Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism

Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 184

UPONATHA
163
uposathakamma, namely, a service held unlawfully by an incomplete chapter, held unlawfully by a complete chapter, held lawfully by an incomplete chapter and held lawfully by a complete chapter, only the fourth type was deemed legal.?
In the beginning, the Patimokkha was recited by the monks on behalf of the nuns in the uposatha meetings convened by the nuns. In due course, on account of the scandalous remarks of the people they were taught to recite it themselves. But the nuns, even then, could not get rid of the subjugation of monks as they had to ask two or three days beforehand on what day the uposatha would be'.
If during or after the recitation of the Patimokkha by an incomplete assembly being conscious or unconscious of its incompetency to hold uposatha, there arrived monks belonging to the same residence whose number was greater than those holding the uposatha, then the Patimokkha must be recited again. If on the other hand their number was either equal to or less than those holding the uposatha, then it was not to be recited anew.
Anybody guilty of an offence was not allowed to perform uposatha. A person doubtful of his offence was, however, permitted to attend it provided that he was ready to atone for his offence as soon as his doubt was removed. Neither a common confession of an offence nor a common acceptance of such confession was regarded lawful. On the uposatha day, if all the resident monks were guilty of a common
en one of them had to confess his guilt before a monk of a nearby avāsa and the rest before him after his return. If even this much was not possible, then they had to atone for it even after the solemnisation of the ceremony. 6
It was essential for all to attend the uposatha personally, if not so, then at least by proxy. Absence from the ceremony was allowed under circumstances beyond control only. No laxity in this respect was permissible on the plea of personal purity, how much great it might be. The virtuous members, on the contrary, were considered more responsible than ordinary monks or nuns, Buddha's admonition to
1. MV, 2. 10. 18, pp. 115.10. 2. CV, 10. 5. 6, pp. 379-80. 3. According to the Anguttaranikāya, it should be asked a fortnight before the
day of uposatha. Op. cit., Vol. III, 8. 6. 1. 13, p. 371. 4. CV, 10. 2. 2. 3, p. 375: PM (Bhikkhuni), 4. 59. 5. MV, 2. 28. 41, pp. 129-31; 2. 29. 42, p. 132; 2. 30. 43, pp. 132-33; 2. 31. 44,
pp. 133-34; 2. 32. 45, pp. 134-37. 6. Ibid, 2. 27. 40, pp. 127-29.