Vinaya Pitaka (4): Parivara

by I. B. Horner | 2014 | 150,781 words | ISBN-13: 9781921842160

The English translation of the Khandhaka: the second book of the Pali Vinaya Pitaka, one of the three major ‘baskets’ of Therevada canonical literature. It analyses the rules from various points of view. The English translation of the Vinaya-pitaka (fourth part, parivara) contains many Pali original words, but transliterated using a system similar...

The Five Divisions (Fifth Division )

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^Prv.21.5.1 Nine classifications: classification by matter, classification by falling away, classification by offence, classification by provenance, classification by individual, classification by class, classification by origin, classification by legal question, classification by deciding.

^Prv.21.5.2 When a legal question has arisen, if two come who are hostile about the matter,^[1] the matter should be announced to both; when the matter has been announced to both the acknowledgement of both should be made known; when the ^BD.6.368 acknowledgement of both has been heard both should say “After this legal question of ours is settled both should be satisfied”. If they say, “Both will be satisfied,” that legal question should be accepted by the Order. If the assembly has a majority of shameless (persons), it should be settled by means of a referendum.^[2] If the assembly has a majority of ignorant (persons), a Vinaya-expert should be sought.^[3] He settles that legal question according to rule, according to discipline, according to the Teacher’s instruction—so should that legal question be settled.^[4]

^Prv.21.5.3 The matter should be known, the kind^[5] should be known, the name should be known, the offence should be known. Sexual intercourse means matter as well as kind; offence involving Defeat means name as well as offence. Taking what has not been given means matter as well as kind; offence involving Defeat means name as well as offence. Human being … State of further-men means matter as well as kind; offence involving Defeat means name as well as offence. Emission of semen means matter as well as kind; offence requiring a Formal Meeting of the Order means name as well as offence. Physical contact means matter as well as kind; offence requiring a Formal Meeting of the Order means name as well as offence. Lewd words … Sense-pleasures for self … Go-between … Begging for oneself for having a hut built … for having a large vihāra built … Defaming a monk with an unfounded charge of an offence involving Defeat … Defaming a monk with a charge of an offence involving Defeat taking up some point as a pretext in a legal question really belonging to something else … ^Vin.5.225 The not giving up (of his course) by a schismatic monk though there is admonition up to the third time … The not giving up (of their course) by monks who are imitators of schismatics though there is admonition up to the third time … The not giving up (of his course) by a monk who is difficult to speak to though there is admonition up to the third time … The not giving up (of his course) by a monk who brings families into disrepute though there is admonition ^BD.6.369 up to the third time means matter as well as kind; offence requiring a Formal Meeting of the Order means name as well as offence … Out of disrespect easing oneself or spitting in water means matter as well as kind; offence of wrong-doing means name as well as offence.

Concluded is the Fifth Division: on Nine Classifications

^Prv.21.6.1 Its summary^[6]:

For which leave should be asked, and motion,
followed by one, and by three,
Matter, motion, proclamation,
boundary, and assembly likewise, /
In the presence of, and question in return,
acknowledgement, deserving discipline,
Matter, the Order, and an individual,
on motions, and later a motion, /
Matter, the Order, and an individual,
announcement, and at a wrong time,
Very small, and extensive, interruption,
shadow, “not a mark,” /
Outside, in a river, and in the sea,
and in a natural lake, one combines,
One places within a boundary, four-fivefold, /
And ten-twentyfold, and is not sent, is sent,
Entitled to take part in a formal act,
fit to declare leave of absence,
and individuals who merit a formal act, /
Five possibilities for a formal act
for which leave should be asked,
and a motion is nine-possibilitied,
Seven possibilities for a motion followed by one resolution,
and the motion with the resolution
made three times is seven-possibilitied, /
Excellence and comfort,
of evil-minded as well as well behaved, cankers,
Dreadful actions, blamable actions as well as fear,
unskilled, and for householders, /
Of evil wishes, for pleasing those who are not yet pleased,
for establishing Dhamma
^BD.6.370 As well as protecting Discipline,
Pātimokkha, and with the recitation, /
And suspension of the Pātimokkha,
and Invitation suspension,
Censure, and guidance,
and banishment, and reconciliation, /
Suspension, probation,
the beginning, mānatta, rehabilitation,
Restoration, sending away, likewise ordination, /
For which leave should be asked,
and motion, followed by one, and by three,
In the not laid down, supplementary laying-down,
verdict in the presence of, innocence, /
Past insanity, acknowledgement,^[7] majority,
depravity, covering over (as) with grass,
Matter, falling away, offence,
provenance, and by an individual, /
^Vin.5.226 And class too, origins, and a legal question also,
Deciding, classifications too,
likewise about name and offence. /

Concluded is the Parivāra

So, having asked this and that
about the way of former teachers
Dīpanāma of great wisdom,
who remembered what he had heard, attentive,

Thinking out this epitome of the details
for the middle way of study,^[8]
Had it written
for bringing happiness to disciples.

“Parivāra” means all that is said
as to matter with the characteristic mark,
Meaning by meaning in the True Dhamma,
rule by rule in what is laid down,
It encompasses^[9] the Dispensation
as the ocean (encompasses) India.

^BD.6.371 Not knowing the Parivāra
whence is there discrimination between the rules?

Falling away, matter, laying down,
supplementary laying down, individual,
For one (Order), for both,
as well as what is held blameworthy by the world—

Doubt, for whomever it arises,
is cut off by the Parivāra.
As a universal monarch amid his vast forces,
as a maned lion in the midst of deer,

Like the sun surrounded by its rays,
like the moon in a host of stars,
As Brahmā in a company of Brahmās,
as a leader in the midst of his following—
Thus through the Parivāra
the True Dhamma-and-Discipline shines forth.