The Rules and Ritual of Pātimokkha (Prātimoksa) in Buddhist Monasticism

Subject Areas : Christianity

محمدرضا عدلی ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2011-08-17 Accepted : 2011-10-05 Published : 2011-03-21

Keywords: Buddhist monasticism, Sangha, Pātimokkha, Vinayapitaka, bhikkhu, bhikkhunī,

Abstract :

Buddhist monasticism (Sangha) like other monastic orders has its ownrituals and communal ceremonies. However, the word ritual maybeleads to misunderstanding, because Buddha himself intensely criticizedritualism. Sangha’s ceremonies are formalized, but purely functional.They fashioned in fact to review the Acts of the Sangha. They are tothis day carried out without ritual elaboration. Two of these ceremoniesare crucial: the higher ordination (upasampadā) and the communalrehearsal of the pātimokkha or the rite of confession. Every fortnight,on the uposatha days of the new and full moons, the monks areenjoined to gather to recite some parts of Vinaya and by so doing, theyproclaim their loyalty to the Sangha and its rules.