The Buddhist Monastic Code I

The Pimokkha Rules Translated & Explained by hnissaro Bhikkhu

(Geoffrey DeGraff)

Inquiries concerning this book may be addressed to: The Abbot Metta Forest Monastery P.O. Box 1409 Valley Center, CA 92082 U.S.A.

Copyright hnissaro Bhikkhu 1994 This book may be copied or reprinted for free distribution without permission from the copyright holder. Otherwise, all rights reserved. Second edition, revised: 2007

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Rule Index
This index lists the summaries of the training rules given in this book, organized by topic. The Sekhiya rules have not been included, because they are short, deal almost exclusively with etiquette, and are already organized by topic in their own chapter. I have included short summaries of the adhikaraa-samatha rules, even though these summaries do not appear in the chapter discussing those rules. The rules are divided into five major categories, dealing with Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Communal harmony, and the etiquette of a contemplative. The first three categoriesthe factors of the Noble Eightfold Path that make up the training in heightened virtueshow in particular how the training rules relate to the Buddhist path as a whole. These five categories are not sharply distinct types. Instead, they are more like the colors in the band of light thrown off by a prismdiscernibly different, but shading into one another with no sharp dividing lines. Right Speech, for instance, often shades into Communal harmony, just as Right Livelihood shades into personal etiquette. Thus the placement of a particular rule in one category rather than another is occasionally somewhat arbitrary. There are a few cases such as Pc 46 & 85where the reason for the placement of the rule will become clear only after a reading of the detailed discussion of the rule in the text.

Right Speech
MN 117 defines wrong speech as lying, divisive speech, abusive speech, and idle chatter. Lying Making an unfounded charge to a bhikkhu that he has committed a prjika offense, in hopes of having him disrobed, is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 8) Distorting the evidence while accusing a bhikkhu of having committed a prjika offense, in hopes of having him disrobed, is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 9) The intentional effort to misrepresent the truth to another individual is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 1) Making an unfounded charge to a bhikkhuor getting someone else to make the charge to himthat he is guilty of a saghdisesa offense is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 76) Divisive speech Telling a bhikkhu about insulting remarks made by another bhikkhuin hopes of winning favor or causing a riftis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 3) Abusive speech An insult made with malicious intent to another bhikkhu is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 2)

483 Idle chatter Visiting lay familieswithout having informed an available bhikkhubefore or after a meal to which one has been invited is a pcittiya offense except during the robe season or any time one is making a robe. (Pc 46) Entering a village, town, or city during the period after noon until the following dawn, without having taken leave of an available bhikkhuunless there is an emergencyis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 85)

Right Action
MN 117 defines wrong action as killing living beings, taking what is not given, and engaging in sexual misconduct. Killing Intentionally bringing about the death of a human being, even if it is still a fetus whether by killing the person, arranging for an assassin to kill the person, inciting the person to die, or describing the advantages of deathis a prjika offense. (Pr 3) Pouring water that one knows to contain living beingsor having it pouredon grass or clay is a pcittiya offense. Pouring anything that would kill the beings into such wateror having it pouredis also a pcittiya offense. (Pc 20) Deliberately killing an animalor having it killedis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 61) Using water, or getting others to use it, knowing that it contains living beings that will die from that use, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 62) Taking what is not given 2) The theft of anything worth 1/24 ounce troy of gold or more is a prjika offense. (Pr

Having given another bhikkhu a robe on a condition and thenangry and displeasedsnatching it back or having it snatched back is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 25) Making use of cloth or a bowl stored under shared ownershipunless the shared ownership has been rescinded or one is taking the item on trustis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 59) Sexual Misconduct Voluntary sexual intercoursegenital, anal, or oralwith a human being, nonhuman being, or common animal is a prjika offense. (Pr 1) Intentionally causing oneself to emit semen, or getting someone else to cause one to emit semenexcept during a dreamis a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 1) Lustful bodily contact with a woman whom one perceives to be a woman is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 2) Making a lustful remark to a woman about her genitals, anus or about performing sexual intercourse is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 3)

