Bhikkhu Patimokkha: Theravada Buddhist Monastic Discipline (Pali Text & English Translation)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Venerable Dr. Acharya Buddharakkhita is the founder president of Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore. He was a member of the Editorial Board of the Sixth Buddhist Synod (Chattha Sangayana) in Yangon, which brought out a complete edition of the sacred Buddhist Scriptures Tipitaka. Since then he has established many Buddhist centers in India and abroad and rendered yeomen spiritual and humanitarian services. He established Mahabodhi Monastic Institute in Bangalore, India, Buddhist Meditation Center in USA and conducted many Dhamma and Pali courses, meditation courses and written numerous books and translations of the Pali Buddhist Texts. They have been published all over the world, including some German, Portuguese, Korean and Chinese translations. He was editing and publishing English monthly DHAMMA Magazine for four decades.
Mahabodhi Academy for Pali and Buddhist Studies and Bhagavan Buddha University of Theravada Buddhism are the result of his effort and research to provide a systematic Theravada Buddhist education as widely as possible, first of its kind in India. The Venerable Dr. Acharya Buddharakkhita passed away on 23rd September 2013 in Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore at the age of 92.

Vinayo Nama Buddha Sasanassa Ayu. Vinaye thite sasanam thitam hoti!
The Supreme Buddha exhorted - "The Monastic Discipline when followed is the longevity of the Buddha's Dispensation. When the Dispensation is firmly established on the Monastic Discipline, it endures for long time."
The very essence of the existence of the Buddha's holy teachings is based on the practice of the monastic discipline laid down by the Buddha. If the all-knowing wisdom of the Buddha flows through the very many discourses recorded in the Sutta and Abhidhamma pitaka, the Supreme Buddha's compassion manifests in the Vinaya pitaka. The greatest gift of the Buddha out of this compassion is the skilful way to cruise through this temptation filled world and reach safely to the other shore of safety called Nibbana.
To save sincere spiritual practitioners called Bhikkhus, this beautiful method of purification of heart and conduct is laid down by the Master. It is this well-thought-of, wisdom based moral monastic discipline that has sustained the Buddha's holy teachings for such long time of 2600 years. These 227 rules are recited every fortnight, on the new moon and full moon days in the designated place called Sima by the bhikkhu sangha. This is unique practice and the only aim of this practice is to purify and progress on the path of enlightenment.
To facilitate the Bhikkhus our teacher Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita has translated the whole Patimokkha with background stories and notes. Here we are producing only the Patimokkha 227 rules and the procedure of conducting this uposatha in Pali and English. This helps monks to carry this book as constant companion as it is pocket size book. They are advised to read it, memorise it and contemplate on it again and again.
May the merits of this publication bring all spiritual truth seekers to their destination. May all beings be free from all sufferings!

Therevada monastic discipline (vinaya) consists of rules of monastic training laid down by the Buddha for regulating the conduct of Buddhist monks (bhikkhus) and nuns (bhikkhunis) and their monastic under-training disciples. Basically all these rules are meant to enable the renunciate to exercise restraint over bodily and verbal actions, and thus help in the purification of spiritual life.
Transgression of these training rules means committing an offense, which attracts penalties necessary for rehabilitation of the guilty bhikkhu or bhikkhuni. The Buddha laid down these rules whenever the monastic disciples committed an unwholesome act, or behaved in an unbecoming way. For, wrong conduct or behavior effects the transgressor's spiritual life, and threatens to disrupt the lives of fellow monastics. And this to the detriment of spiritual progress for everyone in the Buddha's dispensation, which consists of bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, upasakas and upasikas.