Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c20.s6: Paṭikkosanā, Nissāraṇā and Osāraṇā
Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c20.s6
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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.
Cites (1)
- Mahāvagga — Pāli