484 Telling a woman that having sexual intercourse with a bhikkhu would be beneficial is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 4) Getting an unrelated bhikkhun to wash, dye, or beat a robe that has been used at least once is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 4) Getting an unrelated bhikkhun to wash, dye, or card wool that has not been made into cloth or yarn is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 17) Lying down at the same time in the same lodging with a woman is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 6) Teaching more than six sentences of Dhamma to a woman, except in response to a question, is a pcittiya offense unless a knowledgeable man is present. (Pc 7) Exhorting a bhikkhun about the eight vows of respectexcept when one has been authorized to do so by the Community or asked a question by a bhikkhunis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 21) Exhorting a bhikkhun on any topic at all after sunsetexcept when she requests it is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 22) Going to the bhikkhuns quarters and exhorting a bhikkhun about the eight vows of respectexcept when she is ill or has requested the instructionis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 23) Giving robe-cloth to an unrelated bhikkhun without receiving anything in exchange is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 25) Sewing a robeor having it sewnfor an unrelated bhikkhun is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 26) Traveling by arrangement with a bhikkhun from one village to anotherexcept when the road is risky or there are other dangersis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 27) Traveling by arrangement with a bhikkhun upriver or downriver in the same boat except when crossing a riveris a pcittiya offense. (Pc 28) When aiming at privacy, sitting or lying down alone with a bhikkhun in an unsecluded but private place is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 30) When aiming at privacy, sitting or lying down with a woman or women in a private, secluded place with no other man present is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 44) When aiming at privacy, sitting or lying down alone with a woman in an unsecluded but private place is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 45) Traveling by arrangement with a woman from one village to another is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 67)

Right Livelihood
MN 117 defines wrong livelihood as scheming, persuading, hinting, belittling, and pursuing gain with gain. General Deliberately lying to another person that one has attained a superior human state is a prjika offense. (Pr 4)

485 Acting as a go-between to arrange a marriage, an affair, or a date between a man and a woman not married to each other is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 5) Engaging in trade with anyone except ones co-religionists is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 20) Persuading a donor to give a gift to oneself, knowing that he or she had planned to give it to a Community, is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 30) Telling an unordained person of ones actual superior human attainments is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 8) Persuading a donor to give to another individual a gift that he or she had planned to give to a Communitywhen one knows that it was intended for the Communityis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 82) Robes Keeping a piece of robe-cloth for more than ten days without determining it for use or placing it under shared ownershipexcept when the robe-season or kathina privileges are in effectis a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 1) Being in a separate zone from any of ones three robes at dawnexcept when ones kathina privileges are in effect or one has received formal authorization from the Communityis a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 2) Keeping out-of-season robe-cloth for more than 30 days when it is not enough to make a requisite and one has expectation for moreexcept when the robe-season and kathina privileges are in effectis a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 3) Accepting robe-cloth from an unrelated bhikkhun without giving her anything in exchange is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 5) Asking for and receiving robe-cloth from an unrelated lay person, except when ones robes have been snatched away or destroyed, is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 6) Asking for and receiving excess robe-cloth from unrelated lay people when ones robes have been snatched away or destroyed is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 7) When a lay person who is not a relative is planning to get a robe for one but has yet to ask one what kind of robe one wants: Receiving the robe after making a request that would improve it is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 8) When two or more lay people who are not ones relatives are planning to get separate robes for one but have yet to ask one what kind of robe one wants: Receiving a robe from them after asking them to pool their funds to get one robeout of a desire for something fineis a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 9) Making a felt blanket/rug with silk mixed in it for ones own useor having it madeis a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 11) Making a felt blanket/rug entirely of black wool for ones own useor having it madeis a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 12) Making a felt blanket/rug that is more than one-half black wool for ones own useor having it madeis a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 13) Unless one has received authorization to do so from the Community, making a felt blanket/rug for ones own useor having it madeless than six years after ones last one was made is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 14)

