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The Concept of Pancasila in Indian Thought
Transgressions, Punishments and Atonements
Here a discussion of the violation of the precept is also required. A detailed account of the transgressions of this vow is available in the Vinaya and the Pātimokkha Code. To what extent the transgression has taken place and what degree of punishment by the samgha is needed for the transgression are decided in the Vinaya. In the discussion of the violation of the precept, the Vinaya regards the precept as a law of Samgha while its violation as more of the nature of a crime or an offence. The reason of this formalistic limitation lies in the maintenance of social and outer set-up of the Samgha, where individual member Bhikkhu is only a part of it. For the proper maintenance of the Samgha outer discipline is required and considered sometimes more important in the Vinaya.
Here, it will be interesting to make a general comparison between the Jaina and the Buddhist way of dealing with transgressions and punishments. As against the ten main prāyascittas of the Jainas, two hundred and twenty seven rules for monks, and three hundred and eleven rules for nuns (according to Theravādins) are grouped under seven categories in the Buddhist literature. The Buddhist texts start with the descending order while the Jaina with the ascending one. The most obvious point of difference, which has already been hinted at, is that the Buddhists deal with all the details of these transgressions and punishments in the original Vinaya, while the Jainas deal with them not so much in the 'Angas' (the basic canons) as in the Chedasūtras which are not so publicly read and discussed. In this sense, therefore, it can be said that for the Buddhists violations and punishments etc. are just a public affair, but for the Jainas they are more of a private affair. The texts of the Jainas are silent on the actual procedure of enacting and enforcing the laws of monastic jurisprudence, while the Buddhist texts deal with the actual procedure of these laws and their formulation of punishment etc. Further, admission of transgressions etc. for the Jaina monks.
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