Chapter 2: On the Rite of Restoration

The Chapter on Purification narrates the origins of the monastic “confession” ceremony. This ceremony, called Poṣadha in Sanskrit, is the very foundation of monastic life throughout Asia. To this day, monks and nuns gather twice a month for Poṣadha to reaffirm their vows and restore the bonds that knit together the monastic community. This text provides detailed instructions on how to purify mind and monastic discipline through the practice of meditation and the formal Poṣadha confession rite, respectively. Its translation into English will be of great value to non-Tibetan speaking saṅghas who seek to uphold the Buddha’s monastic tradition.