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Development of Vinaya as a Pitaka

Vinaya was enacted by the Buddha occasionally on account of the undiscipinary, action
or the misbehavior of monks. According to Buddhist history the first vinaya rule was enacted by
the Buddha after twenty years later from the great enlightenment. in the story of the first Prjik
Buddha himself says that he enact sikkhpada or vinaya rules because of ten factors.
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But even before this major enactment time to time there had some discussion on vinaya
rules. For instances in the Smagma sutta, Tuvaaka sutta, Gulissni sutta and Baddli sutta etc
reveled some facts related with the behavior of the monk had been discussed by the Buddudha.
Even if at that period there wasn't any particular division in Buddhist teachings as Dhamma and
vinaya in this period behavior development spiritual or development had been governed through
the Dhamma.
2
Most importantly in this period ovda ptimokkha ( admonishing monastic code)
was preached by the Buddha in the assembly of the Sangaha just to remind the purpose and
objectives of the attainment of the ordination. Ovda ptimokkha contains garland of advices
which recollect and assist monks to go through the path of liberation or guide them the way they
should practice for realization of penultimate liberation.
patient is the greatest asceticism. Nibbna is the supreme.
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The Samantapsdik the commentary of the Vinaya Pitaka says that, our lord Buddha
preached indeed the Ovda Ptimokkha for twenty years.
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But later in course of the time because
of the attainment of the visabhga puggala into the order cohesion also became degrade. in the
kakacpama sutta of the Majjhima nikya Buddha states that on account of the ven.
Moliyapagguna's misbehavior, persons who attained into this order at early period extremely
please me I just had to advice them and remind them.
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1
Dasa atthavase sikkhpadni papessmi.
2
ahaca kho brahamaa vinayya dhamma desemi rgassa ca mohassa ca dosassa ca anekavihitna ppakna
akusalna dhammna vinayya dhamm desemi. Veraja sutta, Anguttaranikya.
3
Khanti para tapo titikkh
4
pana pabhuti ptimokkhameva uddisyati. Taca kho bhikkh eva uddisanti, na buddh. Tasm amhkampi
bhagav pahamabodhiya vsativassamattameva ida ovdaptimokkha uddisi. Samatapsdik, PTS, 1.187
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rdhayisu vata me bhikkhu eka samaya citta, idhha bhikkhave bhikkhu mantesi, aha kho,
bhikkhave, eksanabhojana bhujmi. Eksanabhojana kho aha, bhikkhave, bhujamno appbdhataca
sajnmi apptakataca lahuhnaca balaca phsuvihraca. Etha tumhepi, bhikkhave, eksanabhojana
bhujatha. Eksanabhojana kho, bhikkhave, tumhepi bhujamn appbdhataca sajnissatha apptakataca
2

The Sarabhagha Theragth in the Theragthipli also reveals few important facts on
period without vinaya and period of enacting vinaya.
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Evidently enactment of the first Prjik
rule is considered as the dawn of a new era in Buddhist dispensation. it is accepted fact that
Vinaya came into existence as mechanical system of rules when people were not governed
themselves through the Dhamma. Both Dhamma and Vinaya deals with an ethical basement but
vinaya are specified for both Bhikkh-s and Bhikku-s. on the other hand vinaya is an external
enforcement to keep monks and nuns stick with the Dhamma or remind their main objectives of
celibacy life again and again.
However the first Prjik (defeat) rule was imposed by the Buddha on account of the
misbehavior of the Sudinna is considered as the first authoritative injunction in this
dispensation.
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But it doesn't mean that this as the origin of Vinaya because Vinaya was there
even before this enactment within the Dhamma but latter specially because of the misconduct of
the monks Buddha compel to impose Vinaya as a code of law for the long lasting of the Ssna
and most importantly for the comfort and unity of the monks.
Tendency of securing vinaya is highly admired by the Buddha himself and also few of
the foremost disciples in front of the Buddha. Before the enactement of the first Prjik the
Buddha was requested by Ven. Sariuptta to promulgate vinaya. Most importantly appointing a
foremost position relating to the vinaya is considered as one of the crucial movement regarding
vinaya. According to the Etadagga Pli in the Anuttara nikya Ven. Upli was appointed as the
foremost of the vinaya.
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Vinaya rules enacted by the Buddha occasionally in terms with the malpractices or the
unacceptable actions were committed by monks became a large collection as time goes on. In
analyzing the vinaya pitaka on this context it reveals a few important reasons on development of
vianya as a Pitaka. for instance if it is taken the first Prjik, which was promulgated by the
Buddha on account of the sexual intercourse was done by ven Suddinna. it is known as major