486 Making a felt sitting rug for ones own useor having it madewithout incorporating a one-span piece of old felt is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 15) Seeking and receiving a rains-bathing cloth before the fourth month of the hot season is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. Using a rains-bathing cloth before the last two weeks of the fourth month of the hot season is also a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 24) Taking thread that one has asked for improperly and getting weavers to weave cloth from itwhen they are unrelated and have not made a previous offer to weaveis a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 26) When donors who are not relativesand have not invited one to askhave arranged for weavers to weave robe-cloth intended for one: Receiving the cloth after getting the weavers to improve it is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 27) Keeping robe-cloth offered in urgency past the end of the robe season after having accepted it during the last eleven days of the Rains-residence is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 28) When one is living in a dangerous wilderness abode during the month after the Rains-residence and has left one of ones robes in the village where one normally goes for alms: Being away from the abode and the village for more than six nights at a stretch except when authorized by the Communityis a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 29) Wearing an unmarked robe is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 58) Acquiring an overly large sitting cloth after making itor having it madefor ones own use is a pcittiya offense requiring that one cut the cloth down to size before confessing the offense. (Pc 89) Acquiring an overly large skin-eruption covering cloth after making itor having it madefor ones own use is a pcittiya offense requiring that one cut the cloth down to size before confessing the offense. (Pc 90) Acquiring an overly large rains-bathing cloth after making itor having it made for ones own use is a pcittiya offense requiring that one cut the cloth down to size before confessing the offense. (Pc 91) Acquiring an overly large robe after making itor having it madefor ones own use is a pcittiya offense requiring that one cut the robe down to size before confessing the offense. (Pc 92) Food Eating any of the five staple foods that a lay person has offered as the result of a bhikkhuns promptingunless the lay person was already planning to offer the food before her promptingis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 29) Eating food obtained from the same public alms center two days runningwithout leaving in the interimunless one is too ill to leave the center, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 31) Eating a meal to which four or more individual bhikkhus have been specifically invitedexcept on special occasionsis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 32) Eating a meal before going to another meal to which one was invited, or accepting an invitation to one meal and eating elsewhere instead, is a pcittiya offense except when one is ill or during the time of giving cloth or making robes. (Pc 33)

487 Accepting more than three bowlfuls of food that the donors prepared for their own use as presents or as provisions for a journey is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 34) Eating staple or non-staple food that is not left-over, after having earlier in the day finished a meal during which one turned down an offer to eat further staple food, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 35) Eating staple or non-staple food in the period from noon till the next dawn is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 37) Eating food that a bhikkhuoneself or anotherformally received on a previous day is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 38) Eating finer staple foods, after having asked for them for ones own sakeexcept when illis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 39) Eating food that has not been formally given is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 40) Eating staple or non-staple food, after having accepted it from the hand of an unrelated bhikkhun in a village area, is a pidesanya offense. (Pd 1) Eating staple food accepted at a meal to which one has been invited and where a bhikkhun has given directions, based on favoritism, as to which bhikkhu should get which food, and none of the bhikkhus have dismissed her, is a pidesanya offense. (Pd 2) Eating staple or non-staple food, after accepting itwhen one is neither ill nor invitedat the home of a family formally designated as in training, is a pidesanya offense. (Pd 3) Eating an unannounced gift of staple or non-staple food after accepting it in a dangerous wilderness abode when one is not ill is a pidesanya offense. (Pd 4) Lodgings Building a plastered hutor having it built without a sponsor, destined for ones own use, without having obtained the Communitys approval, is a saghdisesa offense. Building a plastered hutor having it builtwithout a sponsor, destined for ones own use, exceeding the standard measurements, is also a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 6) Building a hut with a sponsoror having it builtdestined for ones own use, without having obtained the Communitys approval, is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 7) When a bhikkhu is building or repairing a large dwelling for his own use, using resources donated by another, he may not reinforce the window or door frames with more than three layers of roofing material or plaster. To exceed this is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 19) Acquiring a bed or bench with legs longer than eight sugata fingerbreadths after making itor having it madefor ones own use is a pcittiya offense requiring that one cut the legs down before confessing the offense. (Pc 87) Acquiring a bed or bench stuffed with cotton down after making itor having it madefor ones own use is a pcittiya offense requiring that one remove the stuffing before confessing the offense. (Pc 88)

