This Qualitative dissertation has three objectives: (1) to study the history and significance of Pāṭimokkha in Buddhism, (2) to study the preservation of Bhikkhupāṭimokkha in Buddhism, and (3) to analyze the Bhikkhupāṭimokkha as a tool for Preserve Buddhism.
From the research, it is found that the Bhikkhupāṭimokkha or Ānā-pāṭimokkha is the code of Buddhist disciplinary rules established by the Buddha as Buddhaãnã consisting of 227 items of Buddhist disciplinary rules are classified into 7 categories including: (1) Pãrãjika; (2) Saṅkhādisesa; (3) Aniyata; (4) Nissaggiyapãcittiya; (5) Pãcitti; (6) Pãtidesaniya; and (7) Sekhiyavatta.These Buddhist disciplinary rules affect to stability of Buddhism. Vipassī Buddha, Sikhi Buddha, and Vessabhū Buddha briefly preached Dhamma and there was no Buddhist disciplinary rule legislated in Bhikkhupāṭimokkha causing their religions to be remained for a short period. Kakusanda Buddha, Konãgamana Buddha, and Kassapa Buddha completely preached Dhamma and legislated Buddhist disciplinary rules in Bhikkhupāṭimokkha. Therefore their religions could be remained for long period. Bhikkhupāṭimokkha is important for Buddhism because it originates 10 benefits, For the excellence of the Order, For the well-being of the Order, For the control of ill-conditioned monks, For the comfort of well-behaved monks, For the restraint of the cankers in this same visible state, For protection against the cankers in a future life, To give confidence to those of little faith, For the betterment of the faithful, To establish true Dhamma, and, To support the discipline.
There was a Buddha’s permission allowing monks to recite 227 for tningtly Buddhist disciplinary rules of Bhikkhupāṭimokkha among saṅgha. In the event of violation, they were considered to commit offences with punishment based on their offences including: (1) 4 Pãrãjika: If a monk breaks any one of the rules, he is automatically defeated in the holy life and falls from monkhood immediately; (2) 13 Saṅkhādisesa:If a monk breaks any rule herein, he has to undergo a period of probation or discipline; (3) 2 Aniyata : If a monk breaks any one of the rules, the final outcome depends on actual violation (it may be Parājika, Saṅkhādisesa, or Pacittiya) (4) 30 Nissaggiyapãcittiyas: If a monk breaks any one of the rules, he must forfeit the possessed item; (5) 92 Pãcittiyas: If a monk breaks any one of the rules, he must confess his offence to any monk; (6) 4 Pãtidesaniya: If a monk breaks any one of the rules, he must confess his offence to person making him to commit this offence; and (7) 75 Sekhiyavatta: If a monk breaks any one of the rules, he must confess his offence to any monk. Monks have inherited Bhikkhupāṭimokkha via 3 methods: (1) Being careful without performing any violation; (2) Memorizing and teaching to other monks; and (3) Recording in writing.
Being restraint in Bhikkhupāṭimokkha helps to maintain Buddhism into 3 dimensions including: (1) Stability on Buddhist Personnel:It helps to prevent monks from violating any Buddhist disciple that may make him falls from monk-hood, protect monks from staying in any harmful or dangerous place, healing sick monks, prevent monks from being friends with immoral monks, protect monks from being disturbed or slandered, prevent monks from disunity, ordain men with the age of 20 years and over, treat ascetics carefully, and prohibit monks from staying in any private place that can lead to misunderstanding; (2) Stability on Buddhist Teaching: It helps to prohibit monks from objecting Bhikkhupāṭimokkha teaching, define the method of Dhamma teaching to Buddhist nuns and women appropriately, prohibit monks from performing any disrespectful action to the Buddhist disciplines, and enable monks to teach Dhamma to all people by considering on occasions and manners of listeners; (3) Stability on Buddhist Places: It helps to define construction of Senāsana to meet with living, i.e., not too big and luxurious with appropriate decoration and painting colour, provide sufficient beds, stools, mats, and mattresses, provide accommodation to monks fairly without any bias.
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