The Pratimoksa-Sutra
Summary
Continuing a translation of the Buddhist monastic code, this installment of the Pratimoksa‑Sutra covers the Pātidesanīya section, detailing offences that require confession. The verses prohibit monks from eating food intended for others or stored for personal use, taking seats uninvited in lay households, or behaving improperly during communal meals. Monks must not visit households at mealtime without invitation, hide offences, carry arms, associate with armies or watch military displays. Offences include striking or threatening another monk, withholding confession of one’s own or another’s fault and seeking personal favours. The article compares these rules with Tibetan versions and Pali commentaries, clarifying terms like payantika (pātidesanīya) and providing cross‑references. Concluding verses exhort monks to guard their discipline like a cowherd protects calves and state that diligent recitation of the Pratimoksa leads to liberation. This translation offers insight into the practical discipline of Buddhist monks and underscores the importance of confession and communal harmony in the sangha.
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Conclusion
The translated verses codify minor offences and prescribe confession, illustrating the emphasis on mindfulness and ethical conduct in Buddhist monastic life. By explaining each rule and its variants, the article deepens understanding of the vinaya and shows how regular recitation of the Pratimoksa fosters communal harmony and progress towards liberation.