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54 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

Do Lay Buddhists need to

know the Vinaya?

The monastic rules laid down by the Buddha Vinaya rules are still relevant to monastics in two
comprise of disciplinary guidelines, rituals, and ways—one for personal development and the other for
community norms. These behavioral guidelines posterity:
range from rather trivial (don’t make stupas out
of your rice when you eat) to the extremely serious ● Regardless of whether the rules are relevant to
(don’t take a human life). The over 200-plus modern society, they were formulated to fine-tune
monastic rules for monks and nuns are grouped the monastics’ restraint of the senses and training
according to their severity. to reduce greed, hate and delusion which would be
eventually eradicated through meditation.
● In the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16) and AN
As the context for which the Vinaya was laid down
(7.23-28) the Buddha proclaimed more than 7
is already more than 2500 years ago, the question is
sets of factors that will prevent the decline of the
whether they are still applicable to modern society
bhikkhus.
today, and also if a lay Buddhist needs to understand
the Vinaya. In this issue of Eastern Horizon, we The first three factors in the first set are
asked our three Buddhist teachers from the three a. meeting regularly
traditions for their response. b. gathering and dismissing in harmony

c. neither inventing new rules nor abolishing old
ones.
Given that the Vinaya rules were established over
2500 years ago in response to specific incidents, The last of the above will lead to the perpetuation of an
how relevant do you believe the Vinaya is in today’s ancient lineage based on discipline. However, just before
modern society for monastics? the Buddha’s demise, he told Āyasmā Ānanda that after
his demise if the Sangha wanted, it could abolish the
Aggacitta: The minor Vinaya rules may not be very minor and lesser rules. But he did not define what they
relevant for modern society in general, but they are still were, so when this was brought up during the first
relevant for monastics. Many of the major rules, e.g. Vinayasaṅgīti (more popularly called “Saṅgha Council”)
celibacy, interaction with the opposite gender, honesty, the monks could not agree on what they constituted.
were already part of the social norm for renunciates Finally, a motion was passed to not abolish them, citing
in ancient India and are still regarded as such in most this third factor for the non-decline of the bhikkhus.
modern societies. Generally, the Vinaya rules were
formulated by the Buddha because of complaints from Since social norms vary from place to place, the
the public or monks themselves. Some could argue interpretation of what is or is not relevant is obviously
that social standards have changed and what was then relative and subjective. So once a rule is changed, the
distasteful may now be acceptable. Yes indeed, but it sky’s the limit—who decides which rule to change
could also be vice versa, e.g. naked asceticism was and under what circumstances? Can you imagine monks
is still considered acceptable in many parts of India, but sporting blue jeans, T-shirts and long-hair because their
would certainly be frowned upon in many societies today. dress code is no longer fashionable? For this reason,