lahuhnaca balaca phsuvihracti. Na me, bhikkhave, tesu bhikkhsu anussan karay ahosi;
satuppdakarayameva me, bhikkhave, tesu bhikkhsu ahos, MN., Kakacpama sutta
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Sare hatthehi bhajitv, katvna kuimacchisa;
Tena me sarabhagoti, nma sammutiy ahu.
Na mayha kappate ajja, sare hatthehi bhajitu;
Sikkhpad no paatt, gotamena yasassin
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Tenahi bhikkhave bhikkhna sikkhpada paapessmi.
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Etadagga mamabhikkhave savakna vinayadharna yadita upli.
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enactment or the Paatti. But in latter period with the prevention of this point monks allure to
find some alternatives method. Then on the time of its arising the Buddha also imposed sub rules
or some enactments preventing those malpractices too. Those sub enactment or the secondary
enactment also included into the Vinaya as anupaatti. But letter with the gradual inclement of
the members in the order initiate disciples may have compelled to arrange all the vinaya rules in
a thematic order for sake of their easy memorizing.
Obviously reason for this thematic arrangement is that in course of time with the
development of the Buddhist order there was a great need of well arrange system of Vianaya or a
formal code of discipline for the well being of the Sanga. For the long-lasting of the order and
well being and unity of the Sangha the Buddha has admonished to monks to preach Ptimokkha
at every fortnight. Here Ptimokkha means the collection of rules which should be prevented or
abandoned by the Bhikk-s in their day to day life.
In the Sumangalavilsini the commentary of the Dghanikya explains another important
fact which also can be assumed as an impact on this thematic arrangement. In explaining the
difference between the Buddha and Arahant Sumagalavilsini explains that " bodily conduct of
Arahant not as purified as the Buddha. Arahants never commit or became to worldly wrong (
which is not accepted as a right thing by the society) But they can fall into enacted wrong doings
because of not knowing about the particular enactment.
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In that case there was a bad need of
conveying the message that the Buddha has enacted particular rule on their action and from here
onward as the disciples' of the Great samana you are not permitted to do this. In this sense the
Ptimokkha can be considered as the nucleus of the Vinaya Pitaka.
In order to the present structure of the Vinayapitaka the development of Vinayapitaka can
be discussed under following heads.
Main Prescription ( Patti)
Secondary Prescription ( Anupaatti)

9
Ki pana sesakhsavna kyasamcrdayo aparisuddhti? No aparisuddh. Na pana tathgatassa viya
parisuddh. Appassutakhsavo hi kicpi lokavajja npajjati, paattiya pana akovidatt vihrakra
kuikra sahagra sahaseyyanti evarp kyadvre pattiyo pajjati.

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Composition of Ptimokkha
Categorization of offences in terms with their gravity
Thematic arrangement
Categorization of rules in to different portions in order to their nature
Aggregation of Parivrapli.
Morris Vinternitz being based on the description of fourfold basic needs of monks
explain that, all those indicates that there must have been a fairly long development of the
discipline of the community prior to the final compilation of the vinaya pitaka and that the bulk
of the rules originated not all at once but gradually.
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Main Prescription ( Patti)
The main prescription or the first enactment on a malpractice is known as Paatti. For
instance first Prjik
If a monk would engage in sexual intercourse he is defeated and no longer suitable for
affiliation.
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This way the precept was enacted by the Buddha for monks.
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Secondary prescription (Anupaatti).
But sometimes because of the alternative actions of monks in relation to the enacted
precept, originally formulated is considered as in completed and those were supplemented by the
Buddha. For instance after the Buddha had ruled that, "If a monk would engage in sexual
intercourse he is defeated and no longer suitable for affiliation."
13
Certain monks held the view
that the Buddha has prevented engaging sexual intercourse with women and therefore he
befriended with a monkey in the great Vesali forest by giving foods and engaged sexual
intercourse with it.
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Consequently Buddha had to specify the rule as, If a monk would engage

