THE BUDDHIST COMMUNITYDavid QuinterTripiṭaka, the “three baskets” of Buddhist scriptures1) vinaya: the rules of monastic discipline and explication of those rules2) sutra: discourses by the Buddha or authorized by the Buddha [or by a buddha in Mahayana]3) abhidharma: scholastic doctrine, elaborations on the teachings of the BuddhaRitual Stages for Becoming a Monk(based on Strong 2008, 75-76)I Becoming a Buddhist layperson (upāsaka)-one takes the 3 refuges and the 5 precepts of a lay follower:The five precepts-(see Strong 120-21). Abstaining from:1) killing2) stealing3) sexual misconduct (=celibacy for monks)4) lying5) drinking alcohol, taking intoxicantsII Becoming a novice (śrāmaṇera)-this is known as the rite of “wandering forth”-here, one gets the monastic robes and begging bowl and takes 5 additional precepts for novices.5 additional precepts for novicesAbstaining from:6) eating after noon7) going to public entertainments8) adorning oneself9) using high or broad beds (i.e., comfortable ones; one should sit on the floor on mats)10) the personal use of moneyIII Becoming a full monk (bhikṣu)-at 20 can take higher ordination and become a full monk (bhikṣu)-here, one takes the 200+ precepts (or 300+ for nuns) of the PrātimokṣaRites for formal lay followers-In addition to the 5 precepts, formal lay followers sometimes take 3 more.-These are abstaining from:6) eating after noon7) going to public entertainments and from adorning oneself (broken into 7 and 8 for monks)8) using high or broad beds2Eight special rules for nuns(Strong 66-67)1) even a senior nun should respectfully salute even a junior monk2) nuns need two-year preliminary precepts training before eligibility for full ordination;ordination must be obtained from the full communities of both monks and nuns3) nuns can’t criticize monks, although monks can criticize nuns for real faults4) nuns shouldn’t receive offerings ahead of monks5) nuns who violate a rule must undergo disciplinary penance for a fortnight, then seekrestitution in front of both monks and nuns6) every fortnight on festival days, nuns should approach monks and ask for instruction7) nuns’ rainy season retreats should be held only in the company of monks8) after the rainy season retreat, nuns should ask for the pravāraṇā ceremony (monks and nunsasking each other for forgiveness at the end of rainy season retreat) from both groupsFour and eight rules for expulsion-At the top of the Prātimokṣa list were 4 rules for expulsion for monks and an additional 4 fornuns (Strong 79-81).For both monks and nuns:1) sex with a human or an animal2) stealing3) intentionally killing a person4) boasting of superhuman attainments, or insight, that he or she doesn’t haveFor nuns:5) motivated by desire, touching a man between the neck and knees6) not reprimanding or telling on another nun who is guilty of an infraction meriting expulsion7) continuing to follow a punished and unrepentant monk8) motivated by desire, agreeing to take a man’s hand; stand with him; converse with him; go toa secluded place with him; or, as the Strong text says, “dispose her body for the purpose ofindulging in non-Dharmic behavior.”
