Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c20: Chapter XVII: Ecclesiastical Acts & Punishments

Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c20

Language
English

Contents

Chapter XVII: Ecclesiastical Acts & Punishments

v1.c20.1

The Saṅgha grew up into an out and out corporate institution and performed every ecclesiastical act of any importance in an assembly in which the presence in person or by proxy of all monks dwelling within the sīmā of an āvāsa was compulsory. Every act had to be performed by putting the resolution in formal words¹ before the assembly once or twice, usually thrice and could be passed only on the unanimous consent of all the members.² There were āvāsas in unwonted places in which the number of bhikkhus was so small that no assembly in its proper sense could be held, so a minimum number was fixed for the validity of certain ecclesiastical acts, which is as follows,

v1.c20.2

¹ The formal words ñatti and kammavācā were also prescribed.

v1.c20.3

² The members must be fully ordained monks and placed under no disability.

v1.c20.4

(i) Four monks³ for all acts except ordination, pavāraṇā and abbhāna (readmission of a monk into the saṅgha after parivāsa).

v1.c20.5

³ Of these four monks, one must be a Vinayadhara.

v1.c20.6

(ii) Five monks for all acts except ordination and abbhāna but including ordination outside the limits of the Buddhist majjhimadesa.

v1.c20.7

(iii) Ten monks for all acts excepting abbhāna but including ordination.

v1.c20.8

(iv) Twenty monks for abbhāna and all other ecclesiastical acts.

v1.c20.9

Among the ecclesiastical acts figured largely disciplinary measures taken for the breach of any rule or for any moral delinquency, procedure for finding out the guilt of a monk and inflicting punishment therefor, conduct of the monks while undergoing disciplinary punishment, and the restoration of the monk to all the privileges of the Sangha. The disciplinary measures as enunciated in the Cullavagga are:—

Tajjaniyakamma

v1.c20.s1.1

A monk who is quarrelsome and pick-up quarrels within the Sangha, or one who is foolish and given to commission of offences (*āpatti*), or one comes into frequent contact with householders deserves censure (*tajjaniyak.*). A monk who is not scrupulous about his moral conduct and doctrinal views, or one who speaks ill of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha also deserves censure (*tajjaniyak.*).

v1.c20.s1.2

The procedure for inflicting the *tajjaniyakamma* is as follows:—

v1.c20.s1.3

The guilty bhikkhu should be first warned, then reminded of the rule of Pātimokkha which he is infringing, and then charged with the offence alleged to have been committed by him. A qualified bhikkhu is to move thrice before the Sangha which must be complete the *ñatti* that so and so is guilty of such and such an offence, and request the Sangha, if it thinks fit, to pronounce the *tajjaniyak.* against him. The guilty bhikkhu also must be present at the meeting and given an opportunity to defend himself, or to confess his guilt. Any deviation from the procedure described above made the act invalid.

v1.c20.s1.4

The monk, against whom *tajjaniyak.* is pronounced, is denied the following privileges: He cannot
(i) confer *upasampadā*, (ii) give *nissaya* (instruction) to a samaṇa,
(iii) take a sāmaṇera,
(iv) exhort the nuns even if he had been nominated for the purpose beforehand,
(v) object to the presence of a particular bhikkhu in the Uposatha or Pavāraṇā ceremony,
(vi) guide the movements of a younger monk,
(vii) move any resolution for censuring a bhikkhu, (viii) warn a monk or remind him of his offence.

v1.c20.s1.5

If the monk so censured observes the above restrictions without any demur against any member of the assembly inflicting the punishment, the *tajjanīyak.* will be revoked. The revocation will have to be effected by a competent bhikkhu by placing the case before Saṅgha with the request to revoke the punishment. The guilty bhikkhu also must appear before the Saṅgha and respectfully request for its revocation. A competent bhikkhu then announces the resolution thrice before the Saṅgha and if there be no objection, the *tajjanīyak.* is revoked.

Nissayakamma

v1.c20.s2.1

If a monk, though indiscreet and indiscriminate in his association with the householders and prone to commit minor offences, takes part in ecclesiastical matters like giving *parivāsa* (probation), *mūlāya paṭikassanā* (renewal of probation), *mānatta* (suspension for Saṅghādisesa offences) and *abbhāna* (recall of monks to the Saṅgha), the Saṅgha should pronounce against him *nissayakamma*, i.e. compel him to take a teacher, abide by his instructions, and study with him the Piṭakas. The procedure for pronouncing the *nissayak.*, the disabilities prescribed, and the manner of revocation are all similar to those of *tajjanīyak.* dealt with above.

Pabbājanīyakamma

v1.c20.s3.1

If a monk becomes a defiler of good families (*kuladūsaka*) and gives himself up to unholy conduct (*pāpasamācāra*) like garlanding, and encouraging playing, singing and dancing deserves *pabbājanīyakamma* (temporary removal from the monastery). The same may also be pronounced against one who is quarrelsome, unscrupulous about moral conduct and doctrinal views, picks up quarrels in the Saṅgha, or speaks ill of Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha, or one who is frivolous (*dava*), or lacks in manners (*anācāra*), or earns his food by evil means, or harms others either by speech or action or both.

v1.c20.s3.2

A monk punished with *pabbājaniyak.* is required to leave the monastery, behave properly in his new residence, and observe all the restrictions imposed upon him. The restrictions imposed and the procedure for inflicting and revoking the disciplinary measure is similar to that of *tajjaniyak.*

Paṭisāraṇīyakamma

v1.c20.s4.1

The *Paṭisāraṇīyak.* (act of making one ask for pardon) is pronounced against a monk who tries to cause loss to a householder, or reviles him, or speaks ill of Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha in his presence or runs him down. A bhikkhu so punished should behave properly as indicated in the case of *tajjaniyak.*, and the procedure for inflicting and revoking the disciplinary measure is the same as in *tajjaniyak.* Before the *Paṭisāraṇīyak.* can be revoked, the guilty bhikkhu is required to approach the offended householder and ask for his pardon, or he may take an attendant (*anuduta*) formally selected by the Saṅgha to ask for him pardon of the householder.

