January 18, 2016 By Sanu Mahatthanadull, Ph.D. Bhikkhu Ptimokkha: the Fundamental Precepts and their Number of Rules in Vinaya Pi aka International Buddhist Studies College (IBSC), Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Ptimokkha: the Fundamental Precepts pti (p i) + mokkha disburdening, getting free. I.B. Horner (tr.), The Book of the Discipline (Vinaya-Pi aka), Vol. I. (Suttavibha ga), (London: Luzac & Company Ltd., 1949), xii. Ptimokkha: the Fundamental Precepts The fundamental rules of the Order; the 227 disciplinary rules binding on Bhikkhus, A collection of the fundamental precepts of the Order recited every fortnight, Fortnightly recitation of the fundamental precepts. Phra Brahmagunabhorn (P.A. Payutto), Dictionary of Buddhism, 19 th edition, (Bangkok: S.R. Printing Mass Product Ltd., 2010), p. 338. Ptimokkha: 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 Sa gha. Ptimokkha: the Fundamental Precepts Its 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, and 10. To support the discipline. The Number of Rules of Ptimokkha The four Prjika: The Defeaters The thirteen Sa ghdisesas: Requiring Formal Meetings of the Community The two Aniyatas: Indefinite or Undetermined The thirty Nissaggiya Pcittiyas: Confession with Forfeiture The ninety-two Pcittiyas: Expiation through Confession The four P idesaniyas: to be Acknowledged The seventy-five Sekhiyas: Trainings The seven Adhikara asamatha: Settlement of Issues The Mahvagga : 19 rules ! 4 Prjikas 13 Sa ghdisesas 2 Aniyatas The A guttaranikya : >150 rules ! 4 Prjikas 13 Sa ghdisesas 2 Aniyatas 30 Nissaggiya Pcittiyas 92 Pcittiyas 4P idesaniyas 75Sekhiyas 7Adhikara asamatha ? The Pariv ra : 220 rules ! 4 Prjikas 13 Sa ghdisesas 2 Aniyatas 30 Nissaggiya Pcittiyas 92 Pcittiyas 4P idesaniyas 75Sekhiyas 7Adhikara asamatha The Suttavibha ga : ? 4 Prjikas 13 Sa ghdisesas 2 Aniyatas 30 Nissaggiya Pcittiyas 92 Pcittiyas 4P idesaniyas ?Sekhiyas 7Adhikara asamatha The Cullavagga: When I am gone, nanda, let the Order, if it should so desire, abolish the lesser and minor rules of training Questions and Answers: Q: When a monk commits a P r jika 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 P r jika offence, yet refuses to disrobe in spite of demands from lay devotees and there is no Sa gha Council to enforce the demands, as is the case in non-Buddhist countries? Questions and Answers: A: If a bhikkhu commits a P r jika 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: Communitylay Buddhists A: The monks form a Community, reliant on the support of lay Buddhists, Ten reasons for laying down the rules; 1. for the excellence of the Community, 2. the peace of the Community, 3. the curbing of the shameless, 4. the comfort of well-behaved bhikkhus, 5. the restraint of pollutants related to the present life, 6. the prevention of pollutants related to the next life, 7. the arousing of faith in the faithless, 8. the increase of the faithful, 9. the establishment of the true Dhamma 10. the fostering of discipline.