Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c20.s6.5

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.