10
History of Indian literature , p. 23
11
Yo pana bhikkhu methuna dhamma paiseveyya, prjiko hoti asavsoti
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Evacida bhagavat bhikkhna sikkhpada paatta hoti
13
Yo pana bhikkhu methuna dhamma paiseveyya, prjiko hoti asavsoti
14
Tena kho pana samayena aataro bhikkhu vesliya mahvane makkai misena upalpetv tass methuna
dhamma paisevati.
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in sexual intercourse even with a female animal he is defeated and no longer suitable for
affiliation.
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These types of expanding are known as anupaatti.
Composition of Ptimokkha
"the Buddha admonished that all the monks who stay in a one place or monks who stay at nearby
places should rehearse the Ptimokkha at the full moon poya day having gathered as a one
assembly."
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In their daily life major obstacles or threats which monks have to face in their
celibacy life are included into the Ptimokha which composites,
Prjik -4
Saghdisesa - 13
Aniyata - 2
Nissaggiya Pcittiya - 30
Pcittiya - 92
Pidesanya - 4
Sekhiy - 75
Adhikaraasamatha 7
collection of these 227 rules are entitled as Ptimokkha. But according to the Vajjiputtaka
sutta in the Anguttara nikya, there were 152 precepts at the time of the Buddha as Ptimokkha
which was advised to be rehearsed at every fortnight.
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Latter custodians monks may have added
sekhiya also into this with the 75 sekhiys it becomes 227. In analyzing these rules except
sekhiy all other disciplines are unique to the monks and nuns. These rules are arranged
according to the gravity of the respective offence. Even there are number differences of precept
as lesser and greatly Ptimokkha is common for monks and nuns. The term ptimokkha and its

15
Yo pana bhikkhu methuna dhamma paiseveyya antamaso tiracchnagatyapi, prjiko hoti asavsoti
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Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paisallnassa eva cetaso parivitakko udapdi yannha yni may
bhikkhna paattni sikkhpadni, tni nesa ptimokkhuddesa anujneyya. So nesa bhavissati
uposathakammanti. Atha kho bhagav syanhasamaya paisalln vuhito etasmi nidne etasmi pakarae
dhammi katha katv bhikkh mantesi idha mayha, bhikkhave, rahogatassa paisallnassa eva cetaso
parivitakko udapdi yannha yni may bhikkhna paattni sikkhpadni, tni nesa ptimokkhuddesa
anujneyya. So nesa bhavissati uposathakammanti. Anujnmi, bhikkhave, ptimokkha uddisitu. Evaca
pana, bhikkhave, uddisitabba., Mahvaggapli, Uposathakkhandaka
17
Sdhikamidha bhante diyahasikkhpadasata anvaddhamsa uddesa gacchati. nha bhante ettha
sakkomi sikkhitun'ti sakkhissasi pana tva bhikkhu tsu sikkhsu sikkhitu. Anuttaranikya I, PTS London: p. 239
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content can be seen in the vinaya and sutta pitaka itself which indicates that this belong to the
earliest stratum of the development of the Vinaya Pitaka.
Obviously the establishment of the Bhikkui order occurred after the well establishment of
the Bhikkhu ssana. Bhikkhui ptimokkha also promulgated comparatively letter period than
the Bhikkhu patimokkha but among 311 rules in the Bhikkhni ptimokkha 181 are shared with
the Bhikkhu ptimokkha.
In composing the Ptimokkha all the rules have been arranged in a thematic order and the
categorization has done by being based on the gravity of offences. Main prescription have been
arranged at first and related secondary prescriptions also have been included under the main
prescription. Just as a well formal modern penalty code. There are various interpretations on
Ptimokkha,
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Categorization of offences in terms with their gravity
All the offences in Ptimokkha have been arrayed in a respective method following the gravity
of offence. For instance among the 8 types of offences in the Ptimokkha the first category of
offences in known as Prjik or the major offences for the one who has committed this offence
should be undergone with greatest punishment which is known as expulsion. Such person is
known as Prjiko ( one who is defeated). The second category is known as Saghdise. This
gravity has discided by the method of reformation that they have to follow.
Thematic arrangement
Prjik, Saghdisesa, Pcittiya, Khandaks
Categorization of rules in to different portions in order to their nature

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Ptimokkha ti adhimeka mukhameta pamukha meta kusalna dhammna tena vuccati ptimokkha.

Tattha sla yo na pti rakkhati, ta mokkheti mocayati pyikdhi dukkhehi, attnuvddhi v bhayehti
ptimokkha.
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Aggregation of Parivrapli.
Pubbcaraiya magga ca pucchitvva tahi tahi
Dpanma mahpao sutadharo vicakkhano
ima vitthra sakhepa majjhmaggena majjhime
cintatyitv likhpesi sissakna sukhvaha