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The Suttavibhanga describes the faults and violations of rules that monks were expected to remember on the new and full moon days of each month. This is also known as the Prati-moksha. From the perspective of monks and nuns, there are two divisions of Prati-moksha, describing the violations of rules by monks and nuns. When the recitation of Prati-moksha begins, the monks and nuns present in the assembly stand up and confess to the offenses mentioned in the text. The purpose of this confession is to prevent the repetition of such offenses in the future. In the Majjhima Nikaya, the Tathagata Buddha clearly stated that Prati-moksha is the beginning, the mouth, of virtuous deeds. Commenting on the word Prati-moksha, an Acharya wrote that it protects those who uphold its rules, freeing them from suffering, misery, and other evils.
The Khandhaka is also divided into two parts: the Mahavagga and the Cullavagga. The Mahavagga describes the nature of the monastic life of a monk and the rules he must follow. While the Suttavibhanga primarily uses a negative style, the Mahavagga employs an affirmative style. It elaborates on the procedures and rules for Upasampada, Varshavas, Prati-moksha (Pati-mokkha), Pravarana, Chivarrangana, etc.
The Cullavagga discusses daily conduct, what is appropriate and inappropriate, how to walk, how to speak, etc. It also includes a collection of significant events from Buddhist history.
The beginning of the Vinaya Pitaka provides an index of the topics discussed.
The Tathagata Buddha instructed his chief disciple Ananda to forgive minor mistakes. However, Ananda forgot to ask the Buddha what constituted minor mistakes. After the Tathagata Buddha's Parinirvana, to prevent the disintegration of the Sangha and preserve the sanctity of the Dharma Sangha, strict rules were established during the First Buddhist Council. The primary objective was to keep monks and nuns away from evil deeds. There were two types of punishments in the Buddhist Sangha: severe and lenient. Severe punishments included Parajika and other punishments like Sanghadisesa. These were known by various names like Duththalapaatti, Garukapaatti, Adesanagamini Aapatti, Thallavajja Aapatti, and Anavasesa Aapatti.
Lenient punishments were relatively milder. They were known as Adullapaatti, Lahukapaatti, Athallavajja Aapatti, Savasesa Aapatti, Desanagamini Aapatti, etc.
It is important to note that in the Jain tradition, there are different forms of atonement for monks and nuns, known as Niggantha or Nigganthini. Similarly, the Buddhist tradition also has separate provisions for both. In the Buddhist Sangha, there are two divisions: Bhikkhupati-mokkha and Bhikkhuni-pati-mokkha. The Bhikkhupati-mokkha has a larger number of rules. Currently, due to the unavailability of texts related to Bhikkhupati-mokkha, we are discussing this topic based on Bhikkhuni-pati-mokkha.
1. Pati-mokkhaṃ ti ādimetam mukhametaṃ pāmu khametaṃ kusalanāṃ dhammānaṃ tena vuccati pati-mokkhaṃ ti.
- Gopaka Moggallanasutta Majjhima Nikaya 3.118
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