Ukkhepaniyakamma

v1.c20.s5.1

A monk who declines to acknowledge or confess the offences committed by him, or upholds an un-Buddhistic doctrine inspite of being asked to give it up is liable to *Ukkhepaniyakamma* (act of suspension), i.e., he is not allowed to dwell, or take food with other monks, or associate himself in any way with them. The procedure for fixing the guilt upon the offending monk and also the ultimate revocation of the punishment is the same as that of *tajjaniyak*. Besides the disabilities prescribed for *tajjaniyak*, the monk is prohibited from repeating the offence for which he is punished, receiving salutations, courtesies, or services from other monks, bringing any charge against another bhikkhu, taking the dress of a householder or a *titthiya*, or performing any ecclesiastical ceremony in company of other monks.

Paṭikkosanā, Nissāraṇā and Osāraṇā

v1.c20.s6.1

Three other disciplinary measures are mentioned in the *Mahāvagga* (ix. 4), viz., *paṭikkosanā*, *nissāraṇā* and *osāraṇā*.

v1.c20.s6.2

*Paṭikkosanā* (reproving) is a mild form of disciplinary measure applied for minor derelictions. A nun, a female novice or an insane monk, or a monk against whom *ukkhepaniyakamma* has already been pronounced are not to be reproved. Those who commit heinous crimes, or joins a *titthiya* order, or pass beyond the *sīmā* are also beyond reproval.

v1.c20.s6.3

*Nissāraṇā* is a general term for expulsion of bhikkhus from the Sangha while *Osāraṇā* is the act of revocation of a disciplinary measure, including *Parivāsa*. All the exceptions mentioned as above in the case of *Paṭikkosanā* are applicable to these two disciplinary measures also.

v1.c20.s6.4

*Parivāsa*, *Mūlāya Paṭikassanā*, *Mānatta* and *Abbhāna*

v1.c20.s6.5

There are four kinds of *Parivāsa*, one of which is the probationary period of four months prescribed for persons belonging to non-Buddhistic sects and desiring to enter the Buddhist order. The other three are prescribed for Saṅghādisesa offences. A *parivāsika* cannot dwell with a regular monk under the same roof or at the same spot, but he cannot also dwell alone in a monastery in which there is no regular bhikkhu. While undergoing *parivāsa*, a monk is debarred from enjoying the usual privileges of a bhikkhu, some of which are mentioned above (p. 300) in connection with *tajjaniya* and *ukkhepaniya kammas*. There are several other minor restrictions, among which one is that a *parivāsika* monk has got to tell every incoming bhikkhu that he is a *parivāsika*, and the other is that he is to announce the same personally in every Pātimokkha or Pavāraṇā assembly. In short, a *parivāsika* *bhikkhu* has to behave like an unclean person and keep himself aloof from the generality of monks. If a monk fails to observe three of these restrictions, viz., *sahāvāsa*,¹ *vippavāsa*,² and *anārocana*,³ he is regarded as having broken the vow of probation. A *parivāsika* can terminate temporarily his probationary period, and resume it with the permission of the Saṅgha.

v1.c20.s6.6

¹ Dwelling with monks.

v1.c20.s6.7

² Going to a residence where there are no bhikkhus.

v1.c20.s6.8

³ Non-announcement of *parivāsa* before an assembly.

v1.c20.s6.9

*Mānatta* and *Parivāsa* are prescribed for Saṅghādisesa offences. The former is limited to six days during which period a monk is debarred from enjoying the usual privileges of the membership of a Saṅgha. The latter is of three kinds, (i) *Paṭicchanna* (ii) *Suddhanta* and (iii) *Samodhāna*. If a guilty monk conceals (paṭicchādeti) his guilt for a certain period, his period of probation extends to the number of days he had concealed it plus the six days for mānatta, while for one who has not concealed his guilt, no parivāsa is prescribed, he is to observe only mānatta. For persons who cannot remember the number of days he has concealed the offences committed by him, Suddhantaparivāsa is prescribed, the parivāsa in that case is to extend over as many days as have passed between the day of his ordination and the commencement of his parivāsa. When an offence is committed during the period of probation, the guilty person is required to go through the probation anew and the period of parivāsa already observed by him is not taken into account. This is called Samodhāna parivāsa. In both the cases, mānatta also has to be observed after the parivāsa period.

v1.c20.s6.10

It is after the mānatta which lasts for six days, that the monk is recalled (abbhāna) to the Saṅgha provided he has observed properly the restrictions imposed upon him for parivāsa and mānatta. If he has failed to do so, he is given mūlāya-paṭikassanā, i.e., he is to undergo parivāsa or mānatta anew for the offence committed by him during the period of parivāsa or mānatta.

Linked texts (1)