488 Medicine Keeping any of the five tonicsghee, fresh butter, oil, honey, or sugar/molassesfor more than seven days, unless one determines to use them only externally, is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 23) When a supporter has made an offer to supply medicines to the Community: Asking him/her for medicine outside of the terms of the offer when one is not ill is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 47) Money When a fund for ones individual use has been set up with a steward, obtaining an article from the fund as a result of having prompted the steward more than the allowable number of times is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 10) Accepting gold or money, having someone else accept it, or consenting to its being placed down as a gift for oneself, is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 18) Obtaining gold or money through trade is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 19) Bowls and other requisites Carrying wool that has not been made into cloth or yarn for more than three leagues is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 16) Keeping an alms bowl for more than ten days without determining it for use or placing it under shared ownership is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 21) Asking for and receiving a new alms bowl when ones current bowl is not beyond repair is a nissaggiya pcittiya offense. (NP 22) Acquiring a needle box made of bone, ivory, or horn after making itor having it madefor ones own use is a pcittiya offense requiring that one break the box before confessing the offense. (Pc 86) Communal Harmony To persistafter the third announcement of a formal rebuke in the Communityin trying to form a schismatic group or in taking up a position that can lead to schism is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 10) To persistafter the third announcement of a formal rebuke in the Communityin supporting a potential schismatic is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 11) To persistafter the third announcement of a formal rebuke in the Communityin being difficult to admonish is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 12) To persistafter the third announcement of a formal rebuke in the Communityin criticizing a banishment transaction performed against oneself is a saghdisesa offense. (Sg 13) When a trustworthy female lay follower accuses a bhikkhu of having committed a prjika, saghdisesa, or pcittiya offense while sitting alone with a woman in a private, secluded place, the Community should investigate the charge and deal with the bhikkhu in accordance with whatever he admits to having done. (Ay 1)

489 When a trustworthy female lay follower accuses a bhikkhu of having committed a saghdisesa or pcittiya offense while sitting alone with a woman in an unsecluded but private place, the Community should investigate the charge and deal with the bhikkhu in accordance with whatever he admits to having done. (Ay 2) Telling an unordained person of another bhikkhus serious offenseunless one is authorized by the Community to do sois a pcittiya offense. (Pc 9) Persistently replying evasively or keeping silent in order to conceal ones own offenses when being questioned in a meeting of the Communityafter a formal charge of evasive speech or being frustrating has been brought against oneis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 12) If a Community official is innocent of bias: Criticizing him within earshot of another bhikkhu is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 13) When one has set a bed, bench, mattress, or stool belonging to the Community out in the open: Leaving its immediate vicinity without putting it away, arranging to have it put away, or taking leave is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 14) When one has spread bedding out in a dwelling belonging to the Community: Departing from the monastery without putting it away, arranging to have it put away, or taking leave is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 15) Intruding on another bhikkhus sleeping or sitting place in a dwelling belonging to the Community, with the sole purpose of making him uncomfortable and forcing him to leave, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 16) Causing a bhikkhu to be evicted from a dwelling belonging to the Communitywhen ones primary impulse is angeris a pcittiya offense. (Pc 17) Sitting or lying down on a bed or bench with detachable legs on an unplanked loft in a dwelling belonging to the Community, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 18) Saying that a properly authorized bhikkhu exhorts the bhikkhuns for the sake of worldly gainwhen in fact that is not the caseis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 24) Deliberately tricking another bhikkhu into breaking Pcittiya 35, in hopes of finding fault with him, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 36) Speaking or acting disrespectfully after having been admonished by another bhikkhu for a breach of the training rules is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 54) Agitating to re-open an issue, knowing that it was properly dealt with, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 63) Not informing another bhikkhu of a serious offense that one knows a third bhikkhu has committedout of a desire to protect the third bhikkhu either from having to undergo the penalty or from the jeering remarks of other bhikkhusis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 64) Acting as the preceptor in the full Acceptance (ordination) of a person one knows to be less than 20 years old is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 65) Refusingafter the third announcement of a formal rebuke in a meeting of the Communityto relinquish the evil view that there is nothing wrong in intentionally transgressing the Buddhas ordinances is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 68) Communing, affiliating, or lying down under the same roof with a bhikkhu who has been suspended and not been restoredknowing that such is the caseis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 69)

