Preface

Buddhist friends in Malaysia asked me to explain something about the Vinaya^[1] rules that guide the Buddhist monks life — in particular about monks or bhikkhus^[2] of the Theravaada lineage. We monks already have several learned texts in English to help us so a simplified lay persons guide now seems in order. (This work therefore deals specifically with men. As Buddhist female renunciants (nuns) find their place, they will be in the best position to explain their own rules.)

My aim has been to illustrate those of the monks rules that also affect the lay person in some way.^[3] At first it was going to deal only with a few questions but it has grown with peoples suggestions into a more thorough work of reference. (It was originally circulated as a computer printout, and its positive reception encouraged this complete reworking and revision, incorporating many of the suggestions sent to me.) Even so, the best introduction remains a good practicing bhikkhu who shows that amid the myriad things of the material world, living the simple life is possible with care — hence the many rules — much as in the Buddhas time.

The original Beginners Questions section has been kept (with some revision) and moved to the front as a brief overview of the sort of questions covered in the book. It refers to later explanations for more detail, which can be found not only in the main text but in the End Notes, Footnotes, Glossary and Appendices.

I also have tried to include broader explanations in the main text so that while the actual rule is faithfully reproduced — including some translation variations — the different ways in which monks actually put it into practice are also covered. Although one might think one knows all about ones bhikkhus, on going elsewhere things are never quite the same, and sometimes in quite startling ways.

Bhikkhus do sometimes follow the rules in different ways according to their particular traditions, and these pages may help to explain the whys and wherefores of their practice. My own perspective comes from twenty years as a bhikkhu in the forest monasteries of Thailand (and now more than five years in the West) so I am very aware that this guide needs more information from the traditions in other countries.

As you read through this book, it will become plain how much I have relied on other people and authorities. I wish especially to mention my gratitude to Venerable Thanissaro Bhikkhu for his great contribution through his commentary on the bhikkhus rules, The Buddhist Monastic Code; to Venerable Thiradhammo Bhikkhu for his manuscript of The Heritage of the Sangha; to Venerable Brahmavangso Bhikkhu for permission to quote from his Vinaya Notes; and to the Mahamakut Foundation in Bangkok for the works on the monks rules that they publish.

Lay people in half a dozen countries helped with advice and suggestions, and my thanks and appreciation go to all of them. I was very pleasantly surprised that they found our rules so fascinating and were willing to give so much of their time to going through the original manuscript with such care and interest. Yet on reflection, they are right to feel part of the Dhamma Vinaya, as the Lord Buddha said:

"Bhikkhus, I praise right practice in both, whether householder or home leaver.

"Householder, bhikkhus, and home leaver, if rightly practiced, by reason of their right practice, are accomplishing the true way, the wholesome Dhamma."

HS ch.4 (A.I,69; M.II,197)

Please remember that tolerance is always important even if one decides to give active support to only one group of monks. The following pages are offered solely to shed the light of understanding, so they should not be used to create heat and friction through criticizing other peoples behavior. This is the essence of the Buddhas Teaching. A big heavy law book only too easily can be thrown at others, so this guide will try to stay light and non judgemental. This gives opportunity for broad mindedness and flexibility, so that we can include different interpretations. Thereby one may come better to appreciate and support the monastic community of ones choice.

Finally, I hope that the same tolerance will be given to any faults and omissions found in this book. Not being enlightened or a scholar, I can only offer a gathering of other peoples work and hope that the way I have put it all together does not intrude my own views and opinions too much. (Paragraphs containing more general or personal opinions are often marked with " o ".) Therefore, any suggestions for improvement offered in Dhamma are always welcome.

Bhikkhu Ariyesako
August 1998

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Vinaya has been translated as Discipline in the complete translation of six volumes (The Book of the Discipline) by the Pali Text Society. Literally it means leading away (discipline by leading away faults) and covers the bhikkhus bodily and verbal actions as he extricates himself from suffering. (See also BA p.34)

[2]:

In this work I have used bhikkhu and monk interchangeably.

[3]:

See Appendix B for a summary of most of the other Paa.timokkha Rules.