Pratimoksha
Encyclopedia
The Pratimoksha is a Buddhist moral discipline(skt.). A loose translation of the term is "personal liberation", and thus the discipline is concerned with the Buddhist's quest for personal liberation, and originated with the Pratimoksha Vows given by the Buddha
to his followers. "Prati" means 'towards' or 'every', "moksha
" liberation from cyclic existence. The Pratimoksha comprehends the vows for nun
s and monk
s (Buddhist monastics) as well as vows for the lay followers of Buddhism
. The Pratimoksha belongs to the Vinaya
of the Buddhist doctrine and is seen as the very basis of Buddhism. The Pratimoksha of the Mulasarvastavadin lineage, followed in Tibetan Buddhism
, is taken for the whole life and the vows end when the person who received it died or has broken one or more of the four root vows. On the basis of the Pratimoksha there exist in Mahayana
Buddhism two additional set of vows: The Bodhisattva vows
and the Vajrayana vows. If these two set of vows are not broken, they will last to future lives. There is also a Dharmaguptaka Pratimoksha, followed in Chinese Buddhism.
equivalent of Pratimoksha (Sanskrit
). It is being followed by the monks of the Theravada
lineage (Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos).
Upaasak means 'worshipper' and Upasikaa 'female worshipper.'
One is not obliged to take all five vows. The commentaries describe seven types of lay followers:
Only full monks and full nuns are seen as full members of the buddhist monastic order. A group of minimum 4 full ordained is seen as a Sangha
. The Pratimoksha tells also how to purify faults, how to solve conflicts and deal with all kinds of situations which can happen in the Sangha Community.
Nyingma lineage:
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
to his followers. "Prati" means 'towards' or 'every', "moksha
Moksha
Within Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
" liberation from cyclic existence. The Pratimoksha comprehends the vows for nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s and monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s (Buddhist monastics) as well as vows for the lay followers of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. The Pratimoksha belongs to the Vinaya
Vinaya
The Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
of the Buddhist doctrine and is seen as the very basis of Buddhism. The Pratimoksha of the Mulasarvastavadin lineage, followed in Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
, is taken for the whole life and the vows end when the person who received it died or has broken one or more of the four root vows. On the basis of the Pratimoksha there exist in Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
Buddhism two additional set of vows: The Bodhisattva vows
Bodhisattva vows
The Sanskrit term Bodhisattva is the name given to anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated bodhichitta, which is a spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. What makes someone a Bodhisattva is her or his dedication to the ultimate welfare of...
and the Vajrayana vows. If these two set of vows are not broken, they will last to future lives. There is also a Dharmaguptaka Pratimoksha, followed in Chinese Buddhism.
Patimokkha in Theravada
The Patimokkha is the PaliPáli
- External links :* *...
equivalent of Pratimoksha (Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
). It is being followed by the monks of the Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
lineage (Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos).
The three set of Householders' vows (for Lay-Followers)
- Fasting Vows (skt. Upavasa; tib. Nyung ne) - 8 vows
- Laymans' Vows (skt. Upasaka; tib. Genyen) - 5 vows
- Laywomans' Vows (skt. Upasika) - 5 vows
Upaasak means 'worshipper' and Upasikaa 'female worshipper.'
The Laymans' and Laywomans' Vows
The laywoman and layman Pratimoksha consists of 5 vows. They are also named as The Five Shilas (skt. moral discipline):- (1) to refrain from killing
- (2) to refrain from stealing
- (3) to refrain from false speech
- (4) to refrain from sexual misconduct
- (5) to refrain from using intoxicants
One is not obliged to take all five vows. The commentaries describe seven types of lay followers:
- Promising to keep just one vow
- Promising to keep certain vows
- Promising to keep most of them
- Promising to keep all five
- Keeping all five and also promising to keep the pure conduct of avoiding sexual contact
- Keeping all five, pure conduct, and wearing robes with the promise to behave like a monk or a nun
- Lay follower of mere refuge. This person is unable to keep the vows but he promises to go for refuge to the triple gem until death.
The five set of vows of those gone forth (for Monks and Nuns)
- Male Novices' Vows (skt. Sramanera, tib. Getsul) - 36 vows
- Female Novices' Vow (skt. Sramanerika, tib. Getsulma) - 36 vows
- Probationer Nun's Vows (skt. Siksamana)
- Full Nun's Vows (skt. Bhikshuni, tib. Gelongma) - 364 vows
- Full Monk's Vows (skt. Bhikshu, tib. Gelong) - 253 vows
Only full monks and full nuns are seen as full members of the buddhist monastic order. A group of minimum 4 full ordained is seen as a Sangha
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
. The Pratimoksha tells also how to purify faults, how to solve conflicts and deal with all kinds of situations which can happen in the Sangha Community.
See also
- A complete list of the novice monk and novice nun vow by Venerable Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron and Thich Nhat HanhNhat HanhThích Nhất Hạnh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist who now lives in France. Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo, Thích Nhất Hạnh joined a Zen monastery at the age of 16, and studied Buddhism as a novitiate. Upon his ordination as a monk in 1949, he assumed the Dharma name...
. The site discusses also ordained life in the west. - PatimokkhaPatimokkhaIn Buddhism, the Patimokkha is the basic Theravada code of monastic discipline, consisting of 227 rules for fully ordained monks and 311 for nuns . It is contained in the Suttavibhanga, a division of the Vinaya Pitaka.- Parajika :...
- VinayaVinayaThe Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
Mulasarvasatavadin Lineage
- Novice Vows: Lama Mipham's commentary to Nagarjunas "Stanzas for a Novice Monk" together with "Essence of the ocean of Vinaya" by Tsongkhapa ISBN 81-86470-15-8 (LTWA India)
- Full Monk Vows: "Advice from Buddha Sahkyamuni" by HH the 14th Dalai Lama, ISBN 81-86470-07-7 (LTWA India)
- Complete Explanation of the Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva and Vajrayana Vows: "Buddhist Ethics" (Treasury of Knowledge: Book Five), Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, ISBN 1-55939-191-X, Snow Lion Publications
- Monastic Rites by Geshe Jampa Thegchok, Wisdom Books, ISBN 0-86171-237-4
Nyingma lineage:
- Ngari Panchen: Perfect Conduct: Ascertaining the Three Vows, Wisdom Publication, ISBN 0-86171-083-5 (Commentary on the three sets of vows by Dudjom Rinpoche)
The two Sanskrit-Lineages
- "Buddhist Monastic Discipline: The Sanskrit Pratimokksha Sutras of the Mahasamghikas and Mulasarvastavadins" by Charles S. Prebish, India, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-1339-1