong unfettered by legalisms?Questions and Answers:A: The monks form a Community, reliant on the support of lay Buddhists, Ten reasons for laying down the rules;for the excellence of the Community, the peace of the Community, the curbing of the shameless, the comfort of well-behaved bhikkhus, the restraint of pollutants related to the present life, the prevention of pollutants related to the next life, the arousing of faith in the faithless, the increase of the faithful, the establishment of the true Dhamma the fostering of discipline.