490 Befriending, receiving services from, communing, or lying down under the same roof with an expelled noviceknowing that he has been expelledis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 70) When being admonished by another bhikkhu with regard to a training rule formulated in the Vinaya, saying something as a ploy to excuse oneself from training under the rule is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 71) Criticizing the discipline in the presence of another bhikkhu, in hopes of preventing its study, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 72) Using half-truths to deceive others into believing that one is ignorant of the rules in the Pimokkhaafter one has already heard the Pimokkha in full three times, and a transaction exposing ones deceit has been brought against oneis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 73) Giving a blow to another bhikkhu when impelled by angerexcept in self-defenseis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 74) Making a threatening gesture against another bhikkhu when impelled by anger except in self-defenseis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 75) Intentionally provoking anxiety in another bhikkhu that he may have broken a rule, when one has no other purpose in mind, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 77) Eavesdropping on bhikkhus involved in an argument over an issuewith the intention of using what they say against themis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 78) Complaining about a Community transaction to which one gave ones consentif one perceives the transaction as having been carried out in accordance with the ruleis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 79) Getting up and leaving a meeting of the Community in the midst of a valid transaction that one knows to be validwithout having first given ones consent to the transaction and with the intention of invalidating itis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 80) After participating in a Community transaction giving robe-cloth to a Community official: Complaining that the Community acted out of favoritism is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 81) When the Community is dealing formally with an issue, the full Community must be present, as must all the individuals involved in the issue; the proceedings must follow the patterns set out in the Dhamma and Vinaya. (As 1) If the Community unanimously believes that a bhikkhu is innocent of a charge made against him, they may issue a transaction declaring him innocent on the basis of his memory of the events. (As 2) If the Community unanimously believes that a bhikkhu was insane while committing offenses against the rules, they may issue a transaction absolving him of any responsibility for the offenses. (As 3) If a bhikkhu commits an offense, he should willingly undergo the appropriate penalty in line with what he actually did and the actual seriousness of the offense. (As 4) If an important dispute cannot be settled by a unanimous decision, it should be submitted to a vote. The opinion of the majority, if in accord with the Dhamma and Vinaya, is then considered decisive. (As 5) If a bhikkhu admits to an offense only after being interrogated in a formal meeting, the Community should carry out a further-punishment transaction against him, rescinding it only when he has mended his ways. (As 6)

491 If, in the course of a dispute, both sides act in ways unworthy of contemplatives, and the sorting out of the penalties would only prolong the dispute, the Community as a whole may make a blanket confession of its light offenses. (As 7) The Etiquette of a Contemplative Training a novice or lay person to recite passages of Dhamma by rote is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 4) Lying down at the same time, in the same lodging, with a novice or layman for more than three nights running is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 5) Digging soil or commanding that it be dug is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 10) Intentionally cutting, burning, or killing a living plant is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 11) Handing food or medicine to a person ordained in another religion is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 41) Sending another bhikkhu away so that he wont witness any misconduct one is planning to indulge in is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 42) To sit down intruding on a man and a woman in their private quarterswhen one or both are sexually aroused, and when another bhikkhu is not presentis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 43) Watching a field armyor similar large military forceon active duty, unless there is a suitable reason, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 48) Staying more than three consecutive nights with an army on active dutyeven when one has a suitable reason to be thereis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 49) Going to a battlefield, a roll call, an array of the troops in battle formation, or to see a review of the battle units while one is staying with an army is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 50) Taking an intoxicant is a pcittiya offense regardless of whether one is aware that it is an intoxicant. (Pc 51) Tickling another bhikkhu is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 52) Jumping and swimming in the water for fun is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 53) Attempting to frighten another bhikkhu is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 55) Lighting a fire to warm oneselfor having it litwhen one does not need the warmth for ones health is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 56) Bathing more frequently than once a fortnight when residing in the middle Ganges Valley, except on certain occasions, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 57) Hiding another bhikkhus bowl, robe, sitting cloth, needle case, or beltor having it hiddeneither as a joke or with the purpose of annoying him, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 60) Traveling by arrangement with a group of thieves from one village to another knowing that they are thievesis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 66) Entering a kings sleeping chamber unannounced, when both the king and queen are in the chamber, is a pcittiya offense. (Pc 83) Picking up a valuable, or having it picked up, with the intention of putting it in safe keeping for the ownerexcept when one finds it in a monastery or in a dwelling one is visitingis a pcittiya offense. (Pc 84)