Understanding Vinaya¹

''All that stuff that you've been reading arises from the mind. If you still haven't trained your mind to have sensitivity and clarity you will be doubting all the time. You should try to bring the teachings of the Buddha into your mind. Be composed in mind. Whatever arises that you doubt, just give it up. If you don't really know for sure then don't say it or do it. For instance, if you wonder, 'Is this wrong or not?' - that is, you're not really sure - then don't say it, don't act on it, don't discard your restraint.''

As I sat and listened, I reflected that this teaching conformed with the eight ways for measuring the true teaching of the Buddha: Any teaching that speaks of the diminishing of defilements; which leads out of suffering; which speaks of renunciation (of sensual pleasures); of contentment with little; of humility and disinterest in rank and status; of aloofness and seclusion; of diligent effort; of being easy to maintain... these eight qualities are characteristics of the true Dhamma-Vinaya, the teaching of the Buddha. Anything in contradiction to these is not.

''If we are genuinely sincere we will have a sense of shame and a fear of wrong-doing. We will know that if there is doubt in our mind we will not act on it nor speak on it. The Sīlaniddesa is only words. For example, hiri-ottappa⁹ in the books is one thing, but in our minds it is another.''

Studying the Vinaya with Venerable Ajahn Mun I learned many things. As I sat and listened, understanding arose.

So, when it comes to the Vinaya I've studied considerably. Some days during the Rains Retreat I would study from six o'clock in the evening through till dawn. I understand it sufficiently. All the factors of āpatti¹⁰ which are covered in the Pubbasikkhā I wrote down in a notebook and kept in my bag. I really put effort into it, but in later times I gradually let go. It was too much. I didn't know which was the essence and which was the trimming, I had just taken all of it. When I understood more fully I let it drop off because it was too heavy. I just put my attention into my own mind and gradually did away with the texts.

However, when I teach the monks here I still take the Pubbasikkhā as my standard. For many years here at Wat Pah Pong it was I myself who read it to the assembly. In those days I would ascend the Dhamma-seat and go on until at least eleven o'clock or midnight, some days even one or two o'clock in the morning. We were interested. And we trained. After listening to the Vinaya reading we would go and consider what we'd heard. You can't really understand the Vinaya just by listening to it. Having listened to it you must examine it and delve into it further.

Footnotes

...¹

Given to the assembly of monks after the recitation of the Patimokkha, at Wat Pah Png during the rains retreat of 1980

... Vinaya²

''Vinaya'' is a generic name given to the code of discipline of the Buddhist Monastic Order, the rules of the monkhood. Vinaya literally means ''leading out,'' because maintenance of these rules ''leads out'' of unskillful actions, and, by extension, unskillful states of mind; in addition it can be said to ''lead out'' of the household life, and, by extension, attachment to the world.

... teacher³

This refers to the Venerable Ajahn's early years in the monkhood, before he had begun to practice in earnest.

... her⁴

The second sanghādisesa offense, which deals with touching a woman with lustful intentions.

... offense⁵

Referring to pācittiya offense No. 36, for eating food outside of the allowed time - dawn till noon.

...dukkata⁶

Dukkata - offenses of ''wrong-doing,'' the lightest class of offenses in the Vinaya, of which there are a great number; pārājika - offenses of defeat, of which there are four, are the most serious, involving expulsion from the Bhikkhu Sangha.

... Mun⁷

Venerable Ajahn Mun Bhūridatto, probably the most renowned and highly respected Meditation Master from the forest tradition in Thailand. He had many disciples who have been teachers in their own right, of whom Ajahn Chah is one. Venerable Ajahn Mun died in 1949.

...Pubbasikkhā⁸

Pubbasikkhā Vannanā - ''The Elementary Training'' - a Thai Commentary on Dhamma-Vinaya based on the Pāli Commentaries; Visuddhimagga - ''The Path to Purity'' - Ācariya Buddhaghosa's exhaustive commentary on Dhamma-Vinaya.

...ottappa⁹

Hiri - sense of shame; Ottappa - fear of wrong-doing. Hiri and ottappa are positive states of mind which lay a foundation for clear conscience and moral integrity. Their arising is based on a respect for oneself and for others. Restraint is natural because of a clear perception of cause and effect.

...āpatti¹⁰

Āpatti: the offenses of various classes for a Buddhist monk.

...Mahā¹¹

Mahā: a title given to monks who have studied Pāli and completed up to the fourth year or higher.

... cloth¹²

A ''receiving cloth'' is a cloth used by Thai monks for receiving things from women, from whom they do not receive things directly. That Venerable Ajahn Pow lifted his hand from the receiving cloth indicated that he was not actually receiving the money.

... proper¹³

There are very precise and detailed regulations governing the ordination procedure which, if not adhered to, may render the ordination invalid.

... away¹⁴

The Vinaya forbids bhikkhus from eating raw meat or fish.

... know¹⁵

Although it is an offense for monks to accept money, there are many who do. Some may accept it while appearing not to, which is probably how the lay people in this instance saw the Venerable Ajahn's refusal to accept money, by thinking that he actually would accept it if they didn't overtly offer it to him, but just slipped it into his bag.

...añjalī¹⁶

Añjalī - the traditional way of making greeting or showing respect, as with an Indian Namaste or the Thai wai. Sādhu - ''It is well'' - a way of showing appreciation or agreement.

... themselves¹⁷

Another transgression of the precepts, a pācittiya offense.

...Navakovāda¹⁸

Navakovāda - a simplified synopsis of elementary Dhamma-